Table Of Contents

Public Health Act 1991 No 10

An Act relating to the maintenance of proper standards of health for the public; and for other purposes.
Part 1 Preliminary
1   Name of Act
This Act may be cited as the Public Health Act 1991.
2   Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.
3   Definitions
(1)  In this Act:
approved means approved by the Minister.
area, in relation to a local authority, means the area in relation to which the local authority exercises its functions.
birth means the birth of a child who has breathed after delivery.
Category 1 medical condition means a medical condition listed under Category 1 in Schedule 1.
Category 2 medical condition means a medical condition listed under Category 2 in Schedule 1.
Category 3 medical condition means a medical condition listed under Category 3 in Schedule 1.
Category 4 medical condition means a medical condition listed under Category 4 in Schedule 1.
Category 5 medical condition means a medical condition listed under Category 5 in Schedule 1.
delivery, in relation to a child or still-born child, means the complete expulsion or extraction of the child or still-born child from the mother.
Director-General means the Director-General, Department of Health.
environmental health officer means a holder of that office who is:
(a)  an officer of the Department of Health, or
(b)  an employee of a local authority, or
(c)  an employee of a public health organisation within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1997.
(d)    (Repealed)
local authority means:
(a)  a council within the meaning of the Local Government Act 1993, or
(b)  the Western Lands Commissioner, or
(c)  the Lord Howe Island Board.
medical district means a medical district described in an order in force under section 63.
medical officer of health means a medical practitioner holding office under section 62 as a medical officer of health.
nursing home means a facility at which residential care (within the meaning of the Aged Care Act 1997 of the Commonwealth) is provided and in relation to which any one or more of the following is satisfied:
(a)  a licence was in force, or an approval of an application for a licence in principle was effective, under the Nursing Homes Act 1988 in relation to the facility immediately before the repeal of that Act,
(b)  residential care is provided at the facility in relation to an allocated place under the Aged Care Act 1997 of the Commonwealth and that place requires a high level of residential care within the meaning of that Act,
(c)  the facility belongs to a class of facilities prescribed by the regulations.
occupier, in relation to premises or a part of premises, means:
(a)  a person who has the right to occupy the premises or part to the exclusion of the owner, or
(b)  the person who is the owner of the premises or part if there is no person with a right to occupy the premises or part to the exclusion of the owner,
even if the premises are, or the part is, vacant.
perinatal death means:
(a)  the death of a child on the day of his or her birth or within the next succeeding 28 days, or
(b)  a still-birth.
premises means:
(a)  a building or other structure on land, or
(b)  vacant land, or
(c)  a vessel, or
(d)  an aircraft.
public authority means an incorporated or unincorporated body constituted by or under an Act for public purposes.
public health order means a public health order in force under section 23.
scheduled medical condition means a medical condition listed in Schedule 1.
still-birth means the birth of a child that exhibits no sign of respiration or heartbeat, or other sign of life, after birth and that:
(a)  is of at least 20 weeks’ gestation, or
(b)  if it cannot be reliably established whether the period of gestation is more or less than 20 weeks, has a body mass of at least 400 grams at birth.
Tribunal means the Administrative Decisions Tribunal established by the Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997.
(2)  In this Act:
(a)  a reference to a function includes a reference to a power, authority and duty, and
(b)  a reference to the exercise of a function includes, in relation to a duty, a reference to the performance of the duty.
(3)  Notes included in this Act do not form part of this Act.
s 3: Am 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (1); 1995 No 11, Sch 1; 1995 No 62, Sch 2; 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [1]; 1997 No 154, Sch 6.40 [1]; 2004 No 87, Sch 5 [1]; 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [1].
Part 2 Health risks generally
pt 2, hdg: Subst 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [1].
4   Orders and directions during state of emergency
(1)  This section applies if:
(a)  action is being taken under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 in relation to an emergency within the meaning of that Act, and
(b)  the Minister, in consultation with the Minister administering that Act, decides on reasonable grounds that the emergency could result in a situation (including the spread of a scheduled medical condition) under which the health of the public is, or is likely to be, at risk, and
(c)  the Minister administering that Act agrees that action should be taken under this section.
(2)  If this section applies, the Minister:
(a)  may, by order published in the Gazette, give such directions, and
(b)  if such an order is in force, may take such action,
as the Minister considers to be necessary to avert or deal with the risk and any of its possible consequences.
(3)  An order published under this section may direct all persons:
(a)  in a specified group, or
(b)  residing in a specified area,
to submit themselves for medical examination as provided by the order.
(4)  Subsection (3) and the other provisions of this Act do not affect the generality of subsection (2).
(5)  A person (other than a public authority) who:
(a)  is subject to a direction under this section, and
(b)  has notice of the direction, and
(c)  refuses or fails to comply with the direction,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.
(6)  A public authority has a duty to comply with a direction given to the public authority under this section.
(7)  Unless it is earlier revoked, an order published under this section expires on cessation of the emergency on which it was based.
(8)  A function exercised under this section in an emergency in respect of which a state of emergency exists under Division 4 of Part 2 of the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 has effect as a function exercised in the execution of that Division.
s 4: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1.
5   Public health risks generally
(1)  If the Minister considers, on reasonable grounds, that a situation has arisen under which the health of the public is, or is likely to be, at risk and, in relation to the situation:
(a)  action under the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 is neither contemplated nor underway, and
(b)  the Premier has approved the taking of action under this section,
the Minister may take such action, and may by order published in the Gazette give such directions, as the Minister considers to be necessary to deal with the risk and any of its possible consequences.
(2)  If an order in force under this section declares a specified area to be a public health risk area, the action taken and directions given may be such as the Minister considers to be necessary:
(a)  to reduce or remove any risk to the health of the public in the area, and
(b)  to segregate or isolate inhabitants of the area, and
(c)  to prevent, or conditionally permit, access to the area.
(3)  Subsection (2) does not affect the generality of subsection (1).
(4)  A person (other than a public authority) who:
(a)  is subject to a direction given under this section, and
(b)  has notice of the direction, and
(c)  refuses or fails to comply with the direction,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.
(5)  A public authority has a duty to comply with a direction given to the public authority under this section.
(6)  An order published under this section expires on a date that is specified in the order as its expiry date and is not more than 28 days later than the publication of the order.
(7)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to any entry on premises required or directed for the purposes of this section.
6   Disinfection or destruction of articles
(1)  This section applies to an article that:
(a)  has been in contact with a person suffering from an infectious disease that is transmissible by contact with the article, or
(b)  is verminous, or
(c)  is likely to be verminous, or dangerous, or prejudicial to health, because it has been used by a person infested with vermin.
(2)  If the Director-General:
(a)  has reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is on any premises an article to which this section applies, and
(b)  by written order authorises a person to enter the premises and take action under this section,
the person may enter the premises, seize any article found there that might reasonably be suspected of being an article to which this section applies and there or elsewhere disinfect or destroy it.
(3)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to the powers of entry conferred by this section.
(4)  A person (other than a public authority) who, without reasonable excuse:
(a)  transfers possession of an article to another person, or
(b)  exposes an article to another person, or
(c)  removes an article,
knowing it to be an article to which this section applies is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.
(5)  A public authority has a duty to avoid doing anything that, if done by a person other than a public authority, would be an offence under this section.
(6)  A person who suffers damage as a result of the disinfection or destruction of an article under this section is entitled to reasonable compensation unless the condition of the article that necessitated its disinfection or destruction was attributable to an act or default of the person.
(7)  Compensation under this section is payable out of money provided by Parliament.
s 6: Am 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (2).
7   (Repealed)
s 7: Am 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (3). Rep 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [2].
8   Closure of premises
(1)  If the Minister considers on reasonable grounds that any premises on which the public, or sections of the public, are required, permitted or accustomed to congregate should be closed in order to preserve the health of the public, the Governor may, by order published in the Gazette, direct that the premises be closed, and kept closed, in accordance with the order while it is in force.
(2)  If:
(a)  a direction given under this section is in force in relation to premises that are not under the control of a Minister, and
(b)  a person who controls, or is involved in the control of, the premises is notified of the direction,
the person must take such reasonably practicable action as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the direction.
(3)  A person who, after being notified under subsection (2) of a direction given under this section, fails to comply with that subsection is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.
9   Directions to public authorities
(1)  If the Minister considers, on reasonable grounds, that the health of the public is, or is likely to be, endangered because of an action by a public authority, the Minister may direct the public authority to rectify any adverse consequences of the action by taking other specified action.
(2)  It is the duty of a public authority to comply with any direction given to the public authority under this section.
(3)  The generality of this section is not affected by any other provision of this Act.
10   Direction to exercise statutory function
(1)  If the Minister considers, on reasonable grounds:
(a)  that a public authority has failed to exercise a function conferred or imposed on it (other than a power to make regulations or by-laws), and
(b)  that the failure is likely to endanger the health of the public,
the Minister may, by written notice to the public authority, require it to exercise the function within a time stated in the notice.
(2)  If a notice given under this section is not complied with, the Minister may exercise the function to which the notice relates and:
(a)  unless the public authority represents the Crown—recover, as a debt owed by the public authority to the Crown, an amount equal to the cost of exercising the function, or
(b)  if the public authority represents the Crown—require the public authority to pay to the Department of Health an amount equal to the cost of exercising the function.
Part 2A Provision and promotion of health services
pt 2A: Ins 2000 No 64, Sch 2.2 [2]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
Division 1 Preliminary
pt 2A, div 1, hdg: Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AA   Definitions
In this Part:
health practitioner, health registration Act, health service and registration authority have the same meanings as in the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.
Note—
The Health Care Complaints Act 1993 defines those terms as follows:
health practitioner means a natural person who provides a health service (whether or not the person is registered under a health registration Act).
health registration Act means any of the following Acts:
health service includes the following services, whether provided as public or private services:
(a)  medical, hospital and nursing services,
(b)  dental services,
(c)  mental health services,
(d)  pharmaceutical services,
(e)  ambulance services,
(f)  community health services,
(g)  health education services,
(h)  welfare services necessary to implement any services referred to in paragraphs (a)–(g),
(i)  services provided by podiatrists, chiropractors, osteopaths, optometrists, physiotherapists, psychologists and optical dispensers,
(j)  services provided by dietitians, masseurs, naturopaths, acupuncturists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, audiologists, audiometrists and radiographers,
(k)  services provided in other alternative health care fields,
(k1)  forensic pathology services,
(l)  a service prescribed by the regulations as a health service for the purposes of this Act.
registration authority means the person who has the function, under a health registration Act, of determining an application for registration under the Act.
medical student has the same meaning as in the Medical Practice Act 1992.
registered midwife and registered nurse have the same meanings as in the Nurses and Midwives Act 1991.
s 10AA: Ins 2000 No 64, Sch 2.2 [2]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AB   Proceedings for offences under this Part
(1)  Proceedings for an offence under this Part may be instituted by the Director-General, a registration authority, the Health Care Complaints Commission or by any other person.
(2)  Proceedings for an offence under this Part may be commenced at any time within, but not later than, 2 years after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
s 10AB: Ins 2000 No 64, Sch 2.2 [2]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
Division 2 Restricted health services
pt 2A, div 2, hdg: Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AC   Spinal manipulation
(1)  A person must not engage in spinal manipulation in the course of providing a health service unless the person:
(a)  is a registered chiropractor, or a chiropractic student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered chiropractor, or
(b)  is a registered medical practitioner, or a medical student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered medical practitioner, or
(c)  is a registered osteopath, or an osteopathy student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered osteopath, or
(d)  is a registered physiotherapist, or a physiotherapy student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered physiotherapist.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
(2)  For the purposes of this Division, spinal manipulation is a restricted health service.
(3)  An authorised person or inspector appointed under any of the following Acts is authorised to ascertain whether this section is being complied with:
(4)  In this section:
spinal manipulation means the rapid application of a force (whether by manual or mechanical means) to any part of a person’s body that affects a joint or segment of the vertebral column.
s 10AC: Ins 2001 No 15, Sch 6.5. Am 2001 No 67, Sch 6.7 [1]; 2003 No 45, Sch 2.18 [1]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AD   Prescribed electrophysical treatments
(1)  A person must not provide a prescribed electrophysical treatment in the course of providing a health service unless the person:
(a)  is a registered chiropractor, or a chiropractic student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered chiropractor, or
(b)  is a registered medical practitioner, or a medical student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered medical practitioner, or
(c)  is a registered osteopath, or an osteopathy student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered osteopath, or
(d)  is a registered physiotherapist, or a physiotherapy student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered physiotherapist, or
(e)  is a registered podiatrist, or a podiatry student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered podiatrist.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
(2)  For the purposes of this Division, prescribed electrophysical treatment is a restricted health service.
(3)  An inspector or authorised person appointed under any of the following Acts is authorised to ascertain whether this section is being complied with:
(4)  In this section:
prescribed electrophysical treatment means an electrophysical treatment prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.
s 10AD: Ins 2001 No 67, Sch 6.7 [2]. Am 2003 No 45, Sch 2.18 [2]; 2003 No 69, Sch 6.6 [1]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AE   Prescribing of contact lenses, spectacle lenses and other appliances
(1)  A person must not prescribe an optical appliance unless the person:
(a)  is a registered optometrist, or
(b)  is a registered medical practitioner, or
(c)  is a member of a class of persons declared by the regulations to be authorised to prescribe an optical appliance and the person acts in compliance with any conditions or limitations prescribed by the regulations.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
(2)  For the purposes of this Division, prescribing an optical appliance is a restricted health service.
(3)  A person who prescribes an optical appliance for a person must on request provide the person, at no extra charge, with a copy of the prescription.
Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units.
(4)  A person who does not prescribe, but dispenses, an optical appliance for a person must provide the person, at no extra charge, with a copy of the prescription relating to the appliance.
Maximum penalty: 5 penalty units.
(5)  A person who prescribes contact lenses for a person is not required to comply with subsection (3) until after he or she has completed the prescription and fitting process in relation to the contact lenses.
