Federal and NSW - Parliament Update
Overview
While ensuring the necessary social distancing requirements were complied with, scaled-back versions of NSW and Federal Parliaments convened this week, discussing crucial issues related to Australia’s health and economic recovery in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis.
As NSW enters the first stage of eased social-distancing restrictions, the NSW Parliament sat to consider COVID-19-specific legislation with just 23 MPs allowed in each of the two Houses at any one time.
Economic and unemployment updates in Federal Parliament presented a rather sober outlook in what would have been Budget week, and an unfortunately timed coughing fit during his ministerial statement saw Treasurer Josh Frydenberg tested for COVID-19 “out of an abundance of caution”– only to be cleared with a negative result on Wednesday.
Here’s what else happened in Government this week:
Federal Parliament
Under normal circumstances, Tuesday should have seen the release of much publicised ‘back in black, and back on track’ 2020-2021 Federal Budget, however due to the COVID-19 crisis, the Government was forced to delay until October.
Instead, Treasurer Frydenberg presented the Parliament with an economic update. Prior to COVID-19, Frydenberg had hoped he would deliver Australia's first budget surplus in more than a decade. But the underlying cash deficit at the end of March was $22.4 billion, almost $10 billion higher than the Government forecast in December's mid-year budget update. Frydenberg also told the house that tax receipts were $11.3 billion below December's expectations.
On Thursday it was announced that the official unemployment rate is up to 6.2 per cent from March to April - a rise of 1 percentage point from the previous month.
The Prime Minister addressed the figures, stating “Almost 600,000 jobs have been lost. Every one of them devastating for those Australians, for their families, for their communities. A very tough day."
Treasurer Frydenberg said the figures reiterate why the Government's financial commitments to respond to the coronavirus crisis are critical: "Today, the number of employees covered by those businesses that are formally enrolled in the JobKeeper program now exceeds six million”.
The Government is still expecting unemployment to hit 10 per cent.
NSW Parliament
The Coalition Government introduced bills proposing to amend about 40 Acts to help tackle COVID-19 on Tuesday, following the passage of emergency legislation in March. The second set of laws considered by NSW Parliament in the special sitting set out to “equip citizens, businesses and the justice system to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
The legislation passed both Houses on Wednesday, including a payroll tax exemption for JobKeeper payments to stood-down workers and changes to annual and long-service leave laws. The legislation will also see changes to workers' compensation arrangements, due to an amendment passed on Wednesday by Greens MLC David Shoebridge.
The Attorney General, Mark Speakman, further introduced three bills for debate. The bills include proposals for extraordinary regulation-making powers to enhance social distancing by:
The modification or suspension of laws requiring people to hold meetings in person, for example a board meeting or physical examination by a medical practitioner for a particular purpose;
The facilitation of wholly electronic signing of documents (the Government continues to consult on what classes of documents will be affected); and
The extension of limitation periods to take into account delays caused by the pandemic.
For more information on any of the legislative changes, please contact lc@premierstate.net.
Health
The health amendments will expand the ability of individual public health orders to require people to undergo testing or a medical examination and streamline COVID-19 medical research and data collection for a public health register. They will also allow for COVID-19-related conditions to be placed on the licences of private health facilities and also for audio-visual link mental health examinations.
Planning
Amendments to the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 will extend the timeframe for when a development consent lapses and when appeals can be lodged in the Land and Environment Court. These changes will provide more certainty for the community, business owners and the development industry and support NSW’s economic recovery.
Energy and Environment
Amendments to the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act will allow the EPA to temporarily exempt businesses struggling because of COVID-19 from certain requirements of the container deposit scheme, such as fees, charges and other regulatory requirements. The Bill will also support businesses, tradies and workers in the energy industry by creating a regulation-making power to establish the Energy Security Safeguard. The Safeguard will drive the rollout of technologies such as energy efficient and smart appliances in a way that improves grid reliability and lowers power prices.
Local Government:
Changes will allow councils to apply the rate peg more flexibly and respond to changing economic conditions such as COVID-19, bushfires and drought.
Treasury
The Government will provide a payroll tax exemption for Job Keeper payments made to workers who have been stood down, and for any extra wages paid to workers that earn less than the Job Keeper payment. This additional payroll tax relief will help keep people in jobs and support businesses who sign up to the Commonwealth’s Job Keeper scheme.
Employee Relations
Long service leave will be available in single day periods to shorten working weeks, but maintain income.
Families and Communities
Amendments to the Children’s Guardian Act 2019 will maintain continuity of current child protection regulations relevant to the Children’s Guardian’s functions until 1 March 2021, so that there is no gap in coverage while consultation on new regulations is undertaken.
Justice
Accused can appear via video link where judicial officer decides it is in the interest of justice. The Sheriff’s Officers can ask those presenting signs of COVID-related illness to leave court. They may also take the temperature of anyone attending court. When assisting agencies like the NSW Police Force in enforcing Public Health Orders, Sheriff’s Officers will have powers of arrest.
NSW Parliament - Easing of Restrictions
The first stage of easing restrictions came into force yesterday across NSW, with the following activities allowed:
public gatherings of up to 10 people
food and drink premises can open, but only to seat a maximum of 10 customers at any one time – this includes cafes and restaurants, a restaurant within a registered club or pub, or a cellar door that serves food
up to 5 visitors may visit another household at any one time
weddings can have up to 10 guests plus the people conducting or assisting in the conduct of the service, a photographer, a videographer, and the couple
indoor funerals and memorial services can have up to 20 mourners and outdoor funerals up to 30 mourners
religious gatherings and places of worship can have up to 10 worshippers
outdoor playground and exercise equipment can be used with caution
outdoor pools can open with restrictions.