Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
Australian Capital Territory
Health Professionals (Special Events
Exemptions) Act 2000
A2000-25
Republication No 12
Effective: 26 November 2025
Republication date: 26 November 2025
Last amendment made by A2025-33
Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au
About this republication
The republished law
This is a republication of the Health Professionals (Special Events Exemptions) Act 2000
(including any amendment made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 (Editorial changes))
as in force on 26 November 2025. It also includes any commencement, amendment, repeal or
expiry affecting this republished law to 26 November 2025.
The legislation history and amendment history of the republished law are set out in endnotes 3
and 4.
Kinds of republications
The Parliamentary Counsel’s Office prepares 2 kinds of republications of ACT laws (see the ACT
legislation register at www.legislation.act.gov.au):
• authorised republications to which the Legislation Act 2001 applies
• unauthorised republications.
The status of this republication appears on the bottom of each page.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 authorises the Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial
amendments and other changes of a formal nature when preparing a law for republication.
Editorial changes do not change the effect of the law, but have effect as if they had been made by
an Act commencing on the republication date (see Legislation Act 2001, s 115 and s 117). The
changes are made if the Parliamentary Counsel considers they are desirable to bring the law into
line, or more closely into line, with current legislative drafting practice.
This republication does not include amendments made under part 11.3 (see endnote 1).
Uncommenced provisions and amendments
If a provision of the republished law has not commenced, the symbol U appears immediately
before the provision heading. Any uncommenced amendments that affect this republished law
are accessible on the ACT legislation register (www.legislation.act.gov.au). For more
information, see the home page for this law on the register.
Modifications
If a provision of the republished law is affected by a current modification, the
symbol M appears immediately before the provision heading. The text of the modifying
provision appears in the endnotes. For the legal status of modifications, see the Legislation
Act 2001, section 95.
Penalties
At the republication date, the value of a penalty unit for an offence against this law is $160 for an
individual and $810 for a corporation (see Legislation Act 2001, s 133).
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contents 1
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Australian Capital Territory
Health Professionals (Special Events
Exemptions) Act 2000
Contents
Page
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act 2
2 Dictionary 2
4 Notes 2
Part 2 Special events
5 Declaration of a special event 3
6 Meaning of visitor 3
7 Meaning of visiting health professional 4
8 Provision of health care services by visiting health professionals 4
9 Conditions on practise by visiting health professionals 5
10 Issue of prescriptions and supply of prescription medicines 5
Contents
Page
contents 2 Health Professionals (Special Events Exemptions)
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11 Exemptions relating to offences 6
Part 3 Miscellaneous
12 Complaints about visiting health professionals 8
13 Regulation-making power 8
Dictionary 9
Endnotes
1 About the endnotes 11
2 Abbreviation key 11
3 Legislation history 12
4 Amendment history 15
5 Earlier republications 17
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Australian Capital Territory
Health Professionals (Special Events
Exemptions) Act 2000
An Act to allow visiting health professionals to provide health services in
connection with certain special events without being registered under Territory
laws
Part 1 Preliminary
Section 1
page 2 Health Professionals (Special Events Exemptions)
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Part 1 Preliminary
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Health Professionals (Special Events Exemptions)
Act 2000.
2 Dictionary
The dictionary at the end of this Act is part of this Act.
Note 1 The dictionary at the end of this Act defines certain terms used in this
Act, and includes references (signpost definitions) to other terms defined
elsewhere.
For example, the signpost definition ‘supply—see the Medicines, Poisons
and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008, section 24.’ means that the term
‘supply’ is defined in that section and the definition applies to this Act.
Note 2 A definition in the dictionary (including a signpost definition) applies to
the entire Act unless the definition, or another provision of the Act,
provides otherwise or the contrary intention otherwise appears (see
Legislation Act, s 155 and s 156 (1)).
4 Notes
A note included in this Act is explanatory and is not part of this Act.
Note See Legislation Act, s 127 (1), (4) and (5) for the legal status of notes.
Special events Part 2
Section 5
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Part 2 Special events
5 Declaration of a special event
(1) The Minister may, in writing, declare an event to be a special event
for this Act if the Minister is satisfied that a significant number of
persons from outside Australia will come to the ACT to participate
in, or to prepare, train, practice, rehearse or acclimatise for, the event.
(2) A declaration must specify, for the special event, the period or periods
(the exemption period) when an exemption under this Act will apply.
(3) An exemption period may include periods before or after the special
event takes place.
(4) A declaration must specify a notification procedure for giving notice
within the ACT that a person will be a visiting health professional for
a visitor to the special event.
