Renewal implies that the rating has already expired. There was opportunity during the last 9 months or so to revalidate if not by experience, then by test. It is possible that opportunity didn't exist in this case, but renewal involves not only the examiner, but the Head of Training at an ATO or DTO issuing a Course Completion Certificate and completing the renewal paperwork. 'No training required' might be the case, but what if some refresher is called for?
If the rating has already expired, unless the instructor is working at an ATO teaching Commercial students, they won't be able to work until the current restrictions are lifted anyway, so why not wait until they are?
TOO