Public Health Act 2016

An authorised officer may do all or any of these —

close any premises, or direct any person to close any premises;

direct any person to enter, not to enter, or to leave any premises;

direct any person to remain at any premises for any period specified by the officer;

enter any premises and search for and seize anything for the purpose of investigating, preventing, controlling or abating the serious public health risk;

require a person to provide information or answer questions for the purpose of investigating, preventing, controlling or abating the serious public health risk;

enter and inspect any premises for the purpose of preventing, controlling or abating the serious public health risk;

require any premises to be cleaned or disinfected for the purpose of preventing, controlling or abating the serious public health risk;

require the destruction or disposal of anything for the purpose of preventing, controlling or abating the serious public health risk;

direct any person to remain quarantined from other persons for any period, and in any reasonable manner, specified by the officer;

direct any person to undergo medical observation, medical examination or medical treatment or to be vaccinated, as specified by the officer;

take, or direct another person to take, any action that the authorised officer considers is reasonably necessary to prevent, control or abate the serious public health risk.

A power under subsection (1) to enter any premises may be exercised without a warrant or the consent of the occupier of the premises or, in the case of a vehicle, the owner of the vehicle.

The period specified under subsection (1)(c) or (i) must not be more than 24 hours unless the Chief Health Officer has authorised a longer period to be specified in relation to the person.

A direction under subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (i), (j) or (k) may be given to a class of person or in respect of a class of premises.

A direction under subsection (1)(a), (b), (c), (i) or (k) that is given to a class of person or in respect of a class of premises —

need not be given directly to the persons to whom it applies; and

despite the Interpretation Act 1984 section 41 (to the extent to which it applies), need not be published in the Gazette; and

must be published in the manner that the Minister considers suitable in the circumstances of the serious public health incident.