Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020

This instrument is the Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020.

3 Authority

This instrument is made under subsection 477(1) of the Biosecurity Act 2015.

4 Definitions

Note: A number of expressions used in this instrument are defined in the Biosecurity Act 2015, including the following:

(a) Australian law;

(b) Australian territory;

(d) exposed to;

(e) Health Department.

(1) In this instrument:

commercial primary production means:

(a) commercial primary production of:

(i) food; or

(ii) products that, with further processing, will become (at least in part) food; or

(b) commercial processing of primary products to make food from them; or

(c) provision of veterinary services for animals kept, used or bred for commercial primary production described in paragraph (a); or

(d) aquaculture; or

(e) agribusiness.

cruise ship means a vessel that:

(a) has sleeping facilities for 100 or more passengers; and

(b) is usually used to provide a service of sea transportation, being a service that:

(i) is provided in return for a fee payable by persons using the service; and

(ii) is available to the general public.

designated area means an area described in Schedule 1.

essential activity in a designated area means any of the following:

(a) providing any of the following for the benefit of one or more persons in the area:

(i) health care;

(ii) education;

(iii) services relating to prevention of, or recovery from, domestic violence;

(iv) services relating to child protection;

(v) policing services;

(vi) emergency services;

(vii) essential services of a kind typically provided by local government, such as rubbish collection;

(viii) services, benefits, programs or facilities that the Chief Executive Centrelink has the function of providing;

(b) providing correctional services in relation to one or more persons in the area;

(d) conducting, or taking part in, a sitting of a court or tribunal in the area;

(e) operating, maintaining, repairing or replacing:

(i) equipment for providing electricity, gas, water, medical services, telecommunications services or broadcasting services; or

(ii) other essential infrastructure in the area;

(f) delivering food, fuel, mail or medical supplies in the area;

(g) obtaining medical care or medical supplies in the area;

(h) continuing the construction in the area of housing or transport infrastructure that was in progress immediately before the commencement of this instrument;

(i) carrying out mining operations, or operations ancillary to mining operations, in the area in a manner that is agreed with a human biosecurity officer so as to minimise the extent to which other persons in the area are exposed to the persons carrying out those operations;

(j) transporting freight to or from a place in the area;

(k) carrying out commercial primary production in the area in a manner that is agreed with a human biosecurity officer so as to minimise the extent to which other persons in the area are exposed to the persons carrying out the production;

(l) doing any of the following things, in the area in a manner that is agreed with a human biosecurity officer so as to reduce as far as practicable the extent to which other persons in the area are exposed to the persons doing the things, in connection with an election for a member of a legislature whose electorate includes some or all of the area:

(i) enrolling voters;

(ii) canvassing votes;

(iii) putting up or taking down signs relating to the election;

(iv) providing facilities for voting;

(v) voting;

(vi) scrutinising votes.

mining operations includes operations for the extraction of oil or gas.

NT Land Rights Act means the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976.

relevant decision‑maker for a designated area means:

(a) a person occupying an office, appointment or position, of a State, Territory or other body, described, for the area, in the table in Schedule 2; or

(b) a human biosecurity officer who is an officer or employee of the Health Department, acting after having regard to the advice of a person who is a relevant decision‑maker for the area under paragraph (a).

(2) A reference in a provision of this instrument to a particular law of a State or Territory is a reference to that law as in force immediately before the commencement of that provision.

Part 2—Requirements

5 Persons not to enter designated areas

(1) A person must remain outside a designated area unless:

(a) the person is entering the area to escape an immediate threat to the person’s life; or

(b) the person is a member of the Australian Defence Force and is entering the area in the course of the member’s duty; or

(ba) the person is one of the following officials, and is entering the area in the course of the person’s duty as such an official:

(i) the Director of Human Biosecurity;

(ii) a chief human biosecurity officer for a State or Territory;

(iii) a human biosecurity officer;

(iv) a biosecurity official;

(v) an official performing functions under an Australian law relating to public health, biosecurity or requirements on the export of food or agricultural commodities; or

(bb) because of an amendment of the description of the area in Schedule 1, the person ceases to remain outside the area on the commencement of the amendment; or

