Page 4924 - Week 15 - Thursday, 8 December 1994
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MADAM SPEAKER, I WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS SOME OF THE PROBLEMS OF THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION AND PROPOSE SOME SOLUTIONS. THESE ARE PRESENTED IN MORE DETAIL WITHIN THE DISCUSSION PAPER.
IN LIGHT OF THE CHANGES TO SOCIAL VALUES AND ATTITUDES OVER THE LAST HALF CENTURY, ALONG WITH SHIFTS IN INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL POLICY REGARDING THE MANAGEMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES, IT IS CLEAR THAT THERE IS NOW A NEED TO DEVELOP PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES FROM WHICH OUR LEGISLATION CAN BE PREPARED.
INCORPORATION OF PRINCIPLES AND OBJECTIVES INTO THE PREPARATION OF PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION WILL PROVIDE FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY THAN IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE WITH OUR PRESCRIPTIVE REGULATIONS. SOUTH AUSTRALIA, FOR EXAMPLE, HAS MOVED AWAY FROM VERY SPECIFIC REGULATIONS TOWARD GENERAL HEALTH PROVISIONS.
THE CURRENT PUBLIC HEALTH ACT PROVIDES NO DIRECTION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUBORDINATE LEGISLATION.
ALONG WITH THIS NEED FOR GREATER FLEXIBILITY IN PUBLIC HEALTH LEGISLATION, IS THE RECOGNITION THAT WE ALSO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF CURRENT SERVICES SO THAT ADEQUATE PROTECTION OF THE PUBLIC IS ASSURED.
THE EXPANDED SCOPE OF PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICES COULD PROVIDE FOR THE:
COLLECTION OF DATA SO THAT WE MAY RESPOND MORE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY TO ACTUAL OR POTENTIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS;
DEVELOPMENT OF A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN ON PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES; AND
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