(5) A declaration is a notifiable instrument.
Note A notifiable instrument must be notified under the Legislation Act.
6 Meaning of visitor
A person is a visitor to a special event if—
(a) the person is a resident of another country who is in the ACT for
the purpose of officially participating in, or preparing, training,
practising, rehearsing or acclimatising for, a special event; or
(b) the person is a resident of Australia who—
(i) is in the ACT for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (a);
and
(ii) is a member of a group the majority of which is comprised
of persons who are residents of other countries and are in
the ACT for the same purpose.
Part 2 Special events
Section 7
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7 Meaning of visiting health professional
A person is a visiting health professional for a visitor, if—
(a) the person is a resident of another country; and
(b) notice has been given, in accordance with the notification
procedure for the relevant special event, that the person will be
providing health care services to the visitor, or to a group that
includes the visitor; and
(c) the person is currently appointed, employed, contracted or
otherwise engaged to provide health care services to the visitor.
Note A visiting health professional may provide services to other visitors to
the event only after giving a further notification in accordance with the
notification procedure.
8 Provision of health care services by visiting health
professionals
(1) A visiting health professional for a visitor is authorised by this section
to provide health care services to the visitor.
(2) This section—
(a) applies only during the exemption period for the relevant special
event; and
(b) ceases to apply if the health professional does not comply with
conditions imposed under this Act.
(3) This section does not authorise a visiting health professional to
possess, or supply to a visitor, a prohibited substance within the
meaning of the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008.
Special events Part 2
Section 9
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9 Conditions on practise by visiting health professionals
(1) The regulations may impose conditions on the provision of health
care services by a visiting health professional.
(2) A special event declaration may impose further conditions on the
provision of health care services by a visiting health professional.
10 Issue of prescriptions and supply of prescription
medicines
(1) A visiting health professional may be authorised under this section to
issue a written prescription for a prescription medicine.
(2) An authorisation under this section does not authorise a visiting
health professional to issue a prescription unless the prescription
could be issued by an authorised person under the Medicines, Poisons
and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008.
(3) The Minister may, in a special event declaration—
(a) authorise a visiting health professional, whom the Minister is
satisfied should be regarded as qualified to issue prescriptions,
to issue written prescriptions for a prescription medicine in the
course of providing health care services in accordance with this
Act; and
(b) authorise a supplier to supply a prescription medicine on the
prescription.
Note A power given under an Act to make a statutory instrument about
particular matters includes power to make a statutory instrument about
any 1 or more of the matters or a particular class of the matters (see
Legislation Act, s 48 (2)).
Part 2 Special events
Section 11
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(4) The Minister must not make a special event declaration containing an
authorisation under subsection (3) unless satisfied that adequate
arrangements are in place to ensure that prescription medicines will
be prescribed only for, and supplied only to, visitors to whom visiting
health professionals are authorised to provide health care services
under this Act.
(5) A special event declaration may impose conditions on an
authorisation under subsection (3), including a visiting health
professional’s authority to issue prescriptions.
(6) In this section:
supplier, of a prescription medicine, means a person who is
authorised under the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods
Act 2008 to supply the medicine.
11 Exemptions relating to offences
(1) A visiting health professional does not commit an offence against the
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (ACT), the Medicines,
Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 or the Public Health
Act 1997, part 3 by—
(a) providing health care services authorised under this Act; or
(b) possessing or supplying a prescription medicine in the course of
providing the health care services; or
(c) prescribing a prescription medicine in accordance with this Act;
or
(d) holding himself or herself out as being able to provide the health
care services mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c); or
(e) using any name, initials, description, word, symbol, addition or
title that the health professional ordinarily uses.
Special events Part 2
Section 11
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(2) A visitor to a special event does not commit an offence against the
Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 by doing
anything, or possessing a prescription medicine, because of being
provided with health care services in accordance with this Act.
(3) A person does not commit an offence against the Medicines, Poisons
and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 by supplying a prescription
medicine in accordance with a written prescription issued by a
visiting health professional if—
(a) the health professional is authorised under this Act to issue the
prescription; and
(b) the person is authorised under this Act to supply the medicine
on the prescription.
(4) A regulation may prescribe other offences to which exemptions under
this section apply.
Note A visiting health professional who provides health care services
otherwise than in accordance with this Act loses the exemption.
