How Laws Have Changed During The Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated changes across Australia. As a result, some laws and regulations have been altered.

Here are several areas experiencing significant impact.

Border Control

Border control was the first measure taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The restrictions specified who could enter the country, as well as the requirements for doing so.

A federally mandated 14-day quarantine in a designated location is now required prior to entry. State jurisdictions also introduced individual entry restrictions.

Outdoor Performances

A music performance or rehearsal held in a public outdoor location with 100 to 500 people must have a COVID-19 safety checklist. Beyond this number, the event organiser is required to register a COVID-19 Event Safety Plan, which outlines safety requirements to ensure compliance.

Hospitality venues are asked to use electronic entry recording when checking customers into their venues. This method uses QR codes to collect details without physical contact between the employee and the customer.

Outdoor venues may require a separation of two square metres between each person. These are subject to maximum capacity limit regulations.

Events and Ceremonies

Regulations are also in place for significant events held at hospitality venues using electronic record-gathering systems. Such events include corporate gatherings, religious services, weddings and funerals.

The same distancing rule of one person per two square metres may be applied for outdoor events. A COVID-19 Safety Plan is also required for these types of gatherings.

Maximum capacity for these events will differ depending on available space. As a general rule:

• 300 people are permitted to attend corporate events.
• 150 people can attend weddings.
• 100 people are allowed at religious services and funerals.

Other Venues

All other venues must require four square metres of space between all persons on-premises. This is a public health order.

Travellers Entering NSW from New Zealand

A new regulation for travellers entering NSW from New Zealand went into effect on 16 October. These individuals are not required to enter into quarantine if they haven’t been in a New Zealand COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days.

Visitors to Residences and Private Outdoor Gatherings

A maximum of 20 people is permitted to visit a residence at a given time. Visitors include adults and children but exclude members of the household.

There is no daily limit to residential gatherings provided no more than 20 visitors are present at one time.

Overnight stays are permitted, subject to the same 20 visitors at a time limit.

When more people are present at a residential gathering, each individual is held responsible for breaching the public health order. Since homes are considered a high transmission area, the NSW Chief Health Officer strongly recommends no more than 10 visitors at a given time. This is referred to as a COVID-Safe precautionary approach.

Individuals over 70 years of age or with a pre-existing medical condition are encouraged to limit visits to their residence.

Schools

The health advice for schools has not changed during the pandemic. According to the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), schools are safe for students to attend in-person. Individual states and territories are permitted to make their own decisions depending on their local circumstances.

Community Sports and Classes

The presence of a COVID-19 Safe Hygiene Marshal is required when gyms are open. This person ensures health and safety standards are met in the facility. The gym must also be registered as COVID-Safe.

Dance, yoga, Pilates, martial arts and gymnastics studios are not considered gyms. Classes such as yoga and Pilates allow a maximum capacity of 20 attendees.

Stay Safe and Informed

As the pandemic continues and conditions change, laws and regulations will evolve. Follow these regulations to remain safe and healthy.

Learn more about these and other laws that affect you, and let the trusted experts at Gilbert + Tobin Lawyers answer all your questions today.