NSW recorded zero new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm last night. There were zero new cases in returning overseas travellers, bringing the total number of cases in NSW since the beginning of the pandemic to 4,954. More information here.

More than 142,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioTech COVID-19 vaccine arrived at Sydney Airport this week, with shots to be administered from next week. This was the first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine under the Australian Government’s vaccination strategy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison indicated this week that vaccinations should begin on February 22, with frontline health and border workers and vulnerable Australians the first in line. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced that more than 35,000 frontline health care workers will receive the vaccine over the next three weeks at hubs at Westmead, Liverpool and Royal Prince Alfred Hospitals. More here.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has approved the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for use in Australia following a full and thorough assessment process. The vaccine has met the required standards for safety, quality and efficacy and will be provided free to Australians. This means Australia now has two safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available. Initial supply into Australia will be imported from overseas. In the coming months, the AstraZeneca vaccine will be manufactured in Australia. Australia is one of a small number of countries in the world that can manufacture its own COVID-19 vaccine. More details here.

The COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Stronger Communities and Health) Bill 2021 was tabled in NSW Parliament today and proposes to extend certain COVID-19 legislative provisions for six months until 26 September 2021, with an option to extend by up to a further six months by regulation. The Bill does not extend extraordinary regulation making powers such as for use where Parliament is not able to sit. The Bill will repeal temporary COVID-19 regulation-making powers in the Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013, Criminal Procedure Act 1986 and Interpretation Act 1987. COVID-19 regulation making powers in the Electronic Transactions Act 2000 will also be repealed on 26 March 2021. Details of the Bill are available here.

The Federal Government will introduce legislation into Parliament to extend the application of temporary relief measures introduced at the height of the coronavirus crisis relating to virtual AGMs and signing and sending electronic documents. The Treasury Laws Amendment (2021 Measures No. 1) Bill will extend from 21 March 2021 to 15 September 2021 allowing companies to use technology to meet regulatory requirements to hold meetings, such as annual general meetings, distribute meeting-related materials and validly execute documents. More here.

On 15 February 2021 the OMARA advised: The paper form 956 must be used by all legal practitioners with all new clients as of 22 March 2021, where a legal practitioner has been appointed by a client to provide immigration assistance under the Migration Act 1958. When the approved new form has been received from the OMARA a copy will be posted on the Regulatory Compliance page of the Law Society’s website.