The Local Court has made changes to its operations to reduce the risk of the spread of coronavirus. The changes are outlined in the Chief Magistrate’s communications on the Local Court website.

Jury trials have re-commenced on a limited basis in a limited number of court rooms in the Sydney District Court (Downing Centre), Parramatta District Court and Newcastle District Court. The District Court has issued Empanelment Guidance for Practitioners for lawyers appearing in jury trials at the Downing Centre, which should be read in conjunction with the General Protocol, dated 26 May 2020.

Face-to-face criminal jury trials will resume in the Supreme Court from 29 June 2020 but will require at least two courtrooms each to accommodate social distancing requirements. Some civil hearings, with limited parties, witnesses and legal representatives have resumed on 1 June 2020. The Court has released an updated protocol for COVID-19 court operations to ensure the health and safety of all courts users remains the paramount consideration. View here.

The Honourable Justice Alstergren, Chief Justice, Family Court of Australia and Chief Judge, Federal Circuit Court of Australia, has issued an updated protocol on the gradual resumption of face-to-face hearings in the Courts from 15 June 2020. The Federal Circuit  Court has also issued important updated information for migration applicants here.

The Workers Compensation Commission has issued its latest e-bulletin, which includes updated protocols for in-person hearings, effective from 12 June 2020. More here.

Thousands of small businesses reopening across the State after the COVID-19 shutdown will benefit from funding of up to $3,000 under a new Small Business Recovery Grant. More here.

Restrictions imposed during COVID-19 will be further eased next month with strict social distancing rules. View the new rules here.

The number of people allowed on our trains, buses, ferries and trams will be increased from 1 July 2020, consistent with NSW Health advice. More here.

Under new guidelines now in place at NSW public schools, music and drama tutors can provide services on school sites, community use activities such as dance schools can resume their use of school premises, and support services such as early intervention programs and external counselling services can take place on-site. More here.

Post COVID-19, the NSW Government will relax late night trading and lift the long-standing freeze on new liquor licences across Sydney’s CBD. It is expected that the NSW Government will allow applications for new licences later in 2020, following public consultation. More here.

The NSW Government has announced $388 million in funding which will allow public patients whose surgery has been delayed due to COVID-19 to be treated in private hospitals. More here.

More than three in four (76 per cent) Australians were uncomfortable about attending large public events, according to new data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The ABS’s fifth Household Impacts of COVID-19 Survey found the level of comfort felt by Australians in returning to their usual activities following the easing of restrictions varied considerably depending on the type of activity. More here.

The Federal Government has announced the next two priority areas for its Deregulation Taskforce to assist with COVID-19 economic recovery – Modernising Business Communications and Improving Occupational Mobility. More here.

The Office of the Registrar General and NSW Land Registry Services have released guidance on the alternative signing options for owners corporations and community associations, following the commencement of the temporary regulations introduced on 5 June 2020 to provide more flexibility during COVID-19 restrictions.