(6)  An authorised person or inspector appointed under any of the following Acts is authorised to ascertain whether this section is being complied with:
(7)  In this section:
optical appliance means contact lenses, spectacle lenses or any other appliance designed to correct, remedy or relieve any refractive abnormality or defect of sight.
s 10AE: Ins 2002 No 30, Sch 6.7. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AF   Restricted dental practices
(1)  A person must not carry out a restricted dental practice unless the person is:
(a)  a registered dentist, or
(b)  a registered medical practitioner, or
(c)  a registered dental student undertaking clinical studies, or undertaking a clinical placement at a public health organisation, or
(d)  a registered dental auxiliary who is carrying out dental auxiliary activities subject to the practice oversight of a registered dentist, or
(e)  a person performing radiographic work at a public health organisation, or on the order or at the request of a registered medical practitioner or registered dentist, or
(f)  a dental prosthetist carrying out a practice of dental prosthetics, or
(g)  a dental technician carrying out technical work on the written order of a registered dentist or of a dental prosthetist.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
(2)  For the purposes of this Division, restricted dental practice is a restricted health service.
(3)  An authorised person or inspector appointed under any of the following Acts is authorised to ascertain whether this section is being complied with:
(4)  In this section:
dental auxiliary activity has the same meaning as in the Dental Practice Act 2001.
dental prosthetist has the same meaning as in the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975.
dental technician means any of the following:
(a)  a person registered as a dental technician under the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975,
(b)  a person approved by the Dental Technicians Registration Board under section 13 (2) (f) of the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975,
(c)  a person undergoing in good faith training in technical work under the supervision of a registered dentist or of a person referred to in paragraph (a),
(d)  an apprentice, within the meaning of the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001, employed by a person referred to in paragraph (a), or by a person employing a person referred to in paragraph (a).
practice of dental prosthetics has the same meaning as in section 5 (3) of the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975.
practice oversight means oversight by a registered dentist in accordance with guidelines approved by the Director-General from time to time.
public health organisation has the same meaning as in the Health Services Act 1997.
registered dental student means a person registered as a dentistry student or a dental auxiliary student under section 138 of the Dental Practice Act 2001.
restricted dental practice means any of the following practices:
(a)  the performance of any operation on the human teeth or jaws or associated structures,
(b)  the correction of malpositions of the human teeth or jaws or associated structures,
(c)  the performance of radiographic work in connection with the human teeth or jaws or associated structures,
(d)  the mechanical construction or the renewal or repair of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances,
(e)  the performance of any operation on, or the giving of any treatment or advice to, any person that is preparatory to or for the purpose of the fitting, insertion, adjusting, fixing, constructing, repairing or renewing of artificial dentures or restorative dental appliances.
technical work has the same meaning as in section 5 (1) of the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975.
written order means an order:
(a)  in a form prescribed for the purposes of issuing directions to dental technicians under the Dental Practice Act 2001, or
(b)  in a form prescribed for the purposes of section 27 (b) (ii) of the Dental Technicians Registration Act 1975.
s 10AF: Ins 2001 No 64, Sch 6.5. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AG   Restricted birthing practices
(1)  A person must not engage in a restricted birthing practice unless the person is:
(a)  a registered midwife, or
(b)  a registered medical practitioner, or
(c)  a medical student or a registered nurse acting under the appropriate supervision of a medical practitioner or of a registered midwife, or
(d)  a midwifery student acting under the appropriate supervision of a registered midwife.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
(2)  For the purposes of this Division, a restricted birthing practice is a restricted health service.
(3)  This section does not apply to the rendering of assistance to a woman who is giving birth to a child where the assistance is rendered in an emergency.
(4)  An authorised person or inspector appointed under any of the following Acts is authorised to ascertain whether this section is being complied with:
(5)  In this section:
restricted birthing practice means the care of a pregnant woman involving the management of the 3 stages of labour and child birth.
s 10AG: Ins 2003 No 45, Sch 2.18 [3]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AH   Certain foot care services not to be provided by unregistered persons
(1)  A person must not, in the course of providing a foot care service, perform any invasive procedure on the feet or toenails under anaesthesia unless the person is:
(a)  a registered podiatrist, or
(b)  a registered medical practitioner.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2)  A person must not, in the course of providing a foot care service, carry out surgical debridement of hypertrophic tissue of the foot using a sharp instrument unless the person is:
(a)  a registered podiatrist, or
(b)  a registered medical practitioner, or
(c)  a registered nurse and the debridement is carried out to the extent necessary to provide immediate relief from pain or discomfort.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3)  A person must not, in the course of providing a foot care service, treat a disorder of or injury to the foot knowing that the person treated:
(a)  has a medical condition causing inadequate blood circulation to their feet, or
(b)  has peripheral neuropathy affecting their feet,
unless the person providing that treatment is:
(c)  a registered podiatrist, or
(d)  a registered medical practitioner, or
(e)  a registered nurse, or
(f)  a registered chiropractor, or
(g)  a registered osteopath, or
(h)  a registered physiotherapist, or
(i)  a registered pharmacist.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(4)  For the purposes of this Division, a procedure or treatment referred to in subsection (1), (2) or (3) that is carried out in the circumstances set out in those subsections is a restricted health service.
(5)  An authorised person or inspector appointed under any of the following Acts is authorised to ascertain whether this section is being complied with:
(6)  An authorised person or inspector is not to exercise any function under subsection (5) except with the approval of the Director-General given in a particular case.
s 10AH: Ins 2003 No 69, Sch 6.6 [2]. Am 2005 No 82, Sch 6 [1] [2]. Subst 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2]. Am 2006 No 59, Sch 7.17 (am 2006 No 124, Sch 3.10 [7]).
10AI   Restricted health services—powers of authorised officers appointed under other Acts
(1)  An authorised officer, who is authorised under this Division to ascertain whether a provision of this Division is being complied with, has and may exercise for that purpose all the functions that the authorised officer has under the officer’s Act for the purpose of ascertaining whether a provision of the officer’s Act is being complied with or has been contravened.
(2)  For the purposes of subsection (1):
(a)  the functions of the authorised officer under the officer’s Act apply in respect of premises on which a person engages in a restricted health service in the course of providing a health service in the same way as those functions apply in respect of premises on which a person engages in professional practice under the officer’s Act, and
(b)  the functions of the authorised officer under the officer’s Act apply in respect of engaging in the restricted health service in the course of providing a health service in the same way as they apply in respect of professional practice engaged in under the officer’s Act, and
(c)  the provisions of an officer’s Act with respect to the functions of an inspector, authorised officer or authorised person (including any provision that creates an offence in connection with those functions) extend to the exercise of functions of the authorised officer under this section as if the functions under this section were exercised under the officer’s Act.
(3)  In this section:
authorised officer means an authorised person or inspector who is authorised to ascertain whether a particular section of this Division is being complied with.
officer’s Act, in relation to an authorised officer, means the Act under which the authorised officer is appointed as an authorised person or inspector.
restricted health service means a health service that is specified to be a restricted health service for the purposes of this Division.
s 10AI: Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
Division 3 Health practitioners who are de-registered or subject to prohibition orders
pt 2A, div 3 (ss 10AJ–10AL): Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AJ   Definitions
(1)  In this Division:
corresponding health registration legislation means legislation of another State or Territory that provides for the registration of health practitioners.
de-registered health practitioner means a health practitioner whose registration as a health practitioner under a health registration Act or corresponding health registration legislation is cancelled or suspended as a result of disciplinary proceedings.
prohibition order means a prohibition order made under a health registration Act or under section 41A of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993.
(2)  For the purposes of this Division, a person’s registration as a health practitioner under a health registration Act or corresponding health registration legislation is cancelled if:
(a)  any of the following happen as a result of an action, decision, determination or order of a registration board, tribunal or court under that Act or legislation:
(i)  the person’s registration is cancelled,
(ii)  the person is de-registered,
(iii)  the person’s name is removed from, or struck off, a register or a roll,
(iv)  the person’s practising certificate is cancelled, or
(b)  the person’s name is removed from the Register of Optical Dispensers for New South Wales under section 25 of the Optical Dispensers Act 1963.
(3)  For the purposes of this Division, a health practitioner is subject to a prohibition order if the health practitioner is, because of the order, subject to conditions when providing health services or is prohibited from providing some or all health services.
pt 2A, div 3 (ss 10AJ–10AL): Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AK   Provision of health services by persons who are de-registered or subject to prohibition orders
(1)  A person must not provide a health service in contravention of a prohibition order.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.
(2)  A de-registered health practitioner must, before providing a health service to a person, ensure that the following persons are notified, in accordance with the regulations, that the health practitioner was registered under a particular health registration Act or corresponding health registration legislation and that the health practitioner’s registration under that Act or legislation has been cancelled or suspended:
(a)  the person to whom the health practitioner intends to provide the health service or, if that person is under 16 years of age or under guardianship, a parent or guardian of the person,
(b)  if the health service is to be provided by the health practitioner as an employee, the health practitioner’s employer.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3)  A health practitioner who is subject to a prohibition order must, before providing a health service to a person, ensure that the following persons are notified, in accordance with the regulations, that the health practitioner is subject to the order:
(a)  the person to whom the health practitioner intends to provide the health service or, if that person is under 16 years of age or under guardianship, a parent or guardian of the person,
(b)  if the health service is to be provided by the health practitioner as an employee, the health practitioner’s employer.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
pt 2A, div 3 (ss 10AJ–10AL): Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AL   Advertising of health services if person is de-registered or subject to a prohibition order
(1)  A person must not advertise a health service that is to be provided by a de-registered health practitioner unless the advertisement specifies that the health practitioner was registered under a particular health registration Act or corresponding health registration legislation and that the health practitioner’s registration under that Act or legislation is cancelled or suspended.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2)  A person must not advertise a health service that is to be provided by a health practitioner who is subject to a prohibition order unless the advertisement specifies that the health practitioner is subject to the order.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3)  A person is not guilty of an offence under this section if he or she did not know, and could not reasonably have known, that the health practitioner was de-registered or subject to a prohibition order.
pt 2A, div 3 (ss 10AJ–10AL): Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
Division 4 Miscellaneous
pt 2A, div 4: Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
10AM   Codes of conduct for unregistered health practitioners
(1)  The regulations may prescribe codes of conduct for the provision of health services by:
(a)  health practitioners who are not required to be registered under a health registration Act (including de-registered health practitioners), and
(b)  health practitioners who are registered under a health registration Act who provide health services that are unrelated to their registration.
(2)  Before a code of conduct is prescribed under subsection (1), the Minister is to:
(a)  give public notice of the code in a form and manner determined by the Minister, specifying where the code can be inspected and the time and manner in which submissions may be made, and
(b)  place the draft code and an impact assessment statement for the code on public exhibition for not less than 21 days, and
(c)  consider any submission received within 21 days (or such longer period as the Minister may determine) after the end of that exhibition period.
Note—
Section 41A of the Health Care Complaints Act 1993 permits the Health Care Complaints Commission to make a prohibition order in respect of a health practitioner if the Commission finds that the health practitioner has breached the code of conduct and poses a substantial risk to the health of members of the public. The Commission is also able to cause a public statement to be issued in such circumstances identifying and giving warnings about the health practitioner.
s 10AM: Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2]. Am 2008 No 62, Sch 2.45 [1].
10AN   Advertisement or promotion of health services
A person must not advertise or otherwise promote the provision of a health service in a manner that:
(a)  is false, misleading or deceptive, or
(b)  is likely to mislead or deceive, or
(c)  creates, or is likely to create, an unjustified expectation of beneficial treatment.
Maximum penalty:
(a)  for a first offence—100 penalty units, or
(b)  for a second or subsequent offence—200 penalty units.
s 10AN: Ins 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [2].
Part 2B Safety of drinking water
pt 2B (previously Part 2A): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3]. Renumbered 2000 No 64, Sch 2.2 [1].
Division 1 Preliminary
pt 2B, div 1: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10A   Definitions
In this Part:
boil water advice, in relation to drinking water, means a statement to the effect that the water should not be used for human consumption (or for purposes connected with human consumption) until after it has been boiled or otherwise treated.
Chief Health Officer means the Chief Health Officer of the Department of Health.
drinking water means water that is intended, or likely, to be used:
(a)  for human consumption, or
(b)  for purposes connected with human consumption, such as the washing or cooling of food or the making of ice for consumption or for the preservation of unpackaged food,
whether or not the water is used for other purposes.
record means:
(a)  a documentary record, or
(b)  a record made by an electronic, electromagnetic, photographic or optical process, or
(c)  any other kind of record.
supplier of drinking water (or supplier) means:
(a)  Sydney Water Corporation,
(b)  Hunter Water Corporation,
(c)  a water supply authority within the meaning of the Water Management Act 2000,
(d)  a local council or a county council exercising water supply functions under Division 2 of Part 3 of Chapter 6 of the Local Government Act 1993,
(e)  the Lord Howe Island Board within the meaning of the Lord Howe Island Act 1953,
(f)  a licensed network operator or licensed retail supplier within the meaning of the Water Industry Competition Act 2006,
(g)  any person who treats or supplies water on behalf of a person referred to in any of the preceding paragraphs,
(h)  any person supplying drinking water in the course of a commercial undertaking (other than that of supplying bottled or packaged drinking water), being a person who has not received the water:
(i)  from a person referred to in any of the preceding paragraphs, or
(ii)  in the form of bottled or packaged water.
treatment of water means any process or technique used to improve the quality of water.
s 10A: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3]. Am 2004 No 40, Sch 3.12 [1] [2]; 2006 No 104, Sch 3.8 [1].
Division 2 Functions of Chief Health Officer in relation to drinking water
pt 2B, div 2: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10B   Advice to public
(1)  The Chief Health Officer may from time to time prepare advice, for the benefit of the public, concerning the safety of available drinking water (or drinking water available from a particular supplier) and any possible risks to health involved in the consumption of that water.
(2)  An advice under this section may include a boil water advice.
(3)  The Chief Health Officer is to provide any advice prepared under this section to the relevant supplier of drinking water.
