MEEGAN Fitzharris has introduced the Public Health Amendment Bill 2016 into the Legislative Assembly, to allow public health officers to manage insanitary conditions resulting from hoarding and domestic squalor in the ACT.

“Insanitary conditions in residential areas can cause health concerns to the broader community. In a recent case a large quantity of rotting food waste was removed from a single property, which was producing offensive odours, attracting insects, rats and mice and affecting the quality of life of neighbouring residents.

“At the moment, current processes for the management of insanitary conditions such as this can be complex and lengthy.

“This Bill aims to improve the public health management of insanitary conditions associated with hoarding-like behaviour by streamlining existing administrative processes.

“It will enhance regulatory transparency in dealing with hoarding-like behaviours and squalid conditions by formalising existing processes under a code of practice.

“The Bill will also help to improve community awareness and understanding about the complex public health and social issues of compulsive hoarding-like behaviour and squalor. It will reduce ongoing operational costs to the ACT Government in dealing with recurring insanitary conditions in-line with best practice methods and other states and territories.

“All relevant government agencies and non-government organisations will continue to provide operational advice on managing instances of hoarding and squalor under the Public Health Act 1997 to ensure that regulatory actions are only employed when in the public interest and as a measure of last resort.”