Federal Register of Legislation - Australian Government

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Determinations/Health as made
This instrument implements safe air travel measures by requiring preventative biosecurity measures for passengers and aircrew relating to mask wearing, and for passengers, evidence of a negative COVID-19 test.
Administered by: Health
General Comments: This instrument was registered at 5.55 pm (by legal time in the Australian Capital Territory) on 21 January 2021.
Registered 21 Jan 2021
Tabling HistoryDate
Tabled HR02-Feb-2021
Tabled Senate02-Feb-2021
Date ceased to have effect 20 Jan 2022
Ceased by Self Ceasing

Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia

 

Biosecurity (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Preventative Biosecurity Measures—Incoming International Flights) Determination 2021

I, Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care, make the following determination.

Dated 21 January 2021

Greg Hunt

Minister for Health and Aged Care

 

  

  

  


Contents

Part 1—Preliminary                                                                                                                                        1

1............ Name............................................................................................................................. 1

2............ Commencement............................................................................................................. 1

3............ Authority....................................................................................................................... 1

4............ Definitions..................................................................................................................... 1

5............ Listed human disease to which this instrument relates................................................... 2

6............ Behaviours or practices to be prevented........................................................................ 2

7............ Period during which this instrument is in force............................................................. 2

Part 2—Biosecurity measures to be taken by specified classes of persons                    3

8............ Behaviour or practice by passengers and crew—wearing face masks or face coverings 3

9............ Behaviour or practice by passengers—providing evidence of negative tests................. 4

 


Part 1Preliminary

  

1  Name

                   This instrument is the Biosecurity (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Preventative Biosecurity Measures—Incoming International Flights) Determination 2021.

2  Commencement

             (1)  Each provision of this instrument specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provisions

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  The whole of this instrument

Immediately after this instrument is registered.

5.55 pm (A.C.T.) 21 January 2021

Note:          This table relates only to the provisions of this instrument as originally made. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this instrument.

             (2)  Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this instrument. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this instrument.

3  Authority

                   This instrument is made under subsection 51(2) of the Biosecurity Act 2015.

4  Definitions

Note:          The expression passenger used in this instrument is defined in the Act.

                   In this instrument:

Act means the Biosecurity Act 2015.

connecting traveller has the same meaning as in the Emergency Requirements Determination.

Emergency Requirements Determination means the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements—Incoming International Flights) Determination 2021, as in force at the commencement of this instrument.

relevant international flight has the same meaning as in the Emergency Requirements Determination.

relevant official has the same meaning as in the Emergency Requirements Determination.

suitable face mask or face covering has the same meaning as in the Emergency Requirements Determination.

5  Listed human disease to which this instrument relates

                   This instrument relates to human coronavirus with pandemic potential.

Note:          COVID‑19 is the name given by the World Health Organization to the disease.

6  Behaviours or practices to be prevented

                   This instrument is made for the purposes of preventing the following behaviours or practices by persons entering Australian territory on flights that commence outside Australian territory:

                     (a)  undertaking a flight without wearing a face mask or face covering;

                     (b)  undertaking a flight despite not having tested negative for the coronavirus known as COVID‑19.

7  Period during which this instrument is in force

                   This instrument is in force during the period:

                     (a)  beginning on the day this instrument commences; and

                     (b)  ending at the earlier of the following:

                              (i)  when the Emergency Requirements Determination ceases to have effect;

                             (ii)  the end of 1 year beginning on the day this instrument commences.

Part 2Biosecurity measures to be taken by specified classes of persons

  

8  Behaviour or practice by passengers and crew—wearing face masks or face coverings

Passengers

             (1)  Subject to subsection (5), a person who is a passenger of an aircraft on a relevant international flight must wear a suitable face mask or face covering at all times during the flight period mentioned in subsection (3) and, if the person is a connecting traveller, at all times during the connecting period mentioned in subsection (4) for the person when the person is in close proximity to other persons, other than as follows:

                     (a)  for the minimum time required to consume food, beverages or oral medication;

                     (b)  when the person is required by law to remove the face mask or face covering;

                     (c)  for a person assisting a person who is deaf or hearing‑impaired (the assisted person)—when communicating with the assisted person;

                     (d)  if, while the person is on an aircraft, the person in charge of the aircraft permits the removal of face masks and face coverings for a period for operational reasons—during that period;

                     (e)  if it is necessary to remove the face mask or face covering in an emergency (including a medical emergency) or to meet safety requirements.