(4)  A supplier of drinking water must issue the advice provided to it under this section to the public in such form and manner as the Director-General may from time to time direct by notice in writing to the supplier.
Maximum penalty: 10,000 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 2,500 penalty units (in any other case).
(5)  Nothing in subsection (3) or (4) prevents the Chief Health Officer from also issuing the advice to the public as the Chief Health Officer sees fit.
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10C   Correction of misleading information
(1)  The Chief Health Officer may, by notice in writing given to a supplier of drinking water, direct the supplier to retract or correct any information or advice issued, by or on behalf of the supplier, to the public in relation to the safety of the supplier’s drinking water if the Chief Health Officer is of the opinion that the information or advice is inaccurate, incomplete or otherwise misleading.
(2)  The Chief Health Officer may specify any one or more of the form, content and manner of the retraction or correction and of its publication.
(3)  A supplier of drinking water who is given a direction under this section must comply with the direction as and when required by the direction.
Maximum penalty: 10,000 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 2,500 penalty units (in any other case).
(4)  If the supplier of drinking water fails to comply with the direction within the time specified in the direction, the Chief Health Officer may issue the retraction or correction on behalf of the supplier.
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10D   Chief Health Officer may delegate
The Chief Health Officer may delegate to any officer of the Department of Health any of the Chief Health Officer’s functions (including the function specified in section 10E (4), but excluding this power of delegation) under this Part.
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
Division 3 Functions of Director-General in relation to drinking water
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10E   Power to declare Chief Health Officer solely responsible for determining necessity for boil water advices
(1)  The Director-General may, by order published in the Gazette, declare that, in relation to a supplier of drinking water specified in the order, the function specified in subsection (4) is to be exercised only by the Chief Health Officer.
(2)  A declaration under this section operates to confer the power to exercise the function on the Chief Health Officer.
(3)  The Director-General is taken to have published such orders in relation to Sydney Water Corporation and Hunter Water Corporation on the commencement of this section. The Director-General may, by further order published in the Gazette, amend or revoke an order so taken to have been published.
(4)  The function concerned is that of deciding from time to time:
(a)  whether a boil water advice is to be issued in respect of the drinking water supplied or available for supply by the supplier, and
(b)  if a boil water advice is to be issued—the additional information (if any) that is to be provided to the public in connection with it, and
(c)  whether a boil water advice that has been issued is to be withdrawn.
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10F   Power to enter and inspect premises of supplier
(1)  Any person authorised by the Director-General for the purposes of this section may enter any premises of a supplier of drinking water and do any one or more of the following on those premises:
(a)  examine and inspect any apparatus, equipment or works,
(b)  take and remove samples of any water,
(c)  take and remove samples of any substance used in, or produced by, the treatment of water on those premises,
(d)  require samples referred to in paragraph (b) or (c) to be taken and given to the person or to another person or to the Director-General,
(e)  take such photographs, films and audio, video and other recordings as the person considers necessary,
(f)  require records to be produced for inspection,
(g)  examine, inspect and copy any records,
(h)  make such other examinations, inquiries and tests as the person considers necessary.
(2)  Despite section 74, the maximum penalty that may be imposed on a person who wilfully intimidates, obstructs or hinders a person authorised by the Director-General for the purposes of this section who is exercising, or attempting to exercise, a function under this section is 2,500 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 400 penalty units (in any other case).
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10G   Power to require testing of drinking water
(1)  The Director-General may, by notice in writing given to a supplier of drinking water, direct the supplier to carry out such tests on water that it has available for supply, or on any substance used in or produced by the treatment of such water, as the Director-General considers appropriate.
(2)  A direction given under this section may specify that the test to be carried out on water is to be carried out in any one or more of the following ways:
(a)  on the water in its raw state, or
(b)  while the water is undergoing treatment, or
(c)  after the water has been treated or partly treated.
(3)  A supplier of drinking water who is given a direction under this section must comply with the direction as and when required by the direction.
Maximum penalty: 2,500 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 400 penalty units (in any other case).
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10H   Power to require production of information
(1)  The Director-General may, by notice in writing given to a supplier of drinking water, direct the supplier to produce to the Director-General such information as the Director-General may specify concerning:
(a)  the quality of the drinking water that the supplier has available for supply, and
(b)  the methods by which the water has been treated.
(2)  The information required may include (but is not limited to) the following:
(a)  copies of relevant records of the supplier,
(b)  the results of any tests required under section 10G.
(3)  The information is to be provided in such form and manner as the Director-General may direct.
(4)  A supplier of drinking water who is given a direction under this section must comply with the direction as and when required by the direction.
Maximum penalty: 2,500 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 400 penalty units (in any other case).
pt 2B, div 3 (ss 10B–10H): Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
Division 4 General
pt 2B, div 4: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10I   Closure of water supply
(1)  This section applies to water in, or flowing from, any source if:
(a)  the water is drinking water and the Minister has reason to suspect that the water is not fit for human consumption, or
(b)  the Minister suspects on reasonable grounds that the water constitutes (or is likely to constitute) a risk to public health.
(2)  The Minister may take such action, and give such directions by notice in writing to any person or class of persons, as the Minister considers necessary:
(a)  to restrict or prevent the use of any water to which this section applies, and
(b)  to bring the water to such a condition that it is no longer unfit for human consumption or a risk (or a likely risk) to public health.
(3)  Before giving a direction under this section to any of the suppliers of drinking water referred to in the following paragraphs (or to any person who treats or supplies water on behalf of the supplier), the Minister is to consult with the Minister specified in respect of the supplier:
(a)  Sydney Water Corporation—the Minister administering the Water Board (Corporatisation) Act 1994,
(b)  Hunter Water Corporation—the Minister administering the Hunter Water Board (Corporatisation) Act 1991,
(c)  a water supply authority within the meaning of the Water Management Act 2000 (other than State Water Corporation)—the Minister administering the Water Management Act 2000,
(c1)  State Water Corporation—the Minister administering the State Water Corporation Act 2004,
(d)  a local council or a county council that supplies water under the Local Government Act 1993—both the Minister administering that Act and the Minister administering the Water Management Act 2000.
(4)  A person given a direction under this section must comply with it as and when required by the direction.
Maximum penalty: 10,000 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) or 2,500 penalty units (in any other case).
s 10I: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3]. Am 2004 No 40, Sch 3.12 [3] [4].
10IA   Supply of water
A person must not, by means of a reticulated water supply system, supply any other person with drinking water that is not fit for human consumption.
Maximum penalty: 10,000 penalty units (in the case of a corporation) and 2,500 penalty units (in any other case).
s 10IA: Ins 2006 No 104, Sch 3.8 [2].
10J   Protection from liability
(1)  The provision of any information or advice concerning drinking water by the Chief Health Officer exercising any function under section 10B, 10C or 10E in good faith for the purpose of executing this Act does not subject any of the following to any action, liability, claim or demand:
(a)  the State,
(b)  a Minister of the Crown in right of New South Wales,
(c)  an officer of the Department of Health.
(2)  A reference in this section to the exercise by the Chief Health Officer of a function under this Part includes a reference to a decision by the Chief Health Officer not to exercise a power conferred by this Part.
(3)  To avoid doubt, it is declared that:
(a)  the exercise of a function under section 10B (1) or 10E (4) (a) extends to deciding that a boil water advice is not to be issued in particular circumstances or at a particular time, and
(b)  the exercise of a function under section 10C extends to deciding that a direction under section 10C (1) should not be given.
s 10J: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10K   Evidentiary provision
A certificate signed by the Minister, the Director-General or the Chief Health Officer, being a certificate to the effect that the signatory gave a specified direction to a specified person on a specified day, is admissible in evidence and is prima facie evidence of the facts stated in it.
s 10K: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10L   Proceedings for offences under Part 2B
s 10L, hdg: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3]. Am 2000 No 64, Sch 2.2 [3].
(1)  Proceedings for an offence under this Part may be dealt with summarily before the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction.
(2)  Proceedings for an offence under this Part may be commenced at any time within, but not later than, 2 years after the date on which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
s 10L: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
10M   Regulations for the purposes of Part 2B
s 10M, hdg: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3]. Am 2000 No 64, Sch 2.2 [3].
Without limiting the generality of section 82, the regulations may make provision for or with respect to any of the following:
(a)  requiring a supplier of drinking water to establish, and adhere to, a quality assurance program designed to ensure that the drinking water it supplies is consistently safe to drink,
(b)  the tests on water and other substances referred to in section 10G,
(c)  the records to be maintained by a supplier of drinking water.
s 10M: Ins 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [3].
Part 3 Scheduled medical conditions
Division 1 General precautions
11   Precautions against spread of certain medical conditions
(1)  A person who:
(a)  suffers from a Category 2, Category 3, Category 4 or Category 5 medical condition, and
(b)  is in a public place or other place of public resort (including any means of public transport), and
(c)  fails to take reasonable precautions against spreading the medical condition,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.
(2)  It is a defence to a prosecution of a person for an offence under this section if it is proved that the person was, at the time of commission of the alleged offence, ignorant of the existence of the medical condition on which the prosecution is based.
Division 2 Sexually transmissible medical conditions
12   Provision of information
(1)  A medical practitioner who believes on reasonable grounds that a person receiving attention from the medical practitioner suffers from a sexually transmissible medical condition must, as soon as practicable, provide the person with such information concerning the condition as is required by the regulations.
(2)  A medical practitioner who fails to comply with this section is guilty of an offence unless the court is satisfied that the medical practitioner knew that the information to which the offence relates had been supplied to the patient by another medical practitioner.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
13   Sexual intercourse—sexually transmissible medical condition
(1)  A person who knows that he or she suffers from a sexually transmissible medical condition is guilty of an offence if he or she has sexual intercourse with another person unless, before the intercourse takes place, the other person:
(a)  has been informed of the risk of contracting a sexually transmissible medical condition from the person with whom intercourse is proposed, and
(b)  has voluntarily agreed to accept the risk.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2)  An owner or occupier of a building or place who knowingly permits another person to:
(a)  have sexual intercourse at the building or place for the purpose of prostitution, and
(b)  in doing so, commit an offence under subsection (1),
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3)  For the purposes of this section, a person is not to be presumed incapable of having sexual intercourse if the only ground for the presumption is the age of the person.
(4)  In this section, sexual intercourse means:
(a)  sexual connection by the introduction into the vagina, anus or mouth of a person of any part of the penis of another person, or
(b)  cunnilingus.
Division 3 Notification and treatment of certain medical conditions
14   Medical practitioner to notify certain scheduled medical conditions
(1)  This section applies to a medical practitioner who:
(a)  attends a person because of a Category 1 medical condition or believes on reasonable grounds that a person receiving attention from the medical practitioner suffers from a Category 2 medical condition, or
(b)  as a result of any kind of post-mortem examination, believes on reasonable grounds that a person has died as a result of such a medical condition.
(2)  A medical practitioner to whom this section applies in relation to a person must:
(a)  as soon as practicable, record in accordance with the regulations particulars concerning the person, and
(b)  keep the record for the prescribed period, and
(c)  immediately after recording the particulars, send to the Director-General a certificate that relates to the particulars and is in an approved form that does not provide for the provision of information that the medical practitioner is prohibited by section 17 from disclosing, and
(d)  in so far as it is within the medical practitioner’s ability to do so, provide the Director-General with any information requested by the Director-General as to the medical condition from which the person is or was suffering, not including information that the medical practitioner is prohibited by section 17 from disclosing.
(2A)  The medical practitioner is not required to comply with any such requirements if:
(a)  the medical practitioner is attending the person as a patient at a hospital, and
(b)  the person is suffering from a notifiable disease, and
(c)  the medical practitioner has been notified that the chief executive officer of the hospital has, in accordance with section 69, already provided the Director-General with the relevant information concerning the person.
In this subsection, notifiable disease, hospital and chief executive officer have the same meanings as in section 68.
(3)  Except to the extent that the regulations otherwise provide, this section applies to a person engaged in a prescribed occupation in the same way as it applies to a medical practitioner.
s 14: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1; 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (4).
15   Offence
(1)  A person who fails to comply with a requirement of section 14 applicable to the person is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2)  It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under this section if the court is satisfied:
(a)  that the record alleged not to have been made or kept, or
(b)  that the certificate alleged not to have been sent,
had been made, kept or sent by another medical practitioner or person to whom section 14 applies.
16   Notification of test results—Category 3 medical condition
(1)  If:
(a)  a medical practitioner requests a serological or other prescribed test for the purpose of detecting whether a person is suffering from a Category 3 medical condition, and
(b)  the test has a positive result,
the person who, in response to the request, certifies the result of the test to the medical practitioner must, as soon as practicable, send to the Director-General a report in the approved form that relates to the test but does not disclose the name or address of the patient if the medical condition is also a Category 5 medical condition.
(2)  A person who is required to send a report under this section and fails to do so is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3)  A medical practitioner who requests a person to carry out a test referred to in subsection (1) (a) must provide the person with sufficient information to enable the person to comply with subsection (1).
(4)  A medical practitioner who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with subsection (3) within the prescribed period is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(5)  On receiving a report under subsection (1) that appears to the Director-General to be incomplete or contain incorrect information, the Director-General may require a medical practitioner involved in the treatment of the person the subject of the report to provide any information required to complete the report or correct the information.
(6)  A medical practitioner who is subject to a requirement made under subsection (1) may comply with the requirement despite any other Act or law.
s 16: Am 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (5); 2007 No 89, Sch 2.13 [1].
Division 4 Category 5 medical condition
17   Protection of identity
(1)  A medical practitioner must not state the name or address of a patient:
(a)  in a certificate sent to the Director-General under section 14 in relation to a Category 5 medical condition, or
(b)  except as may be prescribed, in a written or oral communication made by the medical practitioner for the purpose of arranging a test to find out whether the patient suffers from a Category 5 medical condition.
(2)  A person who, in the course of providing a service, acquires information that another person:
(a)  has been, or is required to be, or is to be, tested for a Category 5 medical condition, or
(b)  is, or has been, infected with a Category 5 medical condition,
must take all reasonable steps to prevent disclosure of the information to another person.
