COVID-19 : NOVEL CORONAVIRUS
WEDNESDAY 10 MARCH 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 June 2021.
Customs Tariff Amendment (Incorporation of Proposals and Other Measures) Act 2021
- Makes various amendments to the Customs Tariff Act 1995 including to provide for a ‘Free’ rate of customs duty for prescribed goods that are medical products or hygiene products and capable of use in combating COVID-19.
Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Refunds of Charges and Other Measures) Act 2021
- Amends the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 to enable refunds of registration charges, to clarify the definition of courses, and to enable the Minister responsible for international education to include and exempt certain courses from the Act.
Authorisation to Supply Poisons and Restricted Substances
- Authorises certain authorised persons to supply specific poisons and restricted substances.
Public Health and Other Legislation (Extension of Expiring Provisions) Amendment Act 2021
- Amends various Acts to ensure that any sunset clauses or expiry provisions relating to the amendments made to Chapter 8 of the Public Health Act 2005 and Chapter 18B of the Mental Health Act 2016 do not take effect until the end of the day on 30 September 2021.
Approval of Extension of a Major Emergency Declaration
- Extends the major emergency declared on 22 March 2020 for 28 days.
Direction Under Section 16 - Residential Aged Care Facilities
- Restricts entry to a residential aged care facility except in certain circumstances, and requires the operator of a residential aged care facility to keep and provide certain information.
COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery Fee Waiver (Parking Charges) Order 2021
- Waives certain parking charges until 1 May 2021.
COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery (Vessel Accommodation Fee Relief) Order 2021
- Waives certain fees.
Extension of Declaration (No. 2) of Public Health State of Emergency
- Extends the public health state of emergency which came into effect on 23 March 2020 for 14 days.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Level Requirements) Order (No 5) 2021
- Moves Auckland from alert level 3 to alert level 2, and the rest of the country from alert level 2 to alert level 1.
COVID-19 Public Health Response (Maritime Border) Order (No 2) Amendment Order 2021
- Amends the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Maritime Border) Order (No 2) 2020 to allow the Minister for COVID-19 Response to grant exemptions from any provision of that order.
FROM THE REGULATORS
Therapeutic Goods Administration:
ACT Government:
NZ Government:
- Govt Purchases Enough Pfizer Vaccines for Whole Country
- Independent Group to Oversee Continual Improvement in COVID-19 Response
- Next Stage of COVID-19 Support for Business and Workers
- Over Half of Border Workforce Receive First Vaccinations
- Over $300m Returned to COVID-hit Travellers
- Support Available for Communities Affected by COVID-19
That completes this edition of the COVID-19 update. The next update will be released on Wednesday 17 March 2021.