(i) immediately before the entry, the person does not have any of the signs or symptoms of human coronavirus with pandemic potential;

(ii) in the 14 days immediately before the entry, the person has not been exposed, without adequate personal protective precautions, to human coronavirus with pandemic potential;

(iii) in the 14 days immediately before the entry, the person has not been in a foreign country;

(iv) the person is not entering the area wholly or partly for the purpose of engaging in an activity in the area that is prohibited by or under an Australian law;

(v) the person’s entry to the area is not prohibited by or under an Australian law (other than this section);

(vi) at least one of subsections (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) applies to the person; or

(d) none of paragraphs (a) to (c), but all of the following, apply to the person entering the area:

(i) the person is entering the area on board a vessel, other than a cruise ship, as the person in charge of the vessel or a member of the crew of the vessel;

(ii) immediately before the entry, the person does not have any of the signs or symptoms of human coronavirus with pandemic potential;

(iii) in the 14 days immediately before the entry, the person has not been exposed, without adequate personal protective precautions, to human coronavirus with pandemic potential;

(iv) the person is not entering the area wholly or partly for the purpose of engaging in an activity in the area that is prohibited by or under an Australian law;

(v) the person’s entry to the area is not prohibited by or under an Australian law (other than this section).

Person is at low risk of transmitting human coronavirus with pandemic potential

(2) This subsection applies to a person entering a designated area if, throughout the 14 days before entering, the person:

(a) has been isolated from the general public; and

(b) has not had any signs or symptoms of human coronavirus with pandemic potential.

Person is entering area to engage in, or provide transport for, essential activity

(3) This subsection applies to a person entering a designated area if:

(a) the person either:

(i) is entering the area primarily to engage in an essential activity in the area that requires the person to be in the area; or

(ii) is the person in charge of, or a member of the crew of, a conveyance entering the area primarily to transport one or more persons described in subparagraph (i); and

(b) either:

(i) there is an urgent need for the person to engage in the essential activity in the area or to be in charge of, or a member of the crew of, the conveyance entering the area; or

(ii) the person is entering the area primarily to engage in an essential activity in a manner that is agreed with a human biosecurity officer so as to minimise the extent to which other persons in the area are exposed to the person carrying out the activity.

Person has permission to enter area

(4) This subsection applies to a person entering a designated area if there is in force permission for the person to enter the area given by a relevant decision‑maker for the area who:

(a) is a chief human biosecurity officer or a human biosecurity officer; or

(b) has had regard to any guidance from a human biosecurity officer about who should be allowed to enter the area.

Person is in transit through area

(5) This subsection applies to a person (the entrant) entering a designated area on a journey for which the following conditions are met:

(a) the journey is to a place beyond the area;

(b) the journey takes the most direct practicable route through the area;

(i) the journey does not involve a person in the area (other than a person travelling with the entrant) being exposed to the entrant or a person travelling with the entrant; or

(ii) the journey is to or from a resources industry fixed structure (within the meaning of the Sea Installations Act 1987), or a resources industry mobile unit (within the meaning of that Act), that is outside the area, and exposure of a person (other than a person travelling with the entrant) in the area to the entrant is managed in a manner approved by a human biosecurity officer.

Person is moving without exposure between designated areas or parts of designated area

(6) This subsection applies to a person (the entrant) entering a designated area (the end area) on a journey for which the following conditions are met:

(a) the journey started in a designated area (the start area) that the entrant did not enter in contravention of subsection (1), whether the start area is the same as, or different from, the end area;

(b) the journey passed through an area that was not a designated area;

(d) if the journey involved use of a conveyance, the same conveyance was used for the whole journey.

Person is crossing State border between designated areas

(7) This subsection applies to a person entering a designated area from an adjoining designated area by crossing the border of a State where it is part of the boundary of each of the designated areas.