Person in charge and members of crew

             (2)  Subject to subsection (5), a person who is the person in charge, or a member of the crew, of an aircraft on a relevant international flight must wear a suitable face mask or face covering at all times during the flight period mentioned in subsection (3) and, if the person is a connecting traveller, at all times during the connecting period mentioned in subsection (4) for the person when the person is in close proximity to other persons, other than as follows:

                     (a)  for the minimum time required to consume food, beverages or oral medication;

                     (b)  when the person is required by law to remove the face mask or face covering;

                     (c)  when wearing the face mask or face covering would interfere with the carrying out of the person’s duties (for example when communicating with passengers, the person in charge or a member of the crew);

                     (d)  if, while the person is on an aircraft, the person in charge of the aircraft permits the removal of face masks and face coverings for a period for operational reasons—during that period;

                     (e)  if it is necessary to remove the face mask or face covering in an emergency (including a medical emergency) or to meet safety requirements.

Flight period

             (3)  For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the flight period is the period that:

                     (a)  begins when the person boards the aircraft; and

                     (b)  ends when the person disembarks the aircraft.

Connecting period

             (4)  For the purposes of subsections (1) and (2), the connecting period for a person who is a connecting traveller is the period that:

                     (a)  begins:

                              (i)  if the person boards the person’s connecting flight (or, if the person undertakes more than one connecting flight, the person’s first connecting flight) less than 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the relevant international flight—when the person boards the connecting flight (or the first connecting flight); and

                             (ii)  if the person boards the person’s connecting flight (or, if the person undertakes more than one connecting flight, the person’s first connecting flight) 72 hours or more before the scheduled departure time of the relevant international flight—72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the relevant international flight; and

                     (b)  ends when the person boards the aircraft for the relevant international flight.

Persons to whom the requirements do not apply

             (5)  The requirement in subsection (1) or (2) (as applicable) does not apply to a person if:

                     (a)  an exemption set out in section 7 of the Emergency Requirements Determination applies to the person; or

                     (b)  an exemption was granted to the person under section 8 of the Emergency Requirements Determination before the flight commences.

Note 1:       A person who fails to comply with a biosecurity measure that applies to the person under this instrument may contravene a civil penalty provision (see section 52 of the Act). See also Part 6 of Chapter 9 of the Act in relation to civil penalties.

Note 2:       For protections for children or incapable persons who are subject to a biosecurity measure in this instrument, see Subdivision B of Division 2 of Part 1 of Chapter 2 of the Act.

9  Behaviour or practice by passengers—providing evidence of negative tests

             (1)  Subject to subsection (5), a person who is a passenger of an aircraft on a relevant international flight must provide sufficient evidence, in accordance with subsection (4), that in the period mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) (as applicable) the person was tested for the coronavirus known as COVID‑19 and that the result of the test was negative:

                     (a)  before the person boards the aircraft, if requested by a member of the aircraft operator’s staff; and

                     (b)  at the landing place, if requested by a relevant official.

             (2)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the period for a person to whom an extension does not apply under section 12 of the Emergency Requirements Determination is:

                     (a)  for a person who is not a connecting traveller—the period that began 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the relevant international flight; and

                     (b)  for a person who is a connecting traveller—the period that began 72 hours before the scheduled departure time of the person’s connecting flight (or, if the person undertakes more than one connecting flight, the person’s first connecting flight).

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (1), the period for a person to whom an extension applies under section 12 of the Emergency Requirements Determination is the period specified in the extension.

             (4)  For the purposes of subsection (1), sufficient evidence means the result of:

                     (a)  a polymerase chain reaction test; or

                     (b)  a test approved under section 13 of the Emergency Requirements Determination for a country, if:

                              (i)  the person was in the country in the period mentioned in subsection (2) or (3) (as applicable); and

                             (ii)  the approval was in force at the beginning of that period.

             (5)  The requirement in subsection (1) does not apply to a person if:

                     (a)  an exemption set out in section 14 of the Emergency Requirements Determination applies to the person; or

                     (b)  an exemption was granted to the person under section 15 of the Emergency Requirements Determination before the flight commences; or

                     (c)  an exemption that applies to the person was granted under section 16 of the Emergency Requirements Determination before the flight commences.

Note 1:       A person who fails to comply with a biosecurity measure that applies to the person under this instrument may contravene a civil penalty provision (see section 52 of the Act). See also Part 6 of Chapter 9 of the Act in relation to civil penalties.

Note 2:       For protections for children or incapable persons who are subject to a biosecurity measure in this instrument, see Subdivision B of Division 2 of Part 1 of Chapter 2 of the Act.