Canberrans are being called on to contribute to a new bill which would empower the ACT Executive, Minister for Health and Chief Health Officer to issue public health directions related to COVID-19 once the Territory’s Public Health Emergency ends.
The ACT Executive consists of the Chief Minister, other Ministers and their staff.
Introducing Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2), Chief Minister, Andrew Barr (pictured) said public health emergencies were declared in response to extreme situations and Government was keen to keep its interventions in proportion to the public health risk to the community.
“This Bill provides Government with the ability to step down from the Public Health Emergency while continuing to protect Canberrans as we learn to live in a COVID-normal world,” Mr Barr said.
“It’s essential that we maintain the ability in the short to medium term to respond quickly to changing circumstances, such as fresh outbreaks or any emerging variants of concern,” he said.
“That’s why the public health direction powers proposed in this Bill would continue to allow the ACT Government to implement test, trace, isolate and quarantine measures, as well as requirements for people to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in some circumstances.”
Mr Barr said the proposed Bill did not give Government the power to impose lockdowns or curfews.
The Chief Minister said it also would not allow Government to prohibit businesses, events or activities from running and “a declared state of emergency would need to be in place for these restrictions to be re-introduced”.
“Importantly, this Bill is COVID-19 specific, each type of public health direction under this Bill would have a set time limit, and the Bill itself has a sunset clause that gives it an 18-month lifespan,” he said.
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said Government had worked closely with the Human Rights Commission during the drafting of the Bill.
“The Bill formalises the ability for people to seek an internal review if they are unhappy with decisions about their exemption applications and introduces the capacity for external review of decisions around quarantining, isolating or entry into the ACT for health or compassionate reasons,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“This Bill will enable us to move out of the public health emergency that was declared in March 2020, and safely and cautiously move toward living in a COVID-normal world.”
She said the proposed Bill had been referred to the Standing Committee on Health and Community Wellbeing, which was seeking community feedback until 14 January and would report on its inquiry by 28 February.
In a statement, the Committee said the Bill would give the Chief Health Officer the power to require people to have a COVID-19 vaccination for their work; an activity; attending a place; or working in particular places.
Information on making a submission to the inquiry can be accessed at this PS News link.
