Commonwealth Numbered Acts Commonwealth Numbered Acts
No. 174, 2007
Contents
1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1
2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 2
3............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 3
4............ Binding the Crown.............................................................................. 9
5............ Application of laws to external Territories........................................ 9
Part 2--Public health surveillance 10
Division 1--Objects of Part 10
6............ Objects of Part.................................................................................. 10
Division 2--National Health Security Agreement 11
7............ National Health Security Agreement................................................ 11
Division 3--Permissible purposes 12
8............ Permissible purposes........................................................................ 12
Division 4--National Focal Point 13
9............ Meaning of National Focal Point...................................................... 13
10.......... Functions of the National Focal Point.............................................. 13
Division 5--National Notifiable Disease List 14
11.......... National Notifiable Disease List....................................................... 14
12.......... Temporary additions to the National Notifiable Disease List......... 14
Division 6--Notifying, sharing information and liaising with responsible Commonwealth, State or Territory bodies in relation to public health events of national significance etc. 16
13.......... Notifying, sharing information and liaising with responsible Commonwealth, State or Territory bodies in relation to public health events of national significance..................................... 16
14.......... Receipt of information or recommendation from the World Health Organization 17
15.......... Non‑personal information................................................................ 18
Division 7--Public health observation 19
16.......... National Focal Point notified of incoming traveller who is under public health observation 19
17.......... Incoming travellers who are placed under public health observation 19
Division 8--Confidentiality of information 21
18.......... Definition of protected information for the purposes of Part 2....... 21
19.......... Authorisation to use information for permissible purposes............ 21
20.......... Authorisation to use information for purposes of proceedings....... 24
21.......... Offence relating to protected information........................................ 25
22.......... Defence for use of information in good faith.................................... 25
23.......... Defence for use of information also received from another source and use of information by prescribed agencies.......................................................................................................... 25
24.......... Defence for use of information required by another law.................. 27
25.......... Defence for disclosure to person to whom information relates or if person to whom information relates consents.......................................................................................................... 27
26.......... Defence for disclosure to person who provided the information..... 28
Division 9--Miscellaneous 30
27.......... Notice to other countries about further use of information.............. 30
28.......... Delegation......................................................................................... 31
29.......... Annual report................................................................................... 31
Part 3--Regulation of security‑sensitive biological agents 32
Division 1--Preliminary 32
30.......... Object of Part................................................................................... 32
Division 2--The List of Security‑sensitive Biological Agents 33
31.......... Establishment of the List of Security‑sensitive Biological Agents... 33
32.......... Variation of the List of Security‑sensitive Biological Agents........... 33
33.......... Minister must obtain and have regard to expert advice.................... 34
34.......... List to be available on the Department's website............................ 34
Division 3--Standards relating to security‑sensitive biological agents 35
35.......... Minister may determine standards relating to security‑sensitive biological agents 35
Division 4--The National Register 36
36.......... National Register of Security‑sensitive Biological Agents............... 36
37.......... Content of National Register............................................................ 36
38.......... Variation of the National Register.................................................... 36
Division 5--Requirements for entities that handle security‑sensitive biological agents 38
Subdivision A--Application and definitions 38
39.......... Application of Division.................................................................... 38
40.......... Meaning of exempt entity.................................................................. 38
41.......... Meaning of legitimate purpose......................................................... 39
Subdivision B--Reporting requirements 40
42.......... Entity that handles security‑sensitive biological agents must give a report to the Secretary 40
43.......... Offence--failure to give a report to the Secretary............................ 41
44.......... Secretary must consider report and decide whether or not to include entity on the National Register 42
45.......... Secretary may direct entity to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agents 43
46.......... Offence--failure to comply with direction to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agent 44
47.......... Secretary not satisfied entity handling security‑sensitive biological agent for a legitimate purpose 44
48.......... Registered entity must report any changes to the Secretary............ 46
49.......... Secretary must consider report of changes and decide whether or not to vary the National Register 48
50.......... Secretary may direct entity to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agents 49
51.......... Offence--failure to comply with direction to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agent 50
52.......... Secretary not satisfied entity handling security‑sensitive biological agent for a legitimate purpose 50
53.......... Failure to report changes to the Secretary........................................ 52
54.......... Offence--failure to comply with direction to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agent 53
55.......... Application of reporting requirements in relation to individuals..... 54
Subdivision C--Compliance with SSBA Standards 55
56.......... Entity must comply with SSBA Standards...................................... 55
57.......... Failure to comply with SSBA Standards.......................................... 55
58.......... Offence--failure to comply with direction to dispose of security‑sensitive biological agent 56
Subdivision D--Directions not to handle security‑sensitive biological substances 56
59.......... Secretary may direct individual not to handle security‑sensitive biological agents 56
60.......... Offence--failure to comply with direction not to handle security‑sensitive biological agents 57
Division 6--Enforcement 58
61.......... Secretary may arrange for disposal of security‑sensitive biological agents 58
62.......... Injunctions........................................................................................ 58
Division 7--Powers of inspection 60
Subdivision A--Appointment of inspectors and identity cards 60
63.......... Appointment of inspectors.............................................................. 60
64.......... Identity card..................................................................................... 60
Subdivision B--Monitoring compliance 61
65.......... Powers available to inspectors for monitoring compliance.............. 61
66.......... Monitoring powers........................................................................... 61
67.......... Power to operate equipment............................................................ 62
68.......... Compensation for damage to electronic equipment.......................... 63
69.......... Application for monitoring warrant................................................. 64
Subdivision C--Offence‑related powers 65
70.......... Searches related to offences.............................................................. 65
Subdivision D--Expert assistance 66
71.......... Expert assistance to operate a thing................................................. 66
72.......... Expert assistance from scientific or technical expert........................ 67
Subdivision E--Emergency powers 68
73.......... Powers available to inspectors for dealing with dangerous situations 68
Subdivision F--Obligations and incidental powers of inspectors 69
74.......... Inspector must produce identity card on request............................. 69
75.......... Consent............................................................................................. 69
76.......... Details of warrant to be given to occupier etc.................................. 69
77.......... Announcement before entry............................................................. 69
Subdivision G--Other matters 70
78.......... Occupier entitled to be present during search.................................. 70
79.......... Division not to abrogate privilege against self‑incrimination............ 70
Division 8--Review of decisions 71
80.......... Meaning of reviewable decision....................................................... 71
81.......... Notification of decision and review rights........................................ 71
82.......... Internal review.................................................................................. 71
83.......... Review of decisions by Administrative Appeals Tribunal.............. 72
Division 9--Confidentiality of information 73
84.......... Definition of protected information for the purposes of Part 3....... 73
85.......... Secretary may give report to certain agencies................................... 73
86.......... Authorisation to use information in performing duties or exercising powers under Division 6, 7 or 8 of Part 2 or this Part................................................................................................... 74
87.......... Authorisation to use information for certain purposes.................... 74
88.......... Secretary may authorise use of information..................................... 74
89.......... Authorisation to use information for purposes of certain proceedings 75
90.......... Offence relating to protected information........................................ 75
91.......... Defence for disclosure to person who provided the information..... 76
92.......... Defence for use of information under particular laws...................... 76
93.......... No other exceptions under other laws.............................................. 77
Division 10--Delegation 78
94.......... Secretary may delegate powers and functions under this Part......... 78
Part 4--Miscellaneous 79
95.......... Regulations....................................................................................... 79
National Health Security Act 2007
No. 174, 2007
An Act to provide for national health security, and for related purposes
[Assented to 28 September 2007]
The Parliament of Australia enacts: