COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill 2020
Bill Journey
Referred to Legal Affairs and Community Safety Committee
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill establishes Queensland's legal framework for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. It protects renters and small businesses from eviction, allows Parliament and courts to operate remotely, and enables documents like wills to be witnessed via video link.
Who it affects
Renters and small business tenants facing financial hardship are protected from eviction. Anyone needing to make legal documents, attend court, or meet statutory deadlines benefits from remote and flexible arrangements.
Tenant and small business protections
Implements National Cabinet's decision to impose a six-month moratorium on evictions for residential tenants unable to pay rent due to COVID-19. Commercial tenants are also protected through good faith leasing principles that prevent landlords from terminating leases or recovering possession.
- Six-month moratorium on evictions for tenants in COVID-19 financial distress
- Landlords must negotiate rent relief in good faith with struggling tenants
- New Small Business Commissioner provides free advice and mediation for lease disputes
- Routine property inspections suspended where they conflict with social distancing
Parliament and government operations
Enables the Legislative Assembly to meet and vote remotely during the emergency. Members can participate via video conference and vote by proxy, ensuring Parliament can continue functioning despite social distancing requirements.
- Parliament can meet via video or teleconference during the emergency
- Members can vote electronically or by proxy
- Quorum can include members attending remotely
Courts, documents and deadlines
Creates a broad framework to modify how courts operate, how documents are witnessed, and how statutory deadlines apply. This allows wills and powers of attorney to be witnessed via video call, court appearances to occur by video link, and deadlines to be extended where COVID-19 restrictions make compliance impossible.
- Wills, powers of attorney and statutory declarations can be witnessed via video link
- Court and tribunal appearances can be by audio-visual link
- Statutory time limits can be extended where COVID-19 causes delays
- Documents can be served by email or post instead of in person