Please find below a selection of recent legislation changes relating to COVID-19 and communications for workplaces from key safety and environmental regulators in Australia and New Zealand. 

 

COMMONWEALTH

Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration 2020

  • Declares that a human biosecurity emergency exists.

Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements) Determination 2020

  • Imposes a requirement that international cruise ships not enter Australian ports before 15 April 2020.

Biosecurity Repeal (Human Health Response Zones) Determination 2020

  • Repeals the three zones created for temporary quarantine of individuals who requested repatriation from Wuhan city, China, and the Diamond Princess cruise ship located at a Japanese port.

Boosting Cash Flow for Employers (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Act 2020

  • Provides for a cash flow boost relating to COVID-19.

Child Care Subsidy Amendment (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Minister's Rules 2020

  • Includes four rules that will assist help families and early childhood education and care services manage the impact of COVID-19.

Coronavirus Economic Response Package Omnibus Act 2020

  • Provides an economic response, and deals with other matters, relating to COVID-19.

Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices - Accredited Pathology Laboratories) (COVID-19 Emergency) Exemption 2020

  • Exempts relevant kinds of medical devices from certain provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 to deal with the threat to public health caused by the COVID-19 emergency.

Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices - Novel Coronavirus) (Emergency) Exemption 2020

  • Exempts relevant kinds of medical devices from certain provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 when imported, exported, manufactured or supplied to deal with the threat to public health caused by the COVID-19 emergency.

Therapeutic Goods (Medical Devices - Face Masks and Other Articles) (COVID-19 Emergency) Exemption 2020

  • Exempts relevant kinds of medical devices from certain provisions of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 in order to deal with the threat to public health caused by the COVID-19 emergency.

 

NEW SOUTH WALES

Public Health Amendment (Scheduled Medical Conditions and Notifiable Diseases) Order (No 2) 2020

  • Updates certain in the Public Health Act 2010 to “Novel Coronavirus 2019” with the now commonly accepted name for that medical condition “COVID-19”.

Public Health (COVID-19 Gatherings) Order 2020

  • Prohibits mass gatherings of 500 or more people in outdoor spaces and 100 people or more in indoor spaces, subject to certain exclusions.

Public Health (COVID-19 Lord Howe Island) Order 2020

  • Restricts access to and from Lord Howe Island.

Public Health (COVID-19 Mass Gatherings) Order 2020

  • Prohibits mass gatherings of 500 or more people in outdoor spaces and 100 people or more in indoor spaces, subject to certain exclusions.

Public Health (COVID-19 Places of Social Gathering) Order 2020

  • Provides that certain non-essential venues be closed to members of the public except in limited circumstances.

Public Health (COVID-19 Public Events) Order 2020 

  • Directs that a person must not hold a public event at which there are, or are likely to be, 500 people or more in attendance at any one time.

Public Health (COVID-19 Quarantine) Order 2020

  • Directs that a person who arrives in New South Wales and who has been in a country other than Australia within 14 days before that arrival must after that arrival isolate themselves for a quarantine period of 14 days.

State Environmental Planning Policy Amendment (COVID-19 Response) 2020

  • Amends the State Environmental Planning Policy (Exempt and Complying Development Codes) 2008 to insert special provisions for trading hours for retail supply chain premises and development standards relating to COVID-19.

As always RDA Illawarra will be here to help guide you through this uncertain time and will continue to keep you updated on relevant changes.

Regards

Debra Murphy
CEO RDA Illawarra