Part 3 Miscellaneous
Section 12
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Part 3 Miscellaneous
12 Complaints about visiting health professionals
(1) A complaint may not be made about, nor may disciplinary action be
taken against, a visiting health professional under the Health
Practitioner Regulation National Law (ACT) or the Human Rights
Commission Act 2005 in relation to anything done by the health
professional in—
(a) providing health care services authorised under this Act; or
(b) possessing or supplying a prescription medicine in the course of
providing the health care services; or
(c) prescribing a prescription medicine in accordance with this Act;
or
(d) holding himself or herself out as being able to provide the health
care services mentioned in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c); or
(e) using any name, initials, description, word, symbol, addition or
title that the health professional ordinarily uses.
(2) This section does not prevent the bringing of proceedings for an
offence against the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
(ACT) or the Human Rights Commission Act 2005.
13 Regulation-making power
(1) The Executive may make regulations for this Act.
Note Regulations must be notified, and presented to the Legislative Assembly,
under the Legislation Act.
(2) The regulations may prescribe offences for contraventions of the
regulations and may prescribe maximum penalties of not more than
10 penalty units for offences against the regulations.
Dictionary
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Dictionary
(see s 2)
Note 1 The Legislation Act contains definitions and other provisions relevant to
this Act.
Note 2 For example, the Legislation Act, dict, pt 1, defines the following terms:
• ACT
• dental prosthetist
• dentist
• doctor
• Minister (see s 162)
• notifiable instrument (see s 10)
• nurse
• penalty unit (see s 133)
• pharmacist.
exemption period—see section 5 (2).
health care services means—
(a) services ordinarily provided by doctors, nurses, dentists, dental
prosthetists, pharmacists, podiatrists, chiropractors, osteopaths,
optometrists, physiotherapists or psychologists; or
(b) any other service prescribed by the regulations.
notification procedure, for a special event—see section 5 (4).
prescription medicine means a controlled medicine, or prescription
only medicine, within the meaning of the Medicines, Poisons and
Therapeutic Goods Act 2008.
registered includes licensed and enrolled.
special event means an event that is declared to be a special event
under section 5 (1).
special event declaration means a declaration under section 5 (1).
Dictionary
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supply—see the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods
Act 2008, section 24.
visiting health professional, for a visitor to a special event—see
section 7.
visitor, to a special event—see section 6.
Endnotes
About the endnotes 1
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Endnotes
1 About the endnotes
Amending and modifying laws are annotated in the legislation history and the
amendment history. Current modifications are not included in the republished law
but are set out in the endnotes.
Not all editorial amendments made under the Legislation Act 2001, part 11.3 are
annotated in the amendment history. Full details of any amendments can be
obtained from the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office.
Uncommenced amending laws are not included in the republished law. The details
of these laws are underlined in the legislation history. Uncommenced expiries are
underlined in the legislation history and amendment history.
If all the provisions of the law have been renumbered, a table of renumbered
provisions gives details of previous and current numbering.
The endnotes also include a table of earlier republications.
2 Abbreviation key
A = Act NI = Notifiable instrument
AF = Approved form o = order
am = amended om = omitted/repealed
amdt = amendment ord = ordinance
AR = Assembly resolution orig = original
ch = chapter par = paragraph/subparagraph
CN = Commencement notice pres = present
def = definition prev = previous
DI = Disallowable instrument (prev...) = previously
dict = dictionary pt = part
disallowed = disallowed by the Legislative r = rule/subrule
Assembly reloc = relocated
div = division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired R[X] = Republication No
Gaz = gazette RI = reissue
hdg = heading s = section/subsection
IA = Interpretation Act 1967 sch = schedule
ins = inserted/added sdiv = subdivision
LA = Legislation Act 2001 SL = Subordinate law
LR = legislation register sub = substituted
LRA = Legislation (Republication) Act 1996 underlining = whole or part not commenced
mod = modified/modification or to be expired
Endnotes
3 Legislation history
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3 Legislation history
Health Professionals (Special Events Exemptions) Act 2000 A2000-25
notified 15 June 2000 (Gaz 2000 No 24)
commenced 15 June 2000 (s 2)
as amended by
Legislation (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 A2001-44 pt 177
notified 26 July 2001 (Gaz 2001 No 30)
s 1, s 2 commenced 26 July 2001 (IA s 10B)
pt 177 commenced 12 September 2001 (s 2 and see Gaz 2001
No S65)
Statute Law Amendment Act 2002 (No 2) A2002-49 pt 3.8
notified LR 20 December 2002
s 1, s 2 taken to have commenced 7 October 1994 (LA s 75 (2))
pt 3.8 commenced 17 January 2003 (s 2 (1))
Statute Law Amendment Act 2003 (No 2) A2003-56 sch 3 pt 3.12
notified LR 5 December 2003
s 1, s 2 commenced 5 December 2003 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 3 pt 3.12 commenced 19 December 2003 (s 2)
Health Professionals Legislation Amendment Act 2004 A2004-39
sch 1 pt 1.6 (as am by A2005-28 amdt 1.59)
notified LR 8 July 2004
s 1, s 2 commenced 8 July 2004 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.6 commenced 7 July 2005 (s 2 and see Health Professionals
Act 2004 A2004-38, s 2 and CN2005-11)
Health Legislation Amendment Act 2005 A2005-28 amdt 1.59
notified LR 6 July 2005
s 1, s 2 commenced 6 July 2005 (LA s 75 (1))
amdt 1.59 commenced 7 July 2005 (s 2)
Note This Act only amends the Health Professionals Legislation
Amendment Act 2004 A2004-39.
