PROPOSED laws allowing ACT government ministers to make decisions around public health directions in response to COVID-19, are being introduced in the ACT Legislative Assembly today (December 2).

The ACT Government’s Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 (No 2) seeks to enable the executive, Minister for health, and chief health officer to issue public health directions related to covid, once the ACT steps out of a public health emergency.

Chief Minister Andrew Barr said the bill provides the government with the ability to “step down” from the public health emergency and move toward living in a “covid-normal” world.

“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,” Mr Barr 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 bill doesn’t give government the power to impose lockdowns or curfews – as part of proposed public health directions- or allow the  government to stop businesses, events or activities from running, unless a state of emergency is in place.

“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,” Mr Barr said.

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