(3)  Information about a person that is of a kind referred to in subsection (2) may be disclosed:
(a)  with the consent of the other person, or
(b)  in connection with the administration of this Act or another Act, or
(c)  by order of a court or a person authorised by law to examine witnesses, or
(d)  to a person who is involved in the provision of care to, or treatment or counselling of, the other person if the information is required in connection with providing such care, treatment or counselling, or
(e)  in such circumstances as may be prescribed.
(4)  A medical practitioner or other person who fails to comply with the requirements of this section is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
s 17: Am 1994 No 19, Sch 1 (1).
18   District Court may authorise disclosure of name and address
(1)  The Director-General may apply to the District Court, in accordance with the rules of the District Court, for an order authorising the service on a medical practitioner of a notice under section 19 requiring disclosure of a name and address that would otherwise be protected by section 17 from disclosure.
(2)  An application under this section may be made in relation to a medical practitioner only if the Director-General has reasonable grounds for believing that:
(a)  the person whose name and address are sought is suffering from a Category 5 medical condition, and
(b)  identification of the person is necessary in order to safeguard the health of the public.
(3)  An application to the District Court under this section is to be heard and determined in the absence of the public but is to be otherwise heard and determined in accordance with the rules of the District Court.
(4)  The District Court:
(a)  is to make an order applied for under this section if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for making the order, or
(b)  is to dismiss the application if not so satisfied.
19   Notice by Director-General requiring disclosure of name and address
(1)  If authorised to do so by an order of the District Court made under section 18, the Director-General may, by written notice served personally or by post on:
(a)  a medical practitioner or other person who has sent a certificate to the Director-General under section 14, or
(b)  a medical practitioner who has requested a serological or other test to which a report under section 16 relates,
require the medical practitioner or other person to provide the Director-General, within a reasonable time specified in the notice, with the name and address of the person the subject of the certificate or report.
(2)  A medical practitioner or other person who, without reasonable excuse, refuses or neglects to comply with the requirement of a notice served on the medical practitioner or other person under this section is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
Division 5 Death from scheduled medical condition
20   Notification of certain deaths
Immediately after registration of the death of a person apparently caused by a scheduled medical condition, the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages is to arrange to have sent to the Director-General, in the approved form, a notification of the death stating:
(a)  the name, address and age of the deceased, and
(b)  the name of the person who certified the cause of death, and
(c)  such other particulars as may be prescribed.
s 20: Am 1995 No 62, Sch 2.
Division 6 Public health orders—Categories 4 and 5
21   Definitions
In this Division:
appropriate reviewer, in relation to a public health order, means:
(a)  if the order relates to a Category 5 medical condition and there has been no application to the Tribunal for its continuation—the Tribunal (as constituted for the purposes of section 25), or
(b)  in any other case—the Tribunal (as constituted for the purposes of section 26).
authorised medical practitioner means:
(a)  the Chief Health Officer, Department of Health, or
(b)  a medical practitioner authorised by the Director-General to exercise the functions of an authorised medical practitioner under this Division.
proceeding includes an inquiry and an application to the Tribunal relating to a matter arising under this Division.
s 21: Am 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [2] [3].
22   Power to require medical examination
(1)  The Director-General may, by written notice, require a named person to undergo a medical examination that:
(a)  is carried out by a medical practitioner chosen by the person, and
(b)  is of a kind described in the notice,
if the Director-General believes on reasonable grounds that the person is suffering from a Category 4 or Category 5 medical condition.
(2)  If:
(a)  a notice under this section is served personally on the person to whom it relates, and
(b)  the person fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with the requirements of the notice,
the person is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
23   Making of public health order
(1)  An authorised medical practitioner may make a written public health order in respect of a person if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the person:
(a)  is suffering from a Category 4 or Category 5 medical condition, and
(b)  is behaving in a way that is endangering, or is likely to endanger, the health of the public because the person is suffering from that medical condition.
(2)  A public health order must:
(a)  name the person to whom it applies, and
(b)  state the circumstances purporting to justify the making of the order, and
(c)  state that, unless the order is earlier varied as to its duration or is earlier revoked, it expires a specified number of days (not exceeding 28) after its service on the person, and
(d)  comply with subsection (3).
(3)  A public health order must require the person to whom it applies to do any one or more of the following:
(a)  refrain from specified conduct,
(b)  undergo specified treatment,
(c)  undergo counselling by a specified person or by one or more persons belonging to a specified class of persons,
(d)  submit to the supervision of a specified person or one or more persons belonging to a specified class of persons,
(e)  undergo specified treatment and be detained at a specified place while undergoing the treatment,
(f)  if the order is based on a Category 5 medical condition—be detained at a specified place while the order is in force.
(3A)  In making a public health order, the authorised medical practitioner must take into account:
(a)  such guidelines relating to public health orders as may be approved by the Director-General from time to time, and
(b)  the principle that any requirement restricting the liberty of the person to whom the order applies should be imposed only if it is the only effective way to ensure that the health of the public is not endangered or likely to be endangered.
(4)  A public health order may include provisions ancillary to, or consequential upon, the matters required to be included in the order.
(5)  A public health order does not take effect until it is served personally on the person to whom it applies.
s 23: Am 1994 No 19, Sch 1 (2).
24   Duration of public health order
(1)  A public health order that relates to a Category 5 medical condition ceases to have any effect if:
(a)  the person subject to the order is not, within 3 business days after service on the person of the order, also served with a copy of an application made to the Tribunal for confirmation of the order under section 25, or
(b)  such an application is made and the Tribunal revokes the order under section 25, or
(c)  the order expires before it is confirmed or revoked by the Tribunal under section 25, or
(d)  the order expires before or after an application to continue the order is made to the Tribunal under section 26.
(2)  In this section, business days means successive days excluding any Saturday, Sunday and public holidays.
s 24: Am 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [5].
25   Tribunal to review certain public health orders
(1)  An application may be made to the Tribunal for confirmation of a public health order based on a Category 5 medical condition.
(2)  The Tribunal is, as soon as practicable, to inquire into the circumstances surrounding the making of the order and:
(a)  if satisfied that the making of the order was justified—is to confirm the order or vary the order and confirm it as varied, or
(b)  if not so satisfied—is to revoke the order.
(3)  The Tribunal may vary the order only by:
(a)  adding a requirement that could have been included in the order when made, or
(b)  substituting any such requirement for any one or more of them already included in the order.
(4)  The Tribunal may, from time to time, adjourn an inquiry under this section for not more than 7 days.
(5)  For the purposes of an inquiry under this section, the Tribunal may:
(a)  obtain the assistance of any person having medical or other qualifications relevant to the subject-matter of the inquiry, and
(b)  take into account a certificate given by such a person.
(6)  A decision of the Tribunal made in proceedings determining an application under this section is an appealable decision for the purposes of Part 1 of Chapter 7 of the Administrative Decisions Tribunal Act 1997.
s 25: Subst 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [6].
26   Tribunal may continue public health order
(1)  An authorised medical practitioner may, before the expiration of a public health order, apply to the Tribunal for continuation of an order if:
(a)  the order is based on a Category 4 medical condition, or
(b)  the order is based on a Category 5 medical condition and has been confirmed by the Tribunal under section 25.
(2)  An application for continuation of a public health order may be made under this section only if the applicant is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that the person to whom the order relates would, if not subject to such an order, continue to endanger the health of the public as a consequence of suffering from a Category 4 or Category 5 medical condition.
(3)  If continuation of a public health order is applied for under this section and the person subject to the order notifies the Tribunal that continuation of the order is not opposed, the Tribunal may, without inquiry, continue the order for a period not exceeding 6 months.
(4)  Unless the order is continued under subsection (3), the Tribunal is to make such inquiries as it thinks fit in relation to the application and may:
(a)  continue the order, with or without variation, for a period not exceeding 6 months, or
(b)  refuse to continue the order, or
(c)  revoke the order.
(5)  The Tribunal may vary the order only by:
(a)  omitting a requirement included in the order, or
(b)  adding a requirement that could have been included in the order when made, or
(c)  substituting any such requirement for any one or more of them already included in the order.
(6)  For the purposes of an inquiry under this section, the Tribunal may:
(a)  obtain the assistance of any person having medical or other qualifications relevant to the subject-matter of the inquiry, and
(b)  take into account a certificate given by such a person.
s 26: Subst 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [6].
27   Conditions applicable if person detained
(1)  A person detained under the authority of a public health order may be so detained subject to such conditions with respect to the person’s security as the medical practitioner making the order considers necessary in the interests of the health of the public and specifies in the order.
(2)  A person detained under the authority of a public health order may, for any special reason accepted by an authorised medical practitioner, be permitted to leave the place of detention, but only under the constant personal supervision of a person, or any one of a number of persons, nominated by the medical practitioner.
(3)  A person who is detained under a public health order and:
(a)  is in breach of a condition specified in the order, or
(b)  evades supervision to which he or she is subject under this section,
is to be taken to have contravened the public health order.
28   Offence to contravene public health order
(1)  If the person to whom a public health order applies contravenes the order, the person is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
(2)  Proceedings for an offence under this section may be brought only by the Director-General or a police officer.
(3)  Prosecution for an offence under this section does not preclude action under section 30 in respect of the contravention on which the prosecution is based.
29   Apprehension of person who contravenes public health order
(1)  A certificate by an authorised medical practitioner to the effect that a named person is contravening a public health order is a sufficient ground for the issue to a police officer of a warrant to apprehend the person and detain the person in custody pending an inquiry under section 30.
(2)  A police officer who is provided with such a certificate is, as soon as practicable, to:
(a)  obtain a warrant for which the certificate is a ground, and
(b)  apprehend the person named in the certificate, and
(c)  detain the person in custody pending an inquiry under section 30.
(3)  Section 27 applies in relation to detention following apprehension under this section in the same way as it would apply if the certificate that led to the apprehension had been a public health order.
30   Action following apprehension or surrender
(1)  If a person alleged to have contravened a public health order:
(a)  is apprehended and brought before the appropriate reviewer, or
(b)  appears voluntarily before the appropriate reviewer,
the reviewer is to inquire into the allegation.
(2)  If, after inquiry, the appropriate reviewer is not satisfied that the person has contravened a public health order, it is to order that the person be discharged.
(3)  If, after inquiry, the appropriate reviewer is satisfied that a person has contravened a public health order, it may confirm the public health order or:
(a)  vary the public health order by adding a requirement, direction or other provision that could have been included in the order when made, or
(b)  vary the public health order by substituting any such requirement, direction or other provision for any one or more of them already included in the order, or
(c)  caution the person and take no further action in the matter.
(4)  A person may be dealt with under this section in respect of an alleged contravention of a public health order whether or not the person has been charged under section 28 for an offence in relation to the same contravention.
s 30: Am 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [4] [7].
31   Revocation of public health order by authorised medical practitioner
If an authorised medical practitioner considers that the person to whom a public health order applies is no longer endangering, or likely to endanger, the health of the public, the medical practitioner is to revoke the order and immediately give written notice of the revocation to:
(a)  the person to whom the order applied, and
(b)  the appropriate reviewer.
s 31: Am 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [4].
32   Restriction on making of further public health order
(1)  This section applies to a person who was the subject of a public health order if:
(a)  the order was revoked by the Tribunal under section 25 or 26, by an authorised medical practitioner under section 31 or on an appeal against the order, or
(b)  the Tribunal has refused under section 26 to continue the order.
(2)  A further public health order may be made in respect of a person to whom this section applies only if the authorised medical practitioner proposing to make the further order is satisfied on reasonable grounds that, since the earlier order ceased to have effect, there has been a change in the person’s health or behaviour which increases the risk of endangering the health of the public.
s 32: Am 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [8].
33   Apprehension of escapee
(1)  If a person detained under a public health order or following apprehension under section 29 escapes from the place of detention, he or she may be apprehended at any time by:
(a)  the person for the time being in charge of the place from which the person escaped, or
(b)  an authorised medical practitioner, or
(c)  a police officer, or
(d)  any person assisting a person referred to in paragraphs (a)–(c).
(2)  On being apprehended, the escapee must be returned to the place from which he or she escaped.
34   Unlawful release from detention
(1)  A person who, without lawful authority, releases, or attempts to release:
(a)  a person detained under a public health order or following apprehension under section 29 or 33, or
(b)  a person being conveyed to a place at which he or she is to be so detained,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
(2)  It is a defence to a prosecution for:
(a)  an offence under this section, or
(b)  aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the escape of a person detained under a public health order or following apprehension under section 29 or 33,
if it is proved that the action of the defendant did not endanger the health of the public and that the defendant knew this to be so.
35   Restrictions on publication
(1)  The court in which proceedings under this Division have been instituted or are being heard may make orders having the effect of prohibiting or restricting the publication of matters relating to the proceedings or to a person in respect of whom the proceedings have been instituted.
(2)  The orders that a court may make under this section include orders prohibiting or restricting publication of any one or more of the following:
(a)  any report that relates to the proceedings,
(b)  the identity of the person in respect of whom the proceedings have been instituted,
(c)  any information from which the identity of that person could be deduced,
(d)  any information from which could be deduced the identity of a person in respect of whom a public health order is, or at any time was, sought or made, whether or not in the proceedings.
(3)  An order under this section may be made by the court of its own motion or on the application of a party to the proceedings.
(4)  If an application under this section is made by a party to the proceedings, the onus is on the other party to show cause why the application should be refused.
(5)  An order made under this section does not operate to prevent publication of a report of the proceedings if:
(a)  the report is published in a genuine volume of law reports, a legal journal or any other publication intended to be read mainly by Australian lawyers, Magistrates and Judges, and
(b)  the person in respect of whom the proceedings were instituted, or in respect of whom a public health order is sought or made, is not identified in the report.
(6)  A person who contravenes an order in force under this section (whether aware of the order or not) is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty:
(a)  in the case of a corporation—100 penalty units, or
(b)  in any other case—50 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months, or both.
