Section 39A: Extension of time during COVID-19 period

39A. Extension of time during COVID-19 period (1) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to institute or lodge judicial proceedings and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the judicial proceedings may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be instituted or lodged not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. Acts 2020 49 (2) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to make a payment and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the payment may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be made not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. (3) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to make an application for a licence, including an application for renewal, and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the application may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be made not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. (4) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to make a decision or give a determination and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the decision or determination may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be made or given not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. (5) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to submit a report and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or 50 Acts 2020 (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the report may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be submitted not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. (6) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to register a document and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the document may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be registered not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. (7) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed to serve a notice or any other document and the time expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the notice or document may, notwithstanding the time imposed, be served not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. (8) Where, under an enactment, a time is imposed on a person to do or refrain from doing any other act or thing and the time for doing or refraining from doing that other act or thing expires, or falls wholly or partly, during – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the person may, notwithstanding the time imposed, do or refrain from doing that other act or thing not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. Acts 2020 51 (9) In this section – “judicial proceedings” – (a) means proceedings before any Court, statutory tribunal, statutory committee, statutory commission or statutory panel; and (b) includes an appeal, an objection, ing – (a) the COVID-19 period; or (b) a period of 30 days after the COVID-19 period lapses, the person may, notwithstanding the time imposed, do or refrain from doing that other act or thing not later than such period as may be prescribed by regulations under that enactment. Acts 2020 51 (9) In this section – “judicial proceedings” – (a) means proceedings before any Court, statutory tribunal, statutory committee, statutory commission or statutory panel; and (b) includes an appeal, an objection, a review, a petition, an application by way of case stated, a representation, a complaint, an assessment or any other statutory application; “licence” includes a permit, an approval, a clearance, a certificate or any other similar authorisation; “payment” includes the payment of any fine, tax, charge, levy, duty, fine, penalty, interest, surcharge or any other fee; “report” includes any information, book, record, return, prospectus or any other similar document, whether in electronic form or not.