6 Persons entering designated areas to minimise contact with others in those areas

(1) This section applies to a person who enters a designated area in reliance on:

(a) paragraph 5(1)(a) (about persons escaping immediate threats to their lives); or

(b) paragraph 5(1)(b) (about members of the Australian Defence Force); or

(ba) paragraph 5(1)(ba) (about officials with duties relating to public health or biosecurity); or

(d) subsection 5(4) (about persons entering the area with permission given by a relevant decision‑maker); or

(e) subsection 5(6) (about persons moving without exposure to others between designated areas) applying to a journey from a different designated area.

(2) The person must take reasonable steps (having regard to the person’s circumstances and reason for entering the area) to minimise the extent to which anyone else in the area is exposed to the person.

7 Persons entering designated areas on board vessels to stay on board

(1) This section applies to a person who enters a designated area on board a vessel in reliance on paragraph 5(1)(d) (about crew of vessels other than cruise ships who are not covered by any of paragraphs 5(1)(a) to (c)).

(2) While the vessel is in the designated area, the person must:

(a) remain on board the vessel unless:

(i) the person is escaping an immediate threat to the person’s life; or

(ii) the person is removed from the vessel to be given urgent medical treatment; and

(b) take adequate precautions to reduce the risk of another person on board the vessel, who is neither the person in charge of the vessel nor a member of the crew of the vessel, being exposed to human coronavirus with pandemic potential.

(3) If the person leaves the vessel while it is in the designated area, the person must take reasonable steps (having regard to the person’s circumstances and reason for leaving the vessel) to minimise the extent to which anyone else in the area is exposed to the person.

Schedule 1—Designated areas

Note: See the definition of designated area in section 4.

1 Designated areas in Queensland

(1) This subclause describes the area in Queensland consisting of the following local government areas whose names and boundaries are provided for by the Local Government Regulation 2012 (Qld):

(a) Aurukun;

(b) Cook;

(d) Kowanyama;

(e) Lockhart River;

(f) Mapoon;

(g) Napranum;

(h) Northern Peninsula Area;

(i) Pormpuraaw;

(j) Torres Strait Island;

(k) Torres;

(l) Wujal Wujal;

and the areas excluded from the Cook local government area under the agreement made under the Commonwealth Aluminium Corporation Pty. Limited Agreement Act 1957 (Qld).

(2) This subclause describes the area in Queensland consisting of the following local government areas whose names and boundaries are provided for by the Local Government Regulation 2012 (Qld):

(a) Burke;

(b) Doomadgee.

(3) This subclause describes each of the following local government areas whose names and boundaries are provided for by the Local Government Regulation 2012 (Qld):

(a) Cherbourg;

(b) Mornington;

(d) Woorabinda;

(e) Yarrabah.

2 Designated area in Western Australia

(1) This subclause describes the area in Western Australia consisting of:

(a) the following shires, as they existed immediately before the commencement of this instrument:

(i) the Shire of Broome;

(ii) the Shire of Derby‑West Kimberley;

(iii) the Shire of Wyndham‑East Kimberley;

(iv) the Shire of Halls Creek;

(v) the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku; and

(b) the area whose boundary is described in subclause (2).

(2) The area mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) is bounded by a line starting at the point described in item 1 of the following table and running sequentially as described in the table.

Area described in paragraph (1)(b)
Item	Description
1	The intersection of the southern boundary of the Shire of Halls Creek by the border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory
2	West along that boundary to the south‑western corner of the Shire of Halls Creek
3	South to the point 21.83195°S 126.00129°E
4	West along the parallel 21.83195°S to its intersection by the eastern boundary of Wandanya Pastoral Lease
5	Generally southerly along the eastern boundary of Wandanya Pastoral Lease, the eastern boundary of Balfour Downs Pastoral Lease and the eastern boundary of the Walagunya Pastoral Lease to its intersection with the boundary of the Shire of East Pilbara at about 23.44050°S 120.75827°E
6	Generally southerly, easterly, northerly then easterly along that boundary to the north‑western corner of the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku
7	East along the northern boundary of the Shire of Ngaanyatjarraku to its intersection by the border of Western Australia and the Northern Territory
8	North along that border to the starting point

(3) In subclause (2) geographic coordinates are expressed in terms of the Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994.

