Public Health
The Public Health Act 2005 was introduced with the aim to protect and promote the health of the public. This is achieved by preventing, controlling and reducing risks to the public health.
What is a public health risk?
A public health risk has been defined in the Public Health Act 2005. It is something that is or likely to be hazardous to human health, or could contribute to a disease or infectious condition in humans and includes:
- Designated pests (mosquitoes, rats, and mice);
- Water and waste (that is, or likely to be, hazardous to human health);
- A dead or living animal, structure, substance or other thing that has been, or is likely to have been, exposed to an infectious condition;
- A dispersal or release of a pesticide, herbicide, solvent or other chemical at a place other than a workplace;
- A dispersal or release of a by-product of manufacturing, construction, repair, alteration, cleaning or demolition work at a place other than a workplace;
- Release of asbestos fibres; and
- Lead and paint.
Queensland Health and local governments across Queensland are jointly responsible for regulating public health risks in the community.
Local Government regulates the following public health risks
- Mosquitoes
- Vermin - rats and mice
- Water and waste which is or likely to be hazardous to human health;
- A dead or living animal, structure, substance or other thing that has or is likely to have been, exposed to an infectious condition;
- A dispersal or release of a pesticide, herbicide, solvent or other chemical at a place other than a workplace; and
- A dispersal or release of a by-product of manufacturing, construction, repair, alteration, cleaning or demolition work at a place other than a workplace.
State Government regulates the following public health risks
The use of:
- Lead;
- Paint;
- Asbestos; and
- Any other public health risk whereby the local government has failed to take action.
For further information, visit the Queensland Health website for details about public health risks they are responsible for enforcing.
Rats and Mice
 The Public Health Regulation 2005 makes it an offence for people to harbour or breed vermin on their property. Vermin includes rats and mice, which are capable of carrying or transmitting a disease. An owner of a property must ensure that it is vermin proof. This means that vegetation or buildings should not act as a form of shelter or attraction for vermin. Regular maintenance of your yard and any buildings or structures can help in the eradication of vermin harbourage and breeding.
For further information visit Council's Vermin - Rats and Mice webpage.
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Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes can have a large impact on our region's tropical outdoor lifestyle and on the health of the region's community due to their nuisance capabilities and the potential to transmit mosquito borne diseases.
For further information go to our Preventative Programs web pages for further information about mosquito management and control.
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Asbestos
Under the Public Health Act 2005, asbestos is a public health risk. There is a partnership currently in place between Local Government and Queensland Health on the administering of asbestos complaints. Currently asbestos complaints are referred to Queensland Health to action and investigate.
If the asbestos concern relate to a workplace your queries should be directed to the Department of Workplace Health and Safety.
For further information about asbestos visit the Queensland Health website.
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Enforcement Options
Public health orders
When a public health risk is identified authorised council officers are able to issue a Public Health Order. This requires a person to either remove or reduce the risk to public health by asking that person to:
- Clean or disinfect a place,
- Carry out pest control,
- Demolish structures,
- Remove or dispose of materials,
- Destroy or remove animals,
- Stop using a place.
Should the owner of the property where the public health risk is present not take the necessary action within the specified period, Council's contractor will be commissioned to enter upon the property and carry out the required works . Council costs incurred in this eventuality will become a first charge upon the land.
Authorised prevention and control programs
These are used when there is, or is likely to be an outbreak of disease or an infestation of a designated place within an area. These can be either declared by Queensland Health or the Council. In the recent past Queensland Health have issued these programs to enable house-to-house inspections for mosquito breeding sites where cases of Dengue have been reported.
Further Information
Contact Environmental Health Services for further information about public health risks.
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