About the Act

The Public Health Act 2016 provides a flexible and proactive framework for the regulation of public health. This framework is designed to:

  • promote public health and well-being in the community
  • help to prevent disease, injury, disability and premature death
  • inform individuals and communities about public health risks
  • encourage individuals and their communities to plan for, create and maintain a healthy environment
  • support programs and campaigns intended to improve public health
  • collect information about the incidence and prevalence of diseases and other public health risks for research purposes
  • reduce the health inequalities in public health of disadvantaged communities.


What are the key features of the new Act?
When does the new Act take effect?
Who enforces the new Act?
What happens to the Health Act 1911 and regulations?

Objects and principles

Section 3 of the Public Health Act (the Act) outlines the objects and the principles of the Act that play an important role in determining how the Act is interpreted and administered. 

The objects and principles should guide decision making to ensure the  Act is administered in a manner that maximises the protection, promotion and improvement of public health and the reduction of preventable illness.

Persons exercising functions under the Act must have regard to the objects and principles. This means the objects and principles need to be actively considered during assessment and decision-making processes and prior to taking any action under the Act. 

The weight to be given to the objects and principles is left to the decision-maker’s discretion. Not all matters will be relevant; however they should be given consideration. 

Objects
Principles
Last reviewed: 08-03-2024
Produced by

Environmental Health Directorate