COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 16 JUNE 2021
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.
- Varies the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration 2020 to extend the human biosecurity emergency period for a further three months until 17 September 2021, unless further extended by the Governor-General.
Defence Determination, Conditions of service Amendment Determination 2021 (No. 7)
Public Health (COVID-19 Affected Areas) Emergency Direction 2021 (No 9)
- Imposes requirements for certain affected persons who are residents of the ACT and non-residents of the ACT, for people who have been in an affected area subject to a stay-at-home requirements, and for people who have been in a COVID-19 place of concern, among other things.
- Permits any building work or work, or the demolition of a building or work on a Saturday between the hours of 7 am and 5 pm and specified works on a Sunday between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm.
Public Health (COVID-19 Self-Isolation) Order (No 2) 2021
- Declares certain local government areas in Victoria to be COVID-19 hotspots.
- Expires on 1 July 2021 the modified arrangements in relation to the making, signing or witnessing of wills and enduring documents under the Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Documents and Oaths) Regulation 2020 (Documents and Oaths Regulation), except for certain modified arrangements.
- Provides transitional arrangements for the completion of wills and enduring documents following the expiry of relevant provisions under the Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Documents and Oaths) Regulation 2020 on 1 July 2021 by operation of the Justice Legislation (COVID-19 Emergency Response - Documents and Oaths) Amendment Regulation (No.2) 2021.
Directions in Relation to Persons Arriving in Tasmania
- Requires persons arriving in Tasmania to provide information, prohibits certain persons from arriving in King Island, Flinders Island or any island in the Furneaux Group of islands, and provides directions in relation to movement and arrival of vessels and aircrafts and for persons arriving in Tasmania generally.
- Identifies areas within Victoria which have a higher prevalence of, or risk of exposure to, COVID-19 and which are subject to specific directions which are reasonably necessary to protect public health - came into force at 11.59 pm 10 June 2021.
Care Facilities Directions (No. 32)
- Provides for restricted access to care facilities in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within a particularly vulnerable population - came into force at 11.59 pm 10 June 2021.
Hospital Visitor Directions (No. 28)
- Prohibits non-essential visits and access to hospitals in order to limit the spread of COVID-19 within a particularly vulnerable population - came into force at 11.59 pm 10 June 2021.
Restricted Activity Directions (Metropolitan Melbourne) (No. 3)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertaking in Metropolitan Melbourne to address the serious public health risk posed by COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 am 12 June 2021.
Restricted Activity Directions (Regional Victoria) (No. 3)
- Restricts the operation of certain businesses and undertaking in Regional Victoria to address the serious public health risk posed by COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 am 12 June 2021.
Stay Safe Directions (Metropolitan Melbourne) (No. 2)
- Requires residents of Metropolitan Melbourne to limit their interaction with others by restricting circumstances in which they may leave Metropolitan Melbourne, restricting private and public gatherings and requiring face coverings to be carried and worn - came into force at 11.59 am 12 June 2021.
Stay Safe Directions (Regional Victoria) (No.5)
- Restricts circumstances in which residents of Regional Victoria may leave Regional Victoria, restricts private and public gatherings and requires face coverings to be carried and worn - came into force at 11.59 am 12 June 2021.
Workplace (Additional Industry Obligations) Directions (No. 27)
- 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 10 June 2021.
- Limits the number of Victorians attending work premises to assist in reducing the frequency and scale of COVID-19 outbreaks and to establish more specific obligations on employers and workers in relation to managing the risk associated with COVID-19 - came into force at 11.59 pm 10 June 2021.
Extension of Declaration (No. 2) of Public Health State of Emergency
- Extends the public health state of emergency declaration which came into effect on 23 March 2020 for 14 days.
Extension of State of Emergency Declaration
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemptions and Conditions for Quarantine-free Travel) Amendment Notice (No 5) 2021
- Alters the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Exemptions and Conditions for Quarantine-free Travel) Notice 2021, which exempts certain persons from isolation or quarantine after arrival in New Zealand.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Tasmanian Government:
World Health Organisation:
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 23 June 2021.