Commercial and residential rent increases would be banned for six months and police powers to detain people would be bolstered under proposed coronavirus emergency laws to be considered by South Australian Parliament on Tuesday.

Key points: The draft bill proposes protections for renters facing financial hardship in the next six months

The draft bill proposes protections for renters facing financial hardship in the next six months It also gives Police Commissioner Grant Stevens power to contravene existing SA laws

It also gives Police Commissioner Grant Stevens power to contravene existing SA laws The proposed legislation is set to be debated in Parliament on Tuesday

Along with being unable to increase rent during the pandemic, landlords would be unable to end residential tenancies for tenants facing "extreme financial hardship" due to coronavirus.

The bill does not outline how someone would prove they are suffering financial hardship.

No action could be taken if a commercial tenant failed to pay rent or outgoings, or if a business did not open in the hours specified in a lease.

Under the draft bill, the state coordinator, SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, would also be given the power to contravene existing laws.

Additionally, South Australian Police officers could use "reasonable force" to detain people under orders from Chief Public Medical Officer Nicola Spurrier or Commissioner Stevens.

The legislation would be in place until the coronavirus threat was declared "cleared" by the minister.

Attorney-General Vickie Chapman said the COVID-19 Emergency Response Bill 2020 was drafted to protect landlords, tenants and South Australian jobs, as well as protecting government officials from liability, so they may "go about their duties freely".

"We have a strong plan to stop the spread of COVID-19 and minimise the impact on our state," Ms Chapman said.

"A legislative response that supports South Australians, protects local jobs and enacts measures that keep our state running is an integral part of that.

"This comprehensive package strengthens the powers available to the state coordinator, taking a stronger approach to enforcing detention orders involving possible cases of COVID-19."

State Coordinator given additional powers

"The bill also ensures government officials acting under the direction of the emergency management act are protected from liability, ensuring they can go about their duties freely — an especially important

time as we work to contain the spread of COVID-19," Ms Chapman said.

"This will not be our only legislative response, but it is an important step forward for the work that will be done over the coming weeks and months to protect the community, support local jobs and combat

the spread of this virus."

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens is South Australia's state coordinator. ( ABC News: Malcolm Sutton )

Additional regulatory powers would be granted to the State Government, Chief Public Health Officer and state coordinator if the bill was passed.

Commissioner Stevens was appointed state coordinator on March 22, assuming all major responsibilities under the emergency management act.

Under the bill's temporary modifications to the act, Commissioner Stevens would get the green light to "exercise or discharge a power or function … even if to do so would contravene another law of the state".

"The state coordinator or an authorised officer may use such force as is reasonably necessary in the exercise or discharge of a power or function under this section or in ensuring compliance with a direction or requirement under this section," the bill reads.

The bill also includes a point asserting there is "no obligation to maintain secrecy or other restriction on the disclosure of information" applying to a person who is required to disclose information by direction from Commissioner Stevens.

State projects set to bypass Public Works Committee

Additional measures in the bill include the ability for major State Government infrastructure projects to go ahead without a Public Works Committee report, to reduce delays in starting work and supporting local jobs.

In relation to housing, residential property inspections would no longer be allowed to take place in person — instead occurring via audio-visual or electronic means.

JobKeeper payments to South Australian residents would also be exempt from payroll tax.

The new measures are expected to be debated when Parliament resumes on Tuesday.