3 Designated areas in South Australia

(1) This subclause describes each of the following areas that consist of land that, immediately before the commencement of this instrument, was Trust Land (within the meaning of the Aboriginal Lands Trust Act 2013 (SA)), together with any sections of roads separating parcels of such Trust Land:

(d) the area on which the community known as the Point Pearce Aboriginal Community is located;

(e) the area on which the community known as the Yalata Community is located;

(f) the area known as Nepabunna (excluding the area known as Iga Warta).

(2) This subclause describes the area that, immediately before the commencement of this instrument, was land granted under the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Land Rights Act 1981 (SA) to Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara.

(3) This subclause describes the area that, immediately before the commencement of this instrument, was land granted under the Maralinga Tjarutja Land Rights Act 1984 (SA) to Maralinga Tjarutja.

4 Designated area in Northern Territory

General description of designated area

(1) This clause describes the area consisting of the following, as they existed immediately before the commencement of this instrument:

(a) the local government areas covered by subclause (2);

(b) the areas covered by subclause (3);

except so much of those areas as is subject to a pastoral lease within the meaning of the Pastoral Land Act 1992 (NT) or is excluded by subclause (4), (5), (6) or (7).

Areas generally included in designated area

(2) This subclause covers the following local government areas constituted and named under section 9 of the Local Government Act 2008 (NT):

(a) Tiwi Islands;

(b) West Arnhem;

(d) West Daly;

(e) Roper Gulf;

(f) Victoria Daly (excluding Pine Creek ward);

(g) Barkly (excluding the Town of Tennant Creek);

(h) Central Desert;

(i) MacDonnell.

(3) This subclause covers:

(a) the area known as the Town of Nhulunbuy unincorporated area, consisting of NT Portions 1192, 1316 and 1398; and

(b) the area known as the Alyangula unincorporated area, consisting of NT Portions 1478, 1479, 1509, 1540, 1541, and 1542; and

(c) the area known as the Town of Yulara unincorporated area, as described in the Northern Territory Government Gazette No. 34, published on 20 August 1976.

Area around Mataranka excluded from designated area

(4) This subclause excludes the area consisting of:

(a) the area within the boundary of the Town of Mataranka described in Gazette No. 48 published on 24 May 1928; and

(b) the following parts of NT Portion 2255:

(i) the part between NT Portion 7018 and the Town of Mataranka;

(ii) the part south of the Town of Mataranka;

(iii) the part south of NT Portion 3859; and

(c) NT Portions 907, 0922, 1435, 2631, 2646, 2927, 3337, 3652, 3653, 3670, 3671, 3858, 3859, 4092, 4706, 5622, 6233, 6245 , 6266, 6280, 6282, 6283, 6402, 7018, 7028, 7029, 7030, 7031, 7032, 7084, 7085, 7201, 7202, 7203 and 7204.

Area near Katherine excluded from designated area

(5) This subclause excludes NT Portions 2641, 3629, 3701 and 4802.

Areas in Barkly local government area excluded from designated area

(6) This subclause excludes NT Portions 783, 1539, 1553, 1744, 1918, 1922, 2439, 3729, 3735, 4114, 4439, 4440, 4448 and 4472.

Areas around Alice Springs excluded from designated area

(7) This subclause excludes:

(a) NT Portions 461, 568, 570, 801, 1213, 1691, 3370, 3805, 3806, 3807, 3808, 3809, 3810, 4418, 4699 and 5624; and

(aa) each area that:

(i) is surrounded by one or more of the NT Portions mentioned in paragraph (a); or

(ii) separates parts of one of the NT Portions mentioned in paragraph (a); and

(b) Lots 1 and 2 in the Townsite of Amoonguna.

Schedule 2—Relevant decision‑makers

Note: See paragraph (a) of the definition of relevant decision‑maker in section 4.

1 Offices, appointments and positions for designated areas

The following table describes offices, appointments and positions for designated areas.

