Biosecurity Act 2015

A biosecurity officer may require an individual to allow the individual’s clothing, and any personal effects that the individual has with him or her, to be decontaminated if:

the officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, that the individual’s clothing or personal effects may have been exposed to a disease or pest; and

the officer is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that decontaminating the individual’s clothing or personal effects is likely to be effective in, or to contribute to, managing the level of biosecurity risk of the disease or pest.

For other protections in relation to this subsection, see subsection (3) of this section and section 561. See also section 32 (the principles).

Without limiting subsection (1), an individual’s personal effects include any baggage that the individual has with him or her that remained under the individual’s immediate physical control while the individual was on any aircraft or vessel or other conveyance.

A biosecurity officer who requires an individual to allow his or her clothing to be decontaminated must:

take the individual, as soon as possible, to a place that, in the officer’s opinion, affords adequate personal privacy to the individual; and

if the individual does not have suitable alternative clothing—provide the individual with such clothing.

An individual commits an offence if:

the individual is required to allow the individual’s clothing, or any personal effects, to be decontaminated under subsection (1); and

the individual refuses to allow his or her clothing, or personal effects, to be decontaminated.