Hon Philip Scott questions the Minister for Health regarding the training and powers of authorised officers under the Public Health Act, specifically concerning the use of force during vaccinations. The Minister's response is vague, stating officers are appropriately trained without providing specifics.

AnsweredQoN 232Legislative Council
Asked
19 March 2026
Portfolio
Health

QuestionView source ↗

Public health act vaccinations
232. Hon Philip Scott to
the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister
for Health:
I refer to answers
provided to question without notice 788.
(1) Can the minister outline what
training, if any, authorised officers receive to appropriately hold down a
child, strip them naked and forcibly vaccinate them as section 158 of the
Public Health Act allows them to do?
(2) Do the appropriate qualifications of
authorised officers include a working with children check?
(3) If a person resists being held down,
stripped naked and forcibly vaccinated, what powers do authorised officers have
to force a person to comply?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member
for some notice of the question. I provide the following answer on behalf of
the Minister for Health.
(1)–(3) Persons designated as authorised officers
are appropriately qualified and trained to exercise powers specific to their
role. Powers available under section 158 of the Public
Health Act 2016 would only be exercised in limited circumstances when they
are required to prevent, control or abate a serious public health risk during a
serious public health incident or public health emergency.

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