Offices, appointments and positions for designated areas
Item	Designated area	Office, appointment or position
1	A designated area that is, or includes, a local government area in Queensland	The chairperson of the local group (within the meaning of the Disaster Management Act 2003 (Qld)) for the local government area or the area that includes the local government area
2	A designated area in Western Australia	The chief human biosecurity officer for Western Australia
3	A designated area in Western Australia	A human biosecurity officer who is an employee of the State or Territory body responsible for the administration of health services in Western Australia
3A	A designated area in Western Australia	A police officer who is of the rank of superintendent or above
4	A designated area in South Australia	A police officer who: (a) is of the rank of Inspector or above; and (b) has responsibility for all or part of the designated area
4A	A designated area in the Northern Territory	The chief human biosecurity officer for the Northern Territory
4B	A designated area in the Northern Territory	A human biosecurity officer who is an employee of the State or Territory body responsible for the administration of health services in the Northern Territory
5	A designated area in the Northern Territory	Commissioner of Police and Chief Executive Officer of the Fire and Emergency Service of the Northern Territory
6	A designated area in the Northern Territory	Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Department of the Chief Minister of the Northern Territory
7	A designated area in the Northern Territory	Executive Director, Population and Primary Health Care, Department of Health of the Northern Territory
8	A designated area in the Northern Territory	General Manager, Primary Health Care, Central Australia Health Service, Department of Health of the Northern Territory
9	A designated area in the Northern Territory	Public Health Physician, Department of Health of the Northern Territory
10	A designated area that includes an area held by the Anindilyakwa Land Trust	Chief Executive Officer, Anindilyakwa Land Council
11	A designated area that includes an area held by the Anindilyakwa Land Trust	Mining and Environments Manager, Anindilyakwa Land Council
12	A designated area that includes all or part of the area of the Central Land Council (within the meaning of the NT Land Rights Act)	Chief Executive Officer, Central Land Council
13	A designated area that includes all or part of the area of the Central Land Council (within the meaning of the NT Land Rights Act)	General Manager Legal, Central Land Council
14	A designated area that includes all or part of the area of the Central Land Council (within the meaning of the NT Land Rights Act)	Executive Manager Policy and Governance, Central Land Council
15	A designated area that includes all or part of the area of the Northern Land Council (within the meaning of the NT Land Rights Act)	Chief Executive Officer, Northern Land Council
16	A designated area that includes all or part of the area of the Northern Land Council (within the meaning of the NT Land Rights Act)	Principal Legal Officer, Northern Land Council
17	A designated area that includes an area held by the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust	General Manager, Tiwi Land Council
18	A designated area that includes an area held by the Tiwi Aboriginal Land Trust	Principal Legal Officer, Tiwi Land Council

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

ad = added or inserted	o = order(s)
am = amended	Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment	orig = original
c = clause(s)	par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x	/sub‑subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s)	pres = present
def = definition(s)	prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary	(prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament	Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s)	r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change	reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have	renum = renumbered
effect	rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation	rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette	s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003	Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003	Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given	SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect	SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment	Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect	SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification	underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s)	commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Name	Registration	Commencement	Application, saving and transitional provisions
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Determination 2020	26 Mar 2020 (F2020L00324)	11:59 pm (A.C.T.) 26 Mar 2020 (s 2(1) item 1)
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Amendment (No. 1) Determination 2020	7 Apr 2020 (F2020L00415)	8 Apr 2020 (s 2(1) item 1)	—
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Amendment (No. 2) Determination 2020	23 Apr 2020 (F2020L00466)	24 Apr 2020 (s 2(1) item 1)	—
Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) (Emergency Requirements for Remote Communities) Amendment (No. 3) Determination 2020	23 May 2020 (F2020L00606)	Sch 1: 24 May 2020 (s 2(1) item 2) Sch 2: 5 June 2020 (s 2(1) item 3)	—

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
s 2.....................	rep LA s 48D
s 4.....................	am F2020L00415; F2020L00606 (Sch 2 items 1–3)
Part 2
s 5.....................	am F2020L00415; F2020L00466; F2020L00606 (Sch 2 item 4)
s 6.....................	am F2020L00415
s 7.....................	ad F2020L00606
Schedule 1
Schedule 1................	am F2020L00415; F2020L00466; F2020L00606 (Sch 2 item 5)
Schedule 2
Schedule 2................	am F2020L00415; F2020L00606