Public health legislation

Public Health Act 2010

​The Public Health A​ct 2010​ (the Act) was passed by the NSW Parliament in December 2010 and commenced on 1 September 2012.

The objectives of the Public Health Act are to:

• protect and promote public health
• control the risk to public health
• promote the control of infectious diseases
• prevent the spread of infectious diseases
• recognise the role of local governments in protecting public health
• monitor diseases and conditions affecting public health.

Public Health Regulation 2022

The Public Health Regulation 2022 (the Regulation) commenced on 1 September 2022. The objectives of the Regulation are to support the smooth operation of the Act.

The Regulation makes provision for:

• installation, operation and maintenance requirements for cooling water and other regulated systems
• operating requirements for public swimming pools and spa pools
• the issuing of orders to temporarily close down public swimming pools or spa pools, or to take disinfection action, where there is a risk to public health
• requirements for the carrying out of skin penetration procedures and for the premises where such procedures are carried out
• quality assurance programs for suppliers of drinking water
• disease control measures
• the facilities and procedures for the handling of bodies of deceased persons, exhumations, cremations and other matters relating to the disposal of bodies
• the code of conduct for certain health practitioners and health organisations
• fees payable in relation to improvement notices, prohibition orders and inspection of premises
• notification and record keeping requirements
• penalty notice offences.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​