THE Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved the Public Health Amendment Bill 2021 ...on Wednesday, 25 August 2021
The Bill introduces a new 181A section intends to make vaccinations compulsory ONLY when prior declarations of public health emergency as well as an emergency notifiable condition in place.
The current Public Health Act provides separate measures taken in response to public health emergency with no specific provisions for compulsory vaccination.
According to 181 A subsection 2, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Health may exercise his discretion to declare in writing that all citizens must be vaccinated in response to any health emergency.
Persons who fail or refuse to comply with subsection 181A subsection 2 commits an offence. This also applies to parents, guardian or any custodian of a child.
Offenders are liable for conviction of a fine not exceeding $1000 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months or both.