This order, which comes into force at 11.59 pm on 20 September 2020, makes amendments to the following orders concerning the granting of exemptions by the Minister of Health:

• the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Air Border) Order (No 2) 2020 (the Air Border Order):

• the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Isolation and Quarantine) Order 2020 (the Isolation and Quarantine Order).

Part 1 of this order amends the Air Border Order. The main effect of the amendments is to require the Minister to take into account the advice of the Director-General of Health when deciding whether to grant an exemption and what (if any) conditions to impose on an exemption. (See new clause 15(2A), which is inserted by clause 5 of this order.)

Clause 4 of this order makes an amendment consequent on the amendment to the Isolation and Quarantine Order by Part 2 of this order.

Part 2 of this order inserts new clause 15A into the Isolation and Quarantine Order to enable the Minister to grant exemptions from requirements for isolation or quarantine set out in that order. The new clause requires the Minister, when granting an exemption, to be satisfied that—

• the exemption (together with any conditions) is not inconsistent with the purpose set out in section 4 of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020; and

• the exemption is necessary to facilitate a Government-approved event or a major Government-approved programme; and

• the extent of the exemption is not broader than is reasonably necessary to facilitate that event or programme.

This order must be approved by a resolution of the House of Representatives before the end of the relevant period described in section 16(2) of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020. If that does not happen, the order is revoked at the end of that period.