(7)  This section does not prevent punishment, as a contempt, of a contravention of an order made in proceedings before a court but, in respect of such a contravention, a person may not be dealt with both for a contempt of the court and by prosecution for an offence.
(8)  In this section:
publish means:
(a)  publish in a newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication, or
(b)  publish by radio or television transmission, or
(c)  include in a cinematographic film or videotape that is, or is to be, available to the public, or
(d)  include in a book or sound recording that is, or is to be, available to the public, or
(e)  make known to the public in any other manner or by any other means.
s 35: Am 2008 No 62, Sch 3.8 [1].
36   Inspection of medical records
(1)  A person to whom a public health order applies, or the authorised agent of such a person, is, unless the appropriate reviewer otherwise directs, entitled to inspect, and make copies of, medical records relating to the person that are kept by another person.
(2)  If the medical records are not kept in a readable form, the person in charge of the records is to provide a readable copy of them.
s 36: Am 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [4].
Division 7 Procedural matters
37   Proceedings—Divisions 2 and 3
Proceedings for offences under Divisions 2 and 3 are to be heard and determined in the absence of the public.
38   Proceedings—Division 6
Proceedings under Division 6 before a court:
(a)  are to be open to the public unless an objection is made by or on behalf of a party to the proceedings and is upheld by the court, or
(b)  are to be held in closed court if such an objection is made and upheld.
39   Representation in proceedings under Division 6
A party to proceedings under Division 6 before a court may be represented by an Australian legal practitioner or, with the leave of the court, by a person other than an Australian legal practitioner.
s 39: Am 2008 No 62, Sch 3.8 [2].
Division 8 Other applications to Administrative Decisions Tribunal
pt 3, div 8: Subst 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [9].
40   Applications to Tribunal for review of action or direction of Minister
An application may be made to the Tribunal for a review of any of the following decisions:
(a)  any action taken by the Minister under section 5 other than the giving of a direction by an order published under that section, or
(b)  any direction given by an order so published.
s 40: Subst 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [9].
41   Applications to Tribunal for review of public health order relating to Category 4 medical condition
An application may be made to the Tribunal for a review of a public health order that is based on a Category 4 medical condition.
s 41: Subst 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [9].
42   (Repealed)
s 42: Rep 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [9].
Part 3A Control of vaccine preventable diseases
pt 3A (ss 42A–42D): Ins 1992 No 110, Sch 1.
42A   Definitions
In this Part:
child means a child of a class (such as children of a specified age group) prescribed by the regulations.
child at risk, in relation to a vaccine preventable disease, means a child enrolled at a school or child care facility for whom no immunisation certificate or evidence of immunisation has been lodged or produced to the principal of the school or director of the facility which shows that the child has been immunised against, or has acquired immunity by infection from, the disease.
child care facility means:
(a)  a child care service to which Division 1 of Part 3 of the Children (Care and Protection) Act 1987 applies, or
(b)  a service or facility of a class declared by the regulations to be a child care facility for the purposes of this Part.
director of a child care facility means the person in charge of the facility.
immunisation means the process of administering to a person, either orally or parenterally, a substance registered as a vaccine in the part of the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods maintained under section 17 of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 of the Commonwealth relating to registered goods.
immunisation certificate means a certificate in the approved form in which a medical practitioner, or a person of a class specified by the Director-General, certifies the immunisation status of a child, and includes a photocopy or a duplicate of such a certificate.
immunisation status of a child means whether or not the child has been immunised against, or has acquired immunity by infection from, all or specified vaccine preventable diseases.
parent of a child includes a guardian or other person having the care or custody of the child.
school means:
(a)  a government school established under the Education Reform Act 1990, or
(b)  a non-government school registered under that Act.
vaccine preventable disease means measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, tetanus, mumps, rubella or any other disease specified in the regulations as a vaccine preventable disease for the purposes of this Part.
pt 3A (ss 42A–42D): Ins 1992 No 110, Sch 1.
42B   Responsibilities of principals of schools with respect to immunisation
(1)  When a child is being enrolled at a school, the principal of the school must request a parent of the child to lodge with the principal an immunisation certificate for the child, unless satisfied that the certificate can be obtained under subsection (2).
(2)  If an immunisation certificate has been lodged with the principal of a school in respect of a child and the child has subsequently become enrolled at another school, the principal must, on being requested to do so by a parent of the child or the principal of the other school, forward the certificate to the principal of the other school.
(3)  The principal of a school must record in the approved manner the immunisation status of each child enrolled at the school as indicated by any immunisation certificate lodged with the principal in respect of the child.
(4)  For the purposes of recording the immunisation status of a child for whom no immunisation certificate has been lodged with a principal, the child is taken not to have been immunised against any of the vaccine preventable diseases.
(5)  A principal must retain an immunisation certificate lodged with the principal in safe custody for such period as may be prescribed by the regulations.
(6)  The medical officer of health for a medical district may, at any reasonable time:
(a)  enter any school located in the district, and
(b)  request the principal of the school to produce the immunisation certificates and records required by this section to be kept by the principal.
A principal must comply with such a request.
pt 3A (ss 42A–42D): Ins 1992 No 110, Sch 1.
42C   Responsibilities of directors of child care facilities with respect to immunisation
(1)  When a child is being enrolled at a child care facility, and on such subsequent occasions as may be prescribed by the regulations, the director of the facility must request a parent of the child to produce to the director evidence as to the child’s immunisation status, unless satisfied that the evidence can be obtained under subsection (2). The evidence to be produced under this subsection must be in an approved form.
(2)  If the director of a child care facility has recorded in the register under this section the immunisation status of the child and the child has subsequently become enrolled at another child care facility, the director must, on being requested to do so by a parent of the child or the director of the other child care facility, provide that director with a copy of the entry in the register relating to the immunisation status of the child.
(3)  The director of a child care facility must record in a register, kept in the approved manner, the immunisation status of each child enrolled at the facility as indicated by evidence produced in an approved form to the director in respect of the child.
(4)  For the purposes of recording the immunisation status of a child for whom no evidence is produced to the director in an approved form, the child is taken not to have been immunised against any of the vaccine preventable diseases.
(5)  The director of a child care facility must retain an entry in the register for such period as may be prescribed by the regulations.
(6)  The medical officer of health for a medical district may, at any reasonable time:
(a)  enter any child care facility located in the district, and
(b)  request the director of the facility to produce the register required by this section.
A director must comply with such a request.
pt 3A (ss 42A–42D): Ins 1992 No 110, Sch 1.
42D   Duties of principals and directors when there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease
(1)  The principal of a school, or the director of a child care facility, must, on becoming aware that a child enrolled at the school or facility is suffering from a vaccine preventable disease, inform the medical officer of health for the medical district where the school or facility is located that the child is suffering from the disease.
(2)  On being informed that a child is suffering from a vaccine preventable disease, a medical officer of health may, for the purpose of preventing the spread of the disease, direct the principal of the school, or the director of the child care facility, at which the child is enrolled to do either or both of the following:
(a)  to send or deliver to the parent of the child, and of every child at risk who is enrolled at the school or facility, a notice to the effect that, unless the requirements specified in the notice are complied with in respect of that parent’s child within the period so specified, that child is to be excluded from the school or facility for the duration of the outbreak of the disease (as determined by that medical officer),
(b)  to take such other action with respect to the child suffering from the disease and the children at risk as may be specified in the direction.
(3)  In giving a direction under subsection (2), a medical officer of health must comply with such guidelines as may be issued from time to time by the Director-General.
(4)  On receiving a direction under subsection (2), the principal or director must comply with the direction.
(5)  A principal who has sent or delivered a notice referred to in subsection (2) (a) must ensure that the child to whom the notice relates is excluded from the school or child care facility concerned for the duration of the outbreak of the disease (as determined by the medical officer of health concerned), unless the requirements specified in the notice have been complied with within the period so specified.
(6)  Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply when the school or child care facility is closed for a public holiday or vacation, unless the school or facility would reopen before the end of the duration of the outbreak of the disease (as determined by the medical officer of health concerned).
(7)  A member of the staff of a school or child care facility must not, except as provided by this section, subject a child who attends or is seeking to attend the school or facility to any detriment because of the child’s immunisation status.
pt 3A (ss 42A–42D): Ins 1992 No 110, Sch 1.
Part 3B Pap Test Register
Division 1 Preliminary
pt 3B, div 1: Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42E   Definitions
In this Part:
cervical cancer means a malignant growth of human tissue in the cervix of the uterus that is likely to spread to tissue beyond its site of origin.
cervical cancer test means a test that is carried out to determine whether or not a woman has cervical cancer or any of its precursors, and that:
(a)  consists of a pathological examination of a specimen of any kind taken from the woman, or
(b)  is a test, or a test of a class, prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.
health practitioner means a person who is:
(a)  a medical practitioner, or
(b)  a registered nurse within the meaning of the Nurses and Midwives Act 1991, or a registered midwife within the meaning of that Act, or
(c)  a person, or a person of a class, prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph.
identifying particulars of a woman means the woman’s:
(a)  full name (and any previous name), and
(b)  residential or postal address.
pathology request form means a form submitted to a pathology laboratory by or on behalf of a health practitioner requesting the laboratory to carry out a pathological examination of a specimen.
Register means the New South Wales Pap Test Register referred to in section 42F.
s 42E: Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1. Am 2003 No 45, Sch 2.18 [4].
Division 2 New South Wales Pap Test Register
pt 3B, div 2: Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42F   New South Wales Pap Test Register
(1)  The Director-General is to cause to be compiled and maintained a Register, to be known as the New South Wales Pap Test Register.
(2)  The Director-General may enter into any agreement or arrangement for any other person to maintain the Register.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42G   Object of establishing Register
The object of establishing the Register is to reduce the incidence of, and mortality from, preventable cervical cancer by using the Register for the purposes specified in section 42I.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42H   Contents of Register
(1)  The Register is to contain the following information in relation to a cervical cancer test:
(a)  the identifying particulars of the woman who had the test,
(b)  her date of birth,
(c)  the date of the test,
(d)  the result of the test,
(e)  an indication of whether the test was carried out:
(i)  because the woman had symptoms that warranted investigation, or
(ii)  as a routine measure only,
(f)  the identification number of the test,
(g)  if the test consisted of a pathological examination of a specimen taken from the woman:
(i)  the name, address and identification code of the health practitioner by or on whose behalf the relevant pathology request form was submitted, and
(ii)  the identification code of the laboratory that examined the specimen,
(h)  if the test was a test, or a test of a class, prescribed by the regulations:
(i)  the name, address and identification code of the health practitioner who carried out the test, and
(ii)  such clinical information as the regulations may prescribe.
(2)  In this section:
identification code, in relation to a health practitioner or laboratory, means a code used to identify the health practitioner or laboratory for the purposes of the Register.
identification number, in relation to a test, means the number allocated uniquely to the test by:
(a)  the laboratory that carried out the test (in the case of a test consisting of a pathological examination of a specimen taken from a woman), or
(b)  the health practitioner (in any other case).
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42I   Use of information in Register
(1)  The information in the Register is to be used for the following purposes:
(a)  to remind any woman who does not have a further cervical cancer test (or other appropriate investigation or treatment) within a reasonable time after a cervical cancer test that a further test (or investigation or treatment) is recommended,
(b)  to provide a record of test results that links each woman tested with her health practitioner and any laboratory that produces her test results,
(c)  to monitor rates and patterns of cervical cancer tests to assist in the planning and evaluation of test programs,
(d)  to provide information (being information that does not include any woman’s identifying particulars):
(i)  to the public—so as to increase public awareness of the Register and its objects, and
(ii)  to health practitioners and laboratories—to assist them to monitor their quality control procedures in relation to cervical cancer tests, and
(iii)  to the Department of Health, and
(iv)  to the Commonwealth,
(e)  to maintain a database (being a database that does not contain any woman’s identifying particulars) for use in research into the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer.
(2)  Any person acting for the purposes of this Division does not, if acting in good faith, incur any liability by reason of any notification or advice to a woman, or any failure to notify or advise a woman, in relation to any matter included in or otherwise concerning the Register.
(3)  In this section, test results means the results of a cervical cancer test.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42J   Disclosure of identifying particulars in conjunction with test result
(1)  A person may disclose, in conjunction with the result of a cervical cancer test, the identifying particulars of the woman who had the test only:
(a)  to the woman concerned, or
(b)  with the written consent of the woman, or
(c)  to the woman’s health practitioner, or
(d)  to the person in charge of a laboratory that is, or has previously been, engaged on the woman’s behalf to make a pathological examination of a specimen taken from her, or
(e)  for the purposes of section 42I (1) (a) or (b), or
(f)  if permitted or required to do so under the terms of an order of a court or the provisions of an Act, or
(g)  in accordance with the regulations.
(2)  The regulations may prescribe either or both of the following:
(a)  the persons, or class of persons, to whom a woman’s identifying particulars may be disclosed in conjunction with the results of the woman’s cervical cancer test,
(b)  the circumstances in which that disclosure may be made.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42K   Provision of information for inclusion in Register
(1)  The person in charge of a laboratory that carries out a cervical cancer test must provide a report relating to the test in accordance with this section.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2)  A person in charge of a laboratory is not guilty of an offence under this section by reason only that the report concerned did not include information that it was not in the power of the laboratory to provide.
(3)  A health practitioner who carries out a test, or a test of a class, prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of paragraph (b) of the definition of cervical cancer test in section 42E, must provide a report relating to the test in accordance with this section.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(4)  A health practitioner who takes a specimen from a woman for the purposes of a cervical cancer test is to ensure that the relevant pathology request form contains as much of the information required by this section to be included in a report from a laboratory as it is in the power of the health practitioner to provide.
(5)  A report referred to in this section:
(a)  is to be provided to the Director-General (or, if the Director-General has entered into an agreement or arrangement with another person under section 42F (2) and the person in charge of the laboratory or the health practitioner concerned has been notified accordingly, to that other person), and
(b)  is to be provided within 30 days after the completion of the test, and
(c)  is to contain, in relation to the test, the information referred to in section 42H, and
(d)  is to be in a form approved by the Director-General.
