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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1447 ..

(Quorum formed)

MR SPEAKER (Mr Cornwell) took the chair and asked members to stand in silence and pray or reflect on their responsibilities to the people of the Australian Capital Territory.

MRS CARNELL (Chief Minister and Minister for Health and Community Care) (10.32): I present the Public Health Bill 1997, together with its explanatory memorandum.

Title read by Clerk.

MRS CARNELL: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Mr Speaker, I have pleasure today in presenting the Public Health Bill 1997, which is the first part of an extensive modernisation of public health legislation for the ACT. Reform of the ACT's public health legislation is being undertaken as part of this Government's commitment to review pre-1980 legislation. It is also consistent with the Government's strong commitment to regulatory reform.

Older models of public health legislation have tended to rely on a narrow view of what constitutes a health risk and how best to implement measures that would address such risks when they arise. There has been heavy reliance on specific regulations that may be quite prescriptive about the application of the law but have not been able to account for all the circumstances that may arise. In most Australian States, these older models have been, or are in the process of being, replaced by new legislation which takes a broader view of the risks to public health and facilitates a more flexible, integrated and multifaceted approach based on notions of reasonable quality and best practical means.

ACT public health legislation currently consists of the Public Health Act 1928 and its associated regulations. The Act is now 60 years old and, although amended during its existence, it remains a reflection of society's attitudes in the 1920s. It does not provide a philosophical framework for the development of good public health practice which is responsive to current issues and trends. Several other outdated Acts and regulations, such as the Sexually Transmitted Diseases Act 1956 and the Tuberculosis Act 1950, will be repealed and better administered by this single, more flexible piece of legislation. Most of the regulations made under the existing Public Health Act will also be repealed and replaced with up-to-date codes of practice developed in partnership with the relevant stakeholders.

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