COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 18 NOVEMBER 2020
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.
This update is provided on a weekly basis.
LEGISLATION CHANGES
Please note: the legislation in this update was current at time of release. Legislation around COVID-19 is frequently updated and revoked. The URLs provided may no longer be maintained by the relevant legislative website, after the release date.
- Amends the Guarantee of Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) Rules 2020 to increase the monetary threshold for annual turnover from $50 million to $120 million.
- Repeals Section 6(3) of the Guarantee of Lending to Small and Medium Enterprises (Coronavirus Economic Response Package) (Minister) Delegation 2020.
Other Grants Guidelines (Research) Amendment (No. 2) 2020
- Provides for the injection of additional Research Support Program funding to safeguard the Australian university sector against the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and specifies the body corporate, the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, as a body eligible to receive grants under the Higher Education Research Promotion scheme.
Social Security (Coronavirus Economic Response - 2020 Measures No. 15) Determination 2020
- Ensures the continued payment of the COVID-19 supplement through to the end of 2020 for recipients of JobSeeker Payment, Parenting Payment, Youth Allowance, Austudy Payment, Special Benefit, Partner Allowance and Widow Allowance.
- Restrict non-essential gatherings and the operation of non-essential businesses and undertakings in order to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Community Land Management Amendment (COVID-19) Regulation (No 2) 2020
- Provides for altered arrangements for certain meetings and instruments.
- Provides for altered arrangements for attendance to answer questions under Section 203 of the Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997.
Strata Schemes Management Amendment (COVID-19) Regulation (No 2) 2020
- Provides for certain matters under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 for the purposes of responding to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Approval of Extension of a Major Emergency Declaration under Section 23
- Extends the Major Emergency declared on 22 March 2020 for 28 days.
Direction Under Section 16 - Arrival Requirements for Certain Travellers into Tasmania - No. 2
- Requires certain travellers arriving in Tasmania to undergo certain clinical assessments and tests.
Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No 12)
- Establishes additional specific obligations on employers and workers in specific industries in relation to managing the risk associated with COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm on 15 November 2020.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Amendment Order (No 4) 2020
- Requires that face coverings be worn on public transport services in the Auckland area (other than by passengers in a small passenger service vehicle).
FROM THE REGULATORS
Australian Maritime Safety Authority:
Department of Planning, Industry and Environment:
NSW Government:
Transport for NSW:
QLD Government:
SA Government:
Department of State Growth:
VIC Government:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 25 November 2020.