(6)  This section is subject to section 42O.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
Division 3 Right to anonymity in Register
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42L   Application of Division
This Division has effect despite section 42H.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42M   Woman may elect not to be identified in Register
A woman who has a cervical cancer test may elect to have her identifying particulars withheld from the Register by advising the health practitioner carrying out, or taking the specimen for the purposes of, the test that she does not want to be identified in the Register.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42N   Removal of identifying particulars from Register
(1)  A woman may at any time request the Director-General, in writing, to remove her identifying particulars from the Register.
(2)  The Director-General is to cause any such request to be complied with as soon as practicable after receiving it.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42O   Withholding of identifying particulars
(1)  If a woman elects to have her identifying particulars withheld from the Register, the health practitioner to whom she makes the election:
(a)  must note any relevant pathology request form accordingly, and
(b)  must not provide those particulars to any person for the purpose of their inclusion in the Register.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(2)  A person in charge of a laboratory that receives a pathology request form noted as referred to in subsection (1) must ensure that the laboratory does not provide the identifying particulars of the woman to whom the form relates to any person for the purpose of their inclusion in the Register.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(3)  Any person who has reason to believe that a woman has elected to have her identifying particulars withheld from the Register is not to include those particulars in the Register.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
42P   Health practitioner to provide information about Register
(1)  A health practitioner who carries out a cervical cancer test, or takes a specimen from a woman for the purpose of such a test, is, before carrying out the test or taking the specimen, to provide the woman concerned with details of:
(a)  the object of the Register, and
(b)  the information that is recorded in the Register, and
(c)  the purposes for which that information may be used, and
(d)  the way in which the confidentiality of the Register is protected.
(2)  Subsection (1) does not apply if the health practitioner’s records indicate that the woman has previously been provided with details of the Register. In that case, however, the health practitioner is to remind the woman of her right to have her identifying particulars removed from the Register.
(3)  If the health practitioner’s records do not indicate that the woman has previously been provided with details of the Register, the health practitioner is also to inform the woman:
(a)  that she may elect to have her identifying particulars withheld from the Register, and
(b)  that if she does not so elect, she may have those particulars removed from the Register at any time after they are recorded in it.
pt 3B, div 3 (ss 42F–42P): Ins 1996 No 1, Sch 1.
Part 4 Microbial control
43   Purpose of Part 4
(1)  The purpose of this Part is to regulate:
(a)  the installation on premises of certain kinds of systems, and
(b)  the operation and maintenance of those kinds of systems installed on premises, whether the installation took place before, or takes place after, the commencement of this Part,
in order to prevent or inhibit the growth in the systems of micro-organisms that are liable to cause Legionnaires’ disease and other diseases.
(2)  The systems comprise:
(a)  air-handling systems, and
(b)  evaporative cooling systems, and
(c)  hot-water systems, and
(d)  humidifying systems, and
(e)  warm-water systems, and
(f)  water-cooling systems,
and their associated equipment and fittings.
44   Definitions
In this Part:
air-handling system means a system designed for the purpose of directing air in a positive and controlled manner to and from specific enclosures by means of air-handling plant, ducts, plenums, air-distribution devices and automatic controls.
authorised officer, in relation to any premises, means:
(a)  an environmental health officer employed by the local authority for the area in which the premises are situated, or
(b)  an environmental health officer of the Department of Health, or
(c)  a person authorised by the Minister or the Director-General to exercise the powers conferred by this Part on an authorised officer.
cooling-tower means:
(a)  a device for lowering the temperature of water or other liquid by evaporative cooling, or
(b)  an evaporative condenser which incorporates a device containing a refrigerant or heat exchanger.
evaporative cooling system means a system that effects a reduction of dry bulb temperature by evaporating water into the air being treated.
hot water system means a system designed to heat and deliver water at a temperature of at least 60°C at each outlet point.
humidifying system means a system for adding moisture to air in order to raise its humidity.
install includes construct.
maintain includes repair, inspect, carry out preventive servicing and clean.
prescribed installation requirements means requirements specified in the regulations with respect to the design and installation of a regulated system.
prescribed maintenance requirements means requirements specified in the regulations with respect to the maintenance of a regulated system.
prescribed operating requirements means requirements specified in the regulations with respect to the operation of a regulated system.
regulated premises means any premises other than premises declared by the regulations not to be regulated premises for the purposes of this Part.
regulated system means:
(a)  a system referred to in section 43, or
(b)  any system that is for the treatment of air or water and is declared by the regulations to be a regulated system for the purposes of this Part.
warm-water system means a system designed to heat and deliver water at a temperature of less than 60°C at each outlet point.
water-cooling system means a cooling tower and its associated equipment and pipe work.
45   Installation of system
(1)  The installation on regulated premises of a regulated system must be done in accordance with the prescribed installation requirements.
(2)  If a regulated system is installed in contravention of this section, the installer of the system is guilty of an offence.
(3)  If a regulated system is installed on regulated premises in contravention of this section, the occupier of the premises at the time of installation of the system is guilty of an offence unless the court is satisfied that the installation was carried out by a person or persons who might reasonably be expected to be competent to do so.
46   Operation and maintenance of system
(1)  If the occupier of regulated premises fails, while such an occupier, to ensure that the prescribed operating requirements, or the prescribed maintenance requirements, are complied with in relation to a regulated system installed on the premises, the occupier is guilty of an offence.
(2)  It is a defence to proceedings for an offence under this section if the court is satisfied that:
(a)  the occupier engaged a person to carry out the requirements to which the proceedings relate, and
(b)  the person so engaged might reasonably have been expected to be competent to carry out the requirements.
(3)  If a contractor:
(a)  is engaged by the occupier of regulated premises to operate a regulated system, and
(b)  fails to carry out the prescribed operating requirements for the system,
the contractor is guilty of an offence.
(4)  If a contractor:
(a)  is engaged by the occupier of regulated premises to maintain a regulated system, and
(b)  fails to carry out the prescribed maintenance requirements for the system,
the contractor is guilty of an offence.
(5)  This section applies to a regulated system whether installed before or after the commencement of this Part.
47   Powers of authorised officers
(1)  An authorised officer who believes on reasonable grounds that a regulated system has been, or is being, installed on any regulated premises may:
(a)  enter the premises at any reasonable time in order to find out whether or not a system on the premises is a regulated system, and
(b)  inspect and test any system on the premises, and
(c)  investigate whether or not the prescribed operating requirements, and the prescribed maintenance requirements, have been complied with in relation to any regulated system on the premises, and
(d)  require the production of, and inspect, any records required by the regulations to be kept in relation to the operation and maintenance of any regulated system on the premises.
(2)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to the exercise of the powers conferred by this section.
48   Directions to carry out maintenance requirements
(1)  The Director-General, or a local authority, may serve on the occupier of regulated premises in which a regulated system is installed a notice:
(a)  directing that a specified prescribed maintenance requirement for the system be complied with before a date stated in the notice, and
(b)  if appropriate, directing that the system not be operated until the Director-General, or the local authority, is satisfied that the requirement has been complied with.
(2)  A notice under this section may be served:
(a)  only if the Director-General, or the local authority, believes on reasonable grounds that the requirement to which the notice relates is not being, or has not been, complied with, and
(b)  in the case of a local authority, only if the premises are within the area for which it is the local authority.
(3)  Service of a notice under this section does not preclude proceedings for an offence under section 46.
49   Failure to comply with directions
(1)  If the directions given in a notice served under section 48 are not complied with:
(a)  the Director-General, if the notice was served by the Director-General, or
(b)  the local authority that served the notice,
may make arrangements for the doing of such work as may be necessary in order to comply with the requirements of the notice other than the time required for compliance.
(2)  An employee assigned, or contractor engaged, by the Director-General or a local authority to do any work on regulated premises in accordance with those arrangements may, at any reasonable time, enter the premises and do the work or have it done.
(3)  An amount equal to the cost of carrying out work in accordance with those arrangements may be recovered from the occupier of the premises:
(a)  as a debt due to the Crown if the arrangements were made by the Director-General, or
(b)  as a debt due to the local authority if the arrangements were made by the local authority.
(4)  An occupier of regulated premises is guilty of an offence if a regulated system on the premises is operated in contravention of a direction given in a notice served on the occupier under this section.
(5)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to the exercise of the powers of entry on premises conferred by this section.
50   Proceedings for offences under Part 4
(1)  Proceedings for an offence under this Part are to be disposed of summarily either:
(a)  before the Local Court, or
(b)  before the Supreme Court in its summary jurisdiction.
(2)  A person convicted by the Local Court of an offence under this Part is liable to a penalty not exceeding 100 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.
(3)  A person convicted by the Supreme Court of an offence under this Part is liable to a penalty not exceeding 500 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or both.
(4)  Proceedings for an offence under this Part may be commenced at any time within, but not later than, 2 years after the time at which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
s 50: Am 1995 No 9, Sch 3 (1); 2007 No 94, Schs 2, 4.
Part 5 General health matters
pt 5, hdg: Subst 1999 No 76, Sch 1 [1].
51   Skin penetration procedures—power of environmental health officers to enter and inspect premises
(1)  An environmental health officer who believes on reasonable grounds that premises are used for the carrying on of skin penetration procedures may enter the premises and do any one or more of the following on those premises:
(a)  inspect the premises,
(b)  make inquiries of any person found on the premises,
(c)  examine, inspect or test any apparatus, equipment or works,
(d)  take and remove samples of any substance or other thing,
(e)  require the samples referred to in paragraph (d) to be taken and given to the environmental health officer or another person or to the Director-General,
(f)  take such photographs, films and audio, video and other recordings as the environmental health officer considers necessary,
(g)  require records to be produced for inspection,
(h)  examine, inspect and copy any records,
(i)  make such other examinations, inquiries and tests as the environmental health officer considers necessary.
(2)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to the exercise of powers conferred by this section.
(3)  In this section:
skin penetration procedure means any of the following procedures:
(a)  acupuncture,
(b)  tattooing,
(c)  ear piercing,
(d)  hair removal,
(e)  any other procedure (whether medical or not) that involves skin penetration,
(f)  any other procedure prescribed by the regulations,
but does not include:
(g)  a procedure carried out in the practice of medicine or dentistry by:
(i)  a medical practitioner registered under the Medical Practice Act 1992, or
(ii)  a dentist registered under the Dentists Act 1989, or
(iii)  a person acting under the direction or supervision of such a medical practitioner or dentist, or
(h)  any other procedure prescribed by the regulations.
s 51: Rep 1993 No 32, Sch 2. Ins 1999 No 76, Sch 1 [2].
52   Nursing requirements for nursing homes
(1)  A person who operates a nursing home must:
(a)  ensure that a registered nurse is on duty in the nursing home at all times, and
(b)  ensure that a registered nurse is appointed as a director of nursing of the nursing home, and
(c)  ensure that any vacancy in the position of director of nursing of the nursing home is filled within 7 days.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2)  The regulations may prescribe the minimum necessary qualifications for a registered nurse to be appointed as a director of nursing at a nursing home.
(3)  In this section:
director of nursing of a nursing home means the registered nurse responsible for care of the residents of the nursing home.
registered nurse has the same meaning as in the Nurses and Midwives Act 1991.
s 52: Subst 2004 No 87, Sch 5 [2].
Part 6
53–61P  (Repealed)
pt 6, hdg: Subst 1999 No 76, Sch 1 [3]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
pt 6: Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
pt 6, div 1: Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 53: Am 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [1]–[3]; 1999 No 76, Sch 1 [4]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
pt 6, div 2, hdg: Subst 2007 No 89, Sch 2.13 [2]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
pt 6, div 2: Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 53A: Ins 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [4]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 54: Subst 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [4]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 54A: Ins 2007 No 89, Sch 2.13 [3]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
ss 55–57: Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 57A: Ins 2007 No 89, Sch 2.13 [4]. Am 2008 No 62, Sch 2.45 [2]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
pt 6, div 3: Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 58: Rep 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [5]. Ins 2002 No 91, Sch 1 [1]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 58A: Ins 2002 No 91, Sch 1 [1]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 59: Am 1996 No 33, Sch 1 (1); 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [6]–[9]; 1999 No 76, Sch 1 [5]–[9]; 2002 No 91, Sch 1 [2]; 2003 No 40, Sch 2.25. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 59AA: Ins 2002 No 91, Sch 1 [3]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 59A: Ins 1996 No 33, Sch 1 (2). Am 1997 No 109, Sch 1.5 [1]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 60: Rep 1997 No 109, Sch 1.5 [2]. Ins 2002 No 91, Sch 1 [4]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 61: Am 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [9]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
pt 6, div 4: Ins 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [10]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
ss 61A–61L: Ins 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [10]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
s 61M: Ins 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [10]. Am 1999 No 85, Sch 2.51. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
ss 61N–61P: Ins 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [10]. Rep 2008 No 94, Sch 2.3.
Part 7 Administration
Division 1 Medical officers of health
62   Nomination of medical officers of health
(1)  The Governor may nominate a medical practitioner to be a medical officer of health at such remuneration, if any, as is determined by the Governor.
(2)  Part 2 of the Public Sector Management Act 1988 does not apply to the nomination of a medical officer of health and a medical officer of health is not subject to that Part of that Act.
(3)  The regulations may confer or impose functions on a medical officer of health.
62A   Appointment of acting medical officers of health
(1)  The Director-General:
(a)  may, from time to time, appoint a medical practitioner to act as a medical officer of health during the illness or absence of the officer or while there is a vacancy in the office of such an officer, and
(b)  may, at any time, terminate the appointment.
(2)  A medical practitioner has, while acting as a medical officer of health, all the functions of the officer and is to be regarded as the officer.
s 62A: Ins 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (6).
63   Medical districts
(1)  The Governor may, by order published in the Gazette:
(a)  describe a medical district (which may include a specified river, lake or harbour, or any specified coastal water or other water), and
(b)  nominate a specified medical practitioner as the medical officer of health for the medical district on and from a date stated in the order.
