 |
The Queensland Acts and Regulations that cover the control of vermin and vectors are:
This page has links to these Acts and Regulations and short summaries of legal issues that relate to EHWs' roles and responsibilities. At the beginning of each Act or Regulation, you’ll find a full list of its contents.
Please note: The summaries below are not legal interpretations. They are meant only as a guide to what is covered in the Acts and Regulations. It is the responsibility of EHWs to understand how the relevant sections affect their roles and their councils’ responsibilities.
In some environmental health emergencies EHWs need to work with other professionals (eg. doctors, community health workers, State Government EHOs, and vets). This might be to manage a dengue outbreak or a sewage spill into a community watercourse. With a good knowledge of the legislation, you will be prepared to respond quickly and effectively.
The Public Health Act 2005 involves Local Governments in the enforcement of public health risks. A public health risk to be enforced by Local Governments under sections 10 and 11 of the Act includes the following:
The powers and responsibilities of councils (and their authorised employees) are defined in the Act. Councils often share natural boundaries, such as creeks and rivers. Enforcing the public health risks provisions of the Act can mean taking joint actions with other councils.
The Public Health Act allows for programs to be conducted to control disease threats from designated pests.
Authorised prevention and control programs may be conducted by a Local Government if there is either
Approved inspection programs can be carried out to monitor compliance with a regulation made about public health risks for example, maintenance of rainwater tanks.
These programs can only be carried out by authorised persons. Contact your local Population Health Unit if you think a program is required for a problem in your area.
More information on these programs can be obtained by gaining access to the Local Government website for the Public Health Act. This website is available to Local Governments by application. The application form is found on the password page and can be emailed to Queensland Health - just follow the instructions. Documents about all Local Government matters related to the Public Health Act 2005 are available on this site.
The Regulation sets out some more specific measures for controlling some public health risks. Included in these are mosquitos and rats and mice.
Division 2 prescribes measures to control mosquitos and prevent and control the public health risks related to mosquitos. This is administered and enforced by Local Governments. Requirements are:
Division 3 prescribes measures to control rats and mice and prevent and control the public health risks in relation to rats and mice. Requirements are
Further information about public health risks, designated pests and the requirements of the Public Health Act 2005 can be found on the local governments website. This website contains a secure area specifically for Local Governments to gain access to a range of enforcement documents and related materials developed by Queensland Health to assist Local Governments in applying the requirements of the Act and Regulation. Details on how to obtain the password for access are on the front page of the website.
The main purpose of this Act is to protect the public from the health risks that are:
The definition of pests for the Pest Management Act includes species of birds, rodents, arthropods (insects and spiders) or molluscs (for example snails) which can affect either a place or a person by;
Pest control activities cannot be undertaken without a licence. This Act establishes the processes for issuing and renewing pest control licences, and requires that those with licences operate safely. It also provides for licences to be varied, suspended or cancelled where licensees do not comply with the conditions of their licences.
EHWs need to be aware of the requirements of this Act and the Regulation if they or someone in the community undertakes fumigation or other pest control activities.
What is (and is not) a 'fumigant' is defined in the introduction to the Act (Part 1, Sections 5A6). Definitions of other terms used in the Act are listed in the Dictionary in Schedule 3 of the Act.
This Regulation details how the Pest Management Act 2001 applies to pest management licensees in Queensland.
containers for pesticidesA full list of matters covered by the Regulation is in 'Contents' on page 1 of the Pest Management Regulation 2003.
Legal advice for EHWs can be found on the Queensland Health website by clicking the relevant link:
If you need advice on an urgent legal issue, please contact your local Population Health Unit:
Other languages