Health and emergency officers are to receive stronger powers to enforce containment rules as part of the State’s ongoing response to the deadly COVID-19 health crisis.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Steven Miles said the Public Health and Other Legislation (Public Health Emergency) Amendment Bill 2020 was introduced into Parliament to amend the Public Health Act 2005.
“These laws give us greater powers to enforce measures that will assist in slowing down the outbreak of COVID-19,” Mr Miles said.
“We must continue to throw everything we have at this and support our frontline medical staff to do their vital work.”
He said that under the new legislation, the Chief Health Officer will be able to issue public health directions to ban non-essential gatherings in outdoor areas of more than 500 people, and non-essential gatherings of 100 people indoors.
Mr Miles said this would affect entertainment venues, function centres, pubs and clubs and large restaurants, but not airports, public transport, medical facilities, emergency services, aged care centres, prisons, courts, Parliament, supermarkets, offices, schools, universities or construction sites.
“The Chief Health Officer will also be able to recommend that businesses and facilities open, close or limit access to their facility to ensure the health and safety of customers,” Mr Miles said.
“For example, the Chief Health Officer may recommend that supermarkets should open for longer hours and limit entry to customers in some circumstances, including holding special shopping periods for people with a pensioner concession card.”
He said emergency officers – which could include public health officers – would be provided with additional powers to assist in containing or responding to the spread of the virus within the community.
“An emergency officer may direct an owner or operator of any business or facility to open, close or limit visitor access to the facility for a specified period,” the Minister said.
“Failure to adhere to directions under this legislation could incur a fine of up to $13,345.”
Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young (pictured) said Queenslanders’ way of life was going to continue to change, but that the new measures were necessary to save vulnerable people’s lives.