(2)  An order under this section may describe a group of medical districts and nominate the same medical practitioner as the medical officer of health for each of them.
(3)  The medical officer of health nominated for a medical district may exercise his or her functions under this Act only:
(a)  within that medical district, or
(b)  with the authority of the Director-General, within any other medical district during the absence, or a vacancy in the office, of its medical officer of health.
(4)  With the authority of the Director-General, a medical practitioner who is an officer of the Department of Health and has the prescribed qualifications may, in any medical district, exercise any of the functions of the medical officer of health for the medical district.
64   Inspection of, and extracts from, certain registers
(1)  A medical officer of health (or any person authorised by a medical officer of health) may, at any reasonable time, inspect the registers kept under the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1995.
(2)  With the authority of the Director-General, an officer of the Department of Health may, at any reasonable time, inspect those registers.
(3)  The Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages is to make such arrangements as may be necessary for an extract from, or a copy of an entry in, a register to be supplied if required by a medical officer of health (or any person authorised by a medical officer of health), or an officer of the Department of Health, entitled under this section to inspect the register.
s 64: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1; 1995 No 62, Sch 2.
65   Inspection of premises
(1)  For the purpose of giving effect to this Act, a medical officer of health (or any person authorised by a medical officer of health) may, at any reasonable time, enter and inspect any premises and may make inquiries of any person found on the premises.
(2)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to any entry on premises for the purposes of this section and to any inspection or other action that is authorised by this section.
s 65: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1; 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (7).
66   Reports by medical officers of health
(1)  If:
(a)  a matter affecting the health of the public in a medical district comes to the notice of the medical officer of health for the district, or
(b)  the Director-General requests the medical officer of health for a medical district to provide a report on a specified matter affecting the health of the public in the district,
the medical officer of health is to provide the Director-General with a report on the matter as soon as possible.
(2)  If a matter in respect of which a medical officer of health provides a report under this section is a matter in respect of which a local authority may, or must, exercise a function, the medical officer of health is to send a copy of the report to the local authority.
67   Exercise by medical officer of health of functions of environmental health officer
A medical officer of health (or any person authorised by a medical officer of health) may exercise any functions of an environmental health officer employed by a local authority.
s 67: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1.
Division 2 Notifications by hospitals
68   Definitions
In this Division:
chief executive officer, in relation to a hospital, means the person responsible for the day to day administration of the affairs of the hospital.
hospital means:
(a)  a public hospital within the meaning of the Health Services Act 1997, or
(b)    (Repealed)
(c)  a hospital, or a health care agency, within the meaning of the Mental Health Act 1990, or
(d)  an establishment within the meaning of the Private Hospitals and Day Procedure Centres Act 1988, or
(e)  a nursing home, or
(f)  any other institution prescribed by the regulations as a hospital for the purposes of this Division.
notifiable disease means a medical condition listed in Schedule 3.
s 68: Am 1997 No 154, Sch 6.40 [2]; 2004 No 87, Sch 5 [3].
69   Chief executive officer to provide information
(1)  A person who is providing professional care or treatment at a hospital and who has reasonable grounds for believing that:
(a)  a patient at the hospital has a notifiable disease, or
(b)  a person who was a patient at the hospital had a notifiable disease at any time during the person’s stay in the hospital,
has a duty, and is authorised, to ensure that the chief executive officer of the hospital is aware of the matter.
(2)  The chief executive officer of the hospital must provide the Director-General, in accordance with the regulations, with such information as may be prescribed by the regulations in relation to:
(a)  a patient at the hospital who has a notifiable disease, or
(b)  a person who was a patient at the hospital and who had a notifiable disease at any time during the person’s stay in the hospital.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3)  The chief executive officer’s obligation under subsection (2) arises immediately the chief executive officer is made aware, or otherwise has reasonable grounds for believing, that the patient (or person who was a patient) concerned has (or had) the disease.
(4)  It is a defence to a prosecution under this section if the chief executive officer satisfies the court that he or she had reasonable cause to believe that the information concerned had been provided to the Director-General.
(5)  Proceedings for an offence under this section may be commenced at any time within, but not later than, 2 years after the time at which the offence is alleged to have been committed.
s 69: Subst 1995 No 9, Sch 3 (2).
Division 3 Inspections and inquiries
70   Inspection of records
(1)  The Minister may, at any reasonable time, inspect any written records of a public authority that relate to public health.
(2)  It is the duty of a public authority to make available any written record required for inspection in accordance with this section.
(3)  If:
(a)  a record kept by a public authority is not a written record, and
(b)  it could have been inspected under this section if it had been a written record, and
(c)  the Minister requires the public authority to produce, and make available for inspection under this section, a written copy of the record,
the public authority has a duty to comply with the requirement.
(4)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to an inspection under this section.
71   Inquiries by Director-General
(1)  The Director-General may inquire into:
(a)  any matter relating to the health of the public, or
(b)  any matter that, under this Act, authorises a direction by, or that requires the approval or consent of, the Minister or the Director-General, or
(c)  any alleged offence under this Act.
(2)  For the purposes of an inquiry under this section, a person authorised by the Director-General may enter any premises and:
(a)  require the occupier of the premises to make available for inspection any records that are in the possession, or under the control, of the occupier and relate to a matter in respect of which an inquiry is authorised by this section, and
(b)  inspect any records, whether or not made available under paragraph (a), that are on the premises and relate to such a matter, and
(c)  take samples for the purpose of analysis of a substance found on the premises.
(3)  If:
(a)  a record kept on any premises is not a written record, and
(b)  a person authorised by the Director-General for the purposes of this section could have inspected the record if it had been a written record, and
(c)  a person so authorised requires the occupier of the premises to make available for inspection a written copy of the record, and
(d)  the occupier refuses or fails to comply with the requirement,
the occupier is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(4)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to any entry on premises for the purposes of this section and to any inspection or other action that is authorised by this section.
s 71: Am 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [3].
Part 8 Miscellaneous
72   Powers of entry
(1)  A power conferred by this Act to enter premises, or to make an inspection or take other action on premises, may not be exercised unless the person proposing to exercise the power:
(a)  is in possession of a certificate of authority, and
(b)  gives reasonable notice to the occupier of the premises of intention to exercise the power, unless the giving of notice would defeat the purpose for which it is intended to exercise the power, and
(c)  exercises the power at a reasonable time, unless it is being exercised in an emergency, and
(d)  produces the certificate of authority if required to do so by the occupier of the premises, and
(e)  uses no more force than is reasonably necessary to effect the entry or make the inspection.
(2)  A certificate of authority must:
(a)  state that it is issued under the Public Health Act 1991, and
(b)  give the name of the person to whom it is issued, and
(c)  describe the nature of the powers conferred and the source of the powers, and
(d)  state the date, if any, on which it expires, and
(e)  describe the kind of premises to which the power extends, and
(f)  bear the signature of the person by whom it is issued and state the capacity in which the person is acting in issuing the certificate.
(3)  If damage is caused by a person exercising a power to enter premises, a reasonable amount of compensation is recoverable as a debt owed by the employer of the person to the owner of the premises unless the occupier obstructed the exercise of the power.
(4)  If goods are taken from premises by a person who exercises a power to enter the premises, a person otherwise entitled to possession of the goods is, as far as is practicable, to be allowed access to the goods.
(5)  This section does not apply to a power conferred by a search warrant issued under the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.
(6)  In this section, certificate of authority means a certificate that, to enable a person to exercise a power conferred by this Act, is issued to the person:
(a)  by the Minister or the Director-General, unless the power is to be exercised on behalf of a local authority, or
(b)  by a local authority if the power is to be exercised on behalf of the local authority.
s 72: Am 1991 No 94, Sch 2; 2002 No 103, Sch 4.75 [1].
73   Search warrants
(1)  In this section:
authorised officer has the same meaning as it has in the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002.
(2)  A person who has the written authority of the Minister, the Director-General or a local authority to do so may apply to an authorised officer for a search warrant in relation to premises if admission to the premises has been refused, or an attempt to obtain admission has been, or is likely to be, unsuccessful, and:
(a)  there are reasonable grounds for believing that an offence under this Act or the regulations has been, or is being, committed on the premises, or
(b)  the search warrant is sought in order to exercise a power to enter or inspect conferred by this Act.
(3)  An authorised officer to whom an application is made under this section may, if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so, issue a search warrant authorising a person named in the warrant to enter the premises.
(4)  Division 4 of Part 5 of the Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 applies to a search warrant issued under this section.
s 73: Am 1991 No 92, Sch 2; 2002 No 103, Sch 4.75 [2]–[4].
74   Obstruction or assault of officers and others
(1)  A person who intimidates or wilfully obstructs or hinders another person exercising, or attempting to exercise, a function conferred or imposed on the other person by this Act is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2)  A person who assaults an authorised officer in the course of the exercise by the officer of his or her duties under this Act or the regulations is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both.
s 74: Am 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [11] [12].
75   Disclosure of information
(1)  A person who discloses information obtained in connection with the administration of this Act is guilty of an offence unless the court is satisfied that there was a lawful excuse for the disclosure.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2)  The reference in this section to a lawful excuse for the disclosure of information includes a reference to disclosure of the information:
(a)  with the consent of the person to whom it relates, or
(b)  in connection with the administration or execution of this Act, or
(c)  for the purposes of legal proceedings arising out of this Act or of a report of any such legal proceedings, or
(d)  in accordance with a requirement imposed under the Ombudsman Act 1974, or
(e)  in any other prescribed circumstances.
s 75: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1.
76   Service of notices and other documents
(1)  The giving of notice to, or service of a notice or other document on, a person for the purposes of this Act may be effected by delivering it, or a true copy, to the residence of the person.
(2)  The giving of notice to, or service of a notice or other document on, the owner or occupier of premises in that capacity may be effected for the purposes of this Act:
(a)  by delivering it to a person on the premises, or
(b)  if there is no person on the premises to whom it can be delivered—by fixing it to some conspicuous part of the premises.
(3)  Instead of giving a notice, or serving a notice or other document, as is otherwise provided by this section, it may be served by post.
77   Exclusion of personal liability
(1)  A person who exercises a function under this Act in good faith and for the purpose of executing this Act is not to be subjected personally to any action, liability, claim or demand based on the exercise of the function.
(2)  Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), a person is not to be subjected personally to any legal proceedings, civil or criminal, for sending, giving or serving, in good faith, without negligence and for the purposes of this Act, a certificate, notice or other communication.
78   Offences by corporations
(1)  If a corporation commits an offence under this Act or the regulations, each person who is a director of the corporation, or who is concerned in the management of the corporation, is to be taken to have committed the same offence if the person knowingly authorised or permitted the act or omission constituting the offence.
(2)  A person may be proceeded against and convicted under a provision pursuant to this section whether or not the corporation has been proceeded against or convicted under that provision.
(3)  Nothing in this section affects any liability imposed on a corporation for an offence committed by the corporation under this Act or the regulations.
79   Proceedings for offences
(1)  Proceedings for an offence under this Act are to be disposed of summarily before the Local Court.
(2)  This section does not affect the operation of section 10AB, 10L, 50, 61M or 69.
s 79: Am 1995 No 9, Sch 3 (3); 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [13]; 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [4]; 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [4]; 2007 No 94, Sch 4.
80   Amendment of Schedules
(1)  The regulations may amend Schedule 1:
(a)  by inserting the name of a medical condition in Category 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in the Schedule, or
(b)  by omitting the name of a medical condition from Category 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 in the Schedule.
(2)  The regulations may amend or substitute Schedule 2.
(3)  The regulations may amend Schedule 3 by inserting or omitting the name of a notifiable disease or a reference by means of which a notifiable disease may be identified.
81   Act binds the Crown
(1)  This Act binds the Crown in right of New South Wales and, in so far as the legislative power of Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.
(2)  Nothing in this Act renders the Crown liable to be prosecuted for an offence.
82   Regulations
(1)  The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed, or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
(2)  In particular, the regulations may make provision for or with respect to any of the following:
(a)  the prevention, mitigation and eradication of risks to public health,
(b)    (Repealed)
(c)  the places at which, and the conditions subject to which, a person may be detained under a public health order,
(c1)  the closure of public swimming pools and public spas for any period during which they are a risk to public health,
(d)  the installation, operation, maintenance and inspection of a regulated system within the meaning of Part 4,
(e)  the functions (including powers of entry and inspection) of local authorities and authorised officers in relation to a regulated system within the meaning of Part 4,
(f)  the directions that, in relation to a regulated system within the meaning of Part 4, may be given by a local authority or an authorised officer during, or as a result of, an investigation of an occurrence of Legionnaires’ disease,
(g)  compliance with directions referred to in paragraph (f),
(h)  the provision of information by the owner or occupier of premises in relation to a regulated system within the meaning of Part 4 which is installed on the premises,
(i)  the provision and keeping of operation manuals, and maintenance manuals, for a regulated system within the meaning of Part 4,
(j)  the keeping of records, and the making of reports, in relation to a regulated system within the meaning of Part 4,
(k)  the preparation rooms, equipment and apparatus in mortuaries, crematories and cemeteries, and any other matter relating to mortuaries, crematories and cemeteries that is for the protection of the health of the public,
(l)  the inspection of mortuaries, crematories and cemeteries and of premises that may reasonably be suspected of being mortuaries, crematories or cemeteries,
(m)  the records to be kept in relation to mortuaries, crematories and cemeteries, and the inspection of records (including the making of copies or extracts from such records by or for environmental health officers and the public), equipment and apparatus in mortuaries, crematories and cemeteries or premises that may reasonably be suspected of being mortuaries, crematories or cemeteries,
(n)  the cases in which, the manner in which, and the conditions under which, cremations of human remains may take place,
(o)  matters preliminary to, and consequential upon, cremations of human remains,
(p)  the fees that may be charged for the cremation of human remains, for the preservation or disposal of the ashes and for related services,
(q)  the registration of cremations and burials and (with any necessary modifications) the application to the registration of cremations of the provisions of any other Act, or of any law, in force in relation to the registration of a burial of the body of a deceased person,
(r)  the embalming, interment, disposal and exhumation of the bodies of deceased persons,
(s)  the payment of specified fees in relation to applications made, approvals given, and other matters arising, under this Act.
