Queensland parliament passes laws limiting extraordinary CHO powers
Queenslanders are now “well on our way to living with Covid” as the emergency powers given to the chief health officer are significantly scaled back.
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The extraordinary powers given to the state’s health boss during the pandemic have been scaled back, with the chief health officer no longer able to shut the state’s border, lock down cities and mandate vaccinations for the general public.
The emergency powers enacted at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak in March 2020 have been reduced after the Queensland parliament passed an amendment bill on Wednesday.
New laws will come into effect for the next 12 months, limiting chief health officer John Gerrard to directions related to mask-wearing in particular circumstances, isolation for positive Covid-19 cases and quarantine for close contacts with symptoms, and vaccinations for workers in certain settings such as hospitals and prisons.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said the reduction of powers was a relief and showed “we are now well on our way to living with Covid”.
“This bill provides the safety net to see us through the next 12 months as we continue to adapt,” she told parliament.
“People are becoming more comfortable with self-managing the risks of Covid-19 but appreciate government still has a vital role at this stage of the pandemic to manage the most serious risks.
“The bill will replace the emergency framework with limited measures to manage Covid-19 as a notifiable condition in the Public Health Act without the need for a public health emergency to be declared.”
Under new laws, the CHO will only be able to issue a public health direction if Covid presents a serious risk to the public health system or he is directed by national cabinet.
“The enabling framework in the bill allows the chief health officer to scale up measures when risks are serious and scale them down when risks are low,” Ms D’Ath told parliament.
“While we are currently experiencing a relatively low risk period as we enter the warmer months, it is important we have the tools to respond to any future waves of Covid-19.”
Hospitals and other high-risk health settings will retain the ability to enact face mask and vaccination mandates.
Queensland prisons and detention facilities will also have the power to force face masks to be worn and apply vaccination requirements to staff and visitors.
Ms D’Ath said the custodial setting is an environment where physical distancing is not always possible.
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