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SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 2011 - SECT 75

SOUTH AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC HEALTH ACT 2011 - SECT 75

75—Power to give directions

        (1)         If—

            (a)         the Chief Public Health Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person—

                  (i)         has a controlled notifiable condition; or

                  (ii)         has been exposed to a controlled notifiable condition; or

                  (iii)         could have been exposed to a controlled notifiable condition; and

            (b)         the Chief Public Health Officer considers that an order under this section is reasonably necessary in the interests of public health,

then the Chief Public Health Officer may give directions to the person under this section.

        (2)         However, the Chief Public Health Officer should not act under this section unless satisfied—

            (a)         that the person has undertaken counselling that is appropriate in the circumstances, or has refused or failed to undertake counselling that has been made reasonably available to the person; or

            (b)         that counselling is not appropriate or necessary in the circumstances of the particular case; or

            (c)         that urgent action is required in the circumstances of the particular case and that counselling can be provided after action is taken under this section.

        (3)         Any direction will be imposed by service of an order on the person unless the Chief Public Health Officer considers that urgent action is required in the circumstances of the particular case, in which case an oral order may be given.

        (3a)         If an oral order is given under subsection (3), the Chief Public Health Officer must confirm the order by notice in writing served on the person as soon as practicable, but in any event within 72 hours, after giving the order (and a failure to serve a notice in accordance with this subsection will not affect the validity of the order).

        (4)         The directions that may be imposed by an order under this section include:

            (a)         a direction that the person remain at a specified place including, without limitation, a hospital or quarantine facility and, if considered to be appropriate by the Chief Public Health Officer, that the person remain isolated;

            (b)         a direction that the person refrain from carrying out specified activities (for example, without limitation, employment, use of public transport or participation in certain events), either absolutely or unless specified conditions are satisfied;

            (c)         a direction that the person refrain from visiting a specified place, or a place within a specified class, either absolutely or unless specified conditions are satisfied;

            (d)         a direction that the person refrain from associating with specified persons or specified classes of persons;

            (e)         a direction that the person take specified action to prevent or minimise any health risk that may be posed by the person;

            (f)         a direction that the person attend meetings and provide such information as may be reasonably required in the circumstances;

            (g)         a direction that the person place himself or herself under the supervision of a member of the staff of the Department or a medical practitioner or other health professional nominated by the Chief Public Health Officer and obey the reasonable directions of that person;

            (h)         a direction that the person submit himself or herself to examination by a medical practitioner nominated by the Chief Public Health Officer at such intervals as the Chief Public Health Officer may require;

                  (i)         a direction that the person undergo specified medical treatment, including at a specified place and time (or times);

            (j)         such other direction as to the person's conduct or supervision that the Chief Public Health Officer considers to be appropriate in the circumstances.

        (5)         The Chief Public Health Officer

            (a)         must not impose a direction under subsection (4)(h) or (i) if the Chief Public Health Officer is satisfied that the person has a conscientious objection to the relevant examination or treatment (as the case may be) due to a religious, cultural or other similar ground; and

            (b)         must not impose a direction under subsection (4)(i) if the treatment would impose a serious threat to the person's health.

        (6)         However, if a direction under subsection (4)(h) or (i) would relate to a child, the Chief Public Health Officer may make a direction under either (or both) paragraphs despite a conscientious objection of a parent or guardian of the child if the Chief Public Health Officer considers that the relevant examination or treatment (as the case may be) is in the best interests of the child (and reasonably necessary in the interests of public health).