(3)  Section 72 (Powers of entry) applies in relation to any entry on, or inspection of or on, premises in accordance with a regulation.
(4)  A regulation may apply, adopt or incorporate a publication as in force for the time being.
(5)  The regulations may create offences punishable by a penalty not exceeding 20 penalty units.
s 82: Am 1992 No 110, Sch 2 (8); 1994 No 32, Sch 1; 1997 No 77, Sch 5.25 [10].
83   Repeal of Public Health (Amendment) Act 1989 No 86
The Public Health (Amendment) Act 1989 is repealed on the day on which Part 4 of this Act commences.
84   Savings and transitional provisions
Schedule 4 has effect.
Schedule 1 Scheduled medical conditions
(Section 3)
Category 1
Birth
Congenital malformation (as described in the “Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death” published by the World Health Organization, Geneva) in a child under the age of 1 year
Cystic fibrosis in a child under the age of 1 year
Death while under, or as a result of, or within 24 hours after the administration of, an anaesthetic administered in the course of a medical, surgical or dental operation or procedure or an operation or procedure of a like nature (other than a local anaesthetic administered solely for the purpose of facilitating a procedure for resuscitation from apparent or impending death)
Hypothyroidism in a child under the age of 1 year
Perinatal Death
Phenylketonuria in a child under the age of 1 year
Pregnancy with a child having a congenital malformation (as described in the “Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death” published by the World Health Organization, Geneva), cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism, thalassaemia major or phenylketonuria
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Thalassaemia major in a child under the age of 1 year
Category 2
To be notified by medical practitioners
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Acute viral hepatitis
Adverse event following immunisation
Avian influenza in humans
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
Foodborne illness in two or more related cases
Gastroenteritis among people of any age in an institution (eg among persons in educational or residential institutions)
Leprosy
Measles
Pertussis (Whooping cough)
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Smallpox
Swine influenza in humans
Syphilis
Tuberculosis
Category 3
To be notified by laboratories
Anthrax
Arboviral infections
Avian influenza in humans
Botulism
Brucellosis
Cancer
Chancroid
Chlamydia
Cholera
Congenital malformation (as described in the “Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death” published by the World Health Organization, Geneva)
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
Cryptosporidiosis
Cystic fibrosis
Diphtheria
Donovanosis
Giardiasis
Gonorrhoea
Haemophilus influenzae type b
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis D (delta)
Hepatitis E
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
Hypothyroidism
Invasive pneumococcal infection
Influenza
Lead poisoning (as defined by a blood lead level of or above 15µg/dL)
Legionella infections
Leptospirosis
Listeriosis
Lymphogranuloma venereum
Lyssavirus
Malaria
Measles
Meningococcal infections
Mumps
Pertussis (Whooping Cough)
Phenylketonuria
Plague
Poliomyelitis
Pregnancy with a child having a congenital malformation (as described in the “Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death” published by the World Health Organization, Geneva), cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism, thalassaemia major or phenylketonuria
Psittacosis
Q fever
Rabies
Rotavirus
Rubella
Salmonella infections
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Shigellosis
Smallpox
Swine influenza in humans
Syphilis
Thalassaemia major
Tuberculosis
Tularaemia
Typhus (epidemic)
Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infection
Viral haemorrhagic fevers
Yellow fever
Category 4
Avian influenza in humans
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Swine influenza in humans
Tuberculosis
Typhoid
Category 5
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection
sch 1: Am GG No 159 of 15.11.1991, p 9528; GG No 47 of 14.5.1993, p 2260; GG No 23 of 3.3.1995, p 1080; GG No 119 of 25.10.1996, p 7122; GG No 117 of 31.10.1997, p 8826; GG No 139 of 25.9.1998, p 7693; GG No 162 of 15.12.2000, p 13176; GG No 170 of 29.12.2000, p 13951; GG No 73 of 16.4.2003, p 4485; GG No 95 of 6.6.2003, p 5032; GG No 74 of 16.4.2004, p 2106; 2005 (842), Sch 1 [1]; 2009 (140), cl 3 (1); 2009 (568), Sch 1; 2009 (594), cl 2.
Schedule 2 Health warnings
(Sections 55, 56)
Health warnings must meet the requirements of Part 3 of the Trade Practices (Consumer Product Information) (Tobacco) Regulations made under the Trade Practices Act 1974 of the Commonwealth, as in force from time to time, in so far as they relate to marking, display, position, prominence and rotation.
sch 2: Subst GG No 98 of 27.8.1999, p 7357.
Schedule 3 Notifiable diseases
(Section 68)
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)
Acute viral hepatitis
Adverse event following immunisation
Avian influenza in humans
Botulism
Cancer
Cholera
Congenital malformation (as described in the “Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death” published by the World Health Organization, Geneva) in a child under the age of 1 year
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
Cystic fibrosis in a child under the age of 1 year
Diphtheria
Foodborne illness in two or more related cases
Gastroenteritis among people of any age, in an institution (eg among persons in educational or residential institutions)
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome
Haemophilus influenzae type b
Hypothyroidism in a child under the age of 1 year
Legionnaires’ disease
Leprosy
Lyssavirus
Measles
Meningococcal disease
Paratyphoid
Pertussis (Whooping cough)
Phenylketonuria in a child under the age of 1 year
Plague
Poliomyelitis
Pregnancy with a child having a congenital malformation (as described in the “Manual of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death” published by the World Health Organization, Geneva), cystic fibrosis, hypothyroidism, thalassaemia major or phenylketonuria
Rabies
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
Smallpox
Swine influenza in humans
Syphilis
Tetanus
Thalassaemia major in a child under the age of 1 year
Tuberculosis
Typhoid
Typhus (epidemic)
Viral haemorrhagic fevers
Yellow fever
sch 3: Am GG No 159 of 15.11.1991, p 9528; GG No 47 of 14.5.1993, p 2260; GG No 23 of 3.3.1995, p 1080; GG No 119 of 25.10.1996, p 7122; GG No 117 of 31.10.1997, p 8826; GG No 170 of 29.12.2000, p 13951; GG No 95 of 6.6.2003, p 5032; GG No 74 of 16.4.2004, p 2106; 2005 (842), Sch 1 [2]; 2009 (140), cl 3 (2).
Schedule 4 Savings and transitional provisions
(Section 84)
Part 1 Preliminary
1   Regulations
(1)  The regulations may include provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of this Act.
(2)  A provision referred to in subclause (1) may, if the regulations so provide, take effect from the repeal of the Public Health Act 1902 or later.
(2A)  The regulations may contain provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the Health Legislation Amendment Act 1995 or any of the following Acts:
Health Legislation Further Amendment Act 2004 (but only to the extent that it amends this Act or repeals the Nursing Homes Act 1988)
(2B)  A provision referred to in subclause (2A) may, if the regulations so provide, take effect from the date of assent to the Act concerned or a later date.
(2C)  The regulations may also contain provisions of a savings or transitional nature consequent on the enactment of the Water Legislation Amendment (Drinking Water and Corporate Structure) Act 1998, but only in relation to the amendments made to this Act. Any such provision may, if the regulations so provide, take effect from the date of assent to that Act or a later date.
(3)  To the extent that a provision referred to in subclause (1), (2A) or (2C) takes effect from a date that is earlier than the date of its publication in the Gazette, the provision does not operate:
(a)  to affect, in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the State or an authority of the State) the rights of that person existing before the date of publication, or
(b)  to impose liabilities on any person (other than the State or an authority of the State) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before that date of publication.
Part 2 Provisions consequent on enactment of this Act
2   Definitions
In this Part:
appointed day means the day appointed for the repeal of the Public Health Act 1902.
former Act means the Public Health Act 1902 as in force immediately before the commencement of this Part.
3   Effect of proclamation under former Act
If a proclamation in force under the former Act immediately before the appointed day had an effect that could be achieved under this Act by an order, the proclamation continues on that day to have effect as if it were such an order.
4   Medical districts and medical officers of health
(1)  A notification of a district in force under section 16 of the former Act immediately before the appointed day continues to have effect as if it were an order published on that day under section 63 of this Act.
(2)  The appointment under section 18 of the former Act of a medical officer of health holding office immediately before the appointed day for a district continues to have effect as if it were a nomination made on that day under section 63 of this Act for that medical district.
5   Failure of local authority to exercise power
(1)  If, immediately before the appointed day, the Director-General was entitled under section 24 or 26A of the former Act to exercise a power, or to recover the cost of exercising a power, following a failure on the part of a local authority to comply with a requirement under that section to exercise the power, the failure to comply with the requirement has effect as a failure on the appointed day to comply with the same requirement made in a notice under section 10 of this Act given to the local authority.
(2)  If, immediately before the appointed day, the time for compliance with a requirement made under section 24 or 26A of the former Act had not expired, the requirement has effect on the appointed day as if it were a requirement of a notice under section 10 of this Act to be complied with no later than the latest time for compliance fixed by the former Act.
6   School closure
If, immediately before the appointed day, a school or college was still closed in accordance with a notice published under section 41 of the former Act, the notice has effect on the appointed day as an order in force under section 8 of this Act.
7   Public health orders
A public health order in force immediately before the appointed day under Division 3A of Part 3B of the former Act continues to have effect as if it were a public health order:
(a)  made on the appointed day under Division 6 of Part 3 of this Act, and
(b)  expiring when it would have expired if the former Act had not been repealed.
8   Approval relating to crematory
An approval in force immediately before the appointed day under section 51 (3) or (4) of the former Act takes effect on the appointed day as if it had been made on that day under section 52 of this Act.
9   Closure of water supply
If, immediately before the appointed day, a well, dam, tank, stream or other source of water supply was still closed in accordance with a direction given in a notification published under section 72 of the former Act, the notification has effect on that day as an order in force under section 7 of this Act.
Part 3 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Health Legislation Amendment Act 1995
10   Definition
In this Part, the Act means the Health Legislation Amendment Act 1995.
11   Proceedings for offences under Part 4 (section 50)
Section 50 (4), as replaced by Schedule 3 (1) to the Act, does not apply in respect of an offence alleged to have been committed before the replacement of that subsection. Section 50 (4), as in force immediately before its replacement by Schedule 3 (1) to the Act, continues to apply in respect of any such offence as if it had not been replaced.
12   Chief executive officer to provide information (section 69)
(1)  The duty, under section 69 (1), as inserted by Schedule 3 (2) to the Act, of a person who is providing professional care or treatment at a hospital does not apply in respect of a period during which a person was a patient at the hospital before the commencement of Schedule 3 (2) to the Act.
(2)  The obligation, under section 69 (2), as inserted by Schedule 3 (2) to the Act, of the chief executive officer of a hospital does not apply in respect of a period during which a person was a patient at the hospital before the commencement of Schedule 3 (2) to the Act. However, section 69, as in force immediately before the commencement of Schedule 3 (2) to the Act, continues to apply in relation to information, concerning persons suffering from a notifiable disease who are, or who have been, patients at the hospital, that the chief executive officer possessed immediately before that commencement.
Part 4 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Public Health Amendment (Tobacco) Act 1996
13   Sale of tobacco to persons under 18
(1)  Section 59, as amended by the Public Health Amendment (Tobacco) Act 1996, does not apply in respect of proceedings for an offence under that section alleged to have been committed before the commencement of that amendment.
(2)  Section 59, as in force immediately before the commencement of that amendment, continues to apply in respect of any such proceedings as if the amendment had not been made.
14   Liability of employers
Section 59A, as inserted by the Public Health Amendment (Tobacco) Act 1996, does not apply in respect of a contravention of section 59 that occurred before the commencement of section 59A.
Part 5 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Public Health Amendment (Tobacco Advertising) Act 1997
15   Saving of certain exemptions
An exemption under section 12 of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Act 1991 that was in force immediately before the repeal of that section continues to have effect as though that section were still in force, and despite the provisions of section 61H.
16   Termination of agreement
(1)  The agreement dated 14 April 1989 made between the Minister for Health and Phillip Morris (Aust) Limited, Rothmans of Pall Mall (Aust) Limited, W D and H O Wills (Aust) Limited and R J Reynolds Tobacco (Aust) Inc., is terminated.
(2)  No person is entitled to compensation, and no action or proceedings at law or in equity may be instituted or maintained by any person in respect of the termination of the agreement.
17   Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Committee
(1)  The Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Committee is dissolved.
(2)  No compensation or remuneration is payable to a former member of the Tobacco Advertising Prohibition Committee for loss of office as a consequence of the enactment of this clause.
18   Tobacco vending machines
Despite section 61F, a tobacco vending machine that, on the day before the Public Health Amendment (Tobacco Advertising) Bill 1997 was introduced into the Legislative Assembly, was lawfully placed on licensed premises (within the meaning of the Liquor Act 1982) that do not include a restricted area (within the meaning of that Act) may continue to be placed there until the close of business on 31 December 1998.
Part 6 Provision consequent on the repeal of the Nursing Homes Act 1988
19   Reference to nursing homes in other Acts, instruments or documents
A reference in any other Act, statutory instrument or other document to a nursing home within the meaning of the Nursing Homes Act 1988 is taken to include a reference to a nursing home within the meaning of this Act.
Part 7 Provisions consequent on enactment of the Health Legislation Amendment (Unregistered Health Practitioners) Act 2006
20   De-registered health practitioners
Division 3 of Part 2A, as inserted by the Health Legislation Amendment (Unregistered Health Practitioners) Act 2006, extends to a health practitioner whose registration is, immediately before that Division commences, cancelled (within the meaning of that Division) or suspended.
sch 4: Am 1992 No 34, Sch 1; 1995 No 9, Sch 3 (4)–(6); 1996 No 33, Sch 1 (3); 1997 No 129, Sch 1 [14]–[16]; 1998 No 145, Sch 1 [5] [6]; 2004 No 87, Sch 5 [4] [5]; 2006 No 124, Sch 1 [5] [6].