Endnotes
Legislation history 3
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Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2005
A2005-41 sch 1 pt 1.5 (as am by A2006-3 amdt 1.3)
notified LR 1 September 2005
s 1, s 2 commenced 1 September 2005 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 1 pt 1.5 commenced 1 November 2006 (s 2 (3) (as am by A2006-3
amdt 1.3) and see Human Rights Commission Act 2005 A2005-40, s 2
(as am by A2006-3 s 4) and CN2006-21)
Human Rights Commission Legislation Amendment Act 2006
A2006-3 amdt 1.3
notified LR 22 February 2006
s 1, s 2 commenced 22 February 2006 (LA s 75 (1))
amdt 1.3 commenced 23 February 2006 (s 2)
Note This Act only amends the Human Rights Commission
Legislation Amendment Act 2005 A2005-41
Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 A2008-26
sch 2 pt 2.15
notified LR 14 August 2008
s 1, s 2 commenced 14 August 2008 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 2 pt 2.15 commenced 14 February 2009 (s 2 and LA s 79)
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (ACT) Act 2010 A2010-10
sch 2 pt 2.10
notified LR 31 March 2010
s 1, s 2 commenced 31 March 2010 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 2 pt 2.10 commenced 1 July 2010 (s 2 (1) (a))
Statute Law Amendment Act 2011 (No 2) A2011-28 sch 3 pt 3.19
notified LR 31 August 2011
s 1, s 2 commenced 31 August 2011 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 3 pt 3.19 commenced 21 September 2011 (s 2 (1))
Veterinary Surgeons Act 2015 A2015-29 sch 2 pt 2.5
notified LR 20 August 2015
s 1, s 2 commenced 20 August 2015 (LA s 75 (1))
sch 2 pt 2.5 commenced 1 December 2015 (s 2 (1) and CN2015-22)
Endnotes
3 Legislation history
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Health Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (No 2) A2025-33 pt 3
notified LR 12 November 2025
s 1, s 2 commenced 12 November 2025 (LA s 75 (1))
pt 3 commenced 26 November 2025 (s 2 (3))
Endnotes
Amendment history 4
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4 Amendment history
Preliminary
pt 1 hdg ins A2004-39 amdt 1.28
Dictionary
s 2 om R1 LRA
ins A2003-56 amdt 3.153
am A2008-26 amdt 2.106
Definitions for Act
s 3 defs reloc to dict A2003-56 amdt 3.152
def special event notice om A2001-44 amdt 1.2032
om A2003-56 amdt 3.153
Special events
pt 2 hdg ins A2004-39 amdt 1.29
Declaration of a special event
s 5 am A2001-44 amdts 1.2033-1.2035
Provision of health care services by visiting health professionals
s 8 am A2008-26 amdt 2.107
Conditions on practice by visiting health professionals
s 9 am A2001-44 amdt 1.2036
Issue of prescriptions and supply of prescription medicines
s 10 am A2001-44 amdt 1.2036
sub A2008-26 amdt 2.108
Exemptions relating to offences
s 11 am A2004-39 amdt 1.30
sub A2008-26 amdt 2.108
am A2010-10 amdt 2.52; A2015-29 amdt 2.37; A2025-33 s 6
Miscellaneous
pt 3 hdg ins A2004-39 amdt 1.31
Complaints about visiting health professionals
s 12 am A2004-39 amdt 1.32; A2005-41 amdt 1.91
sub A2008-26 amdt 2.109
am A2010-10 amdt 2.53; A2015-29 amdt 2.38, amdt 2.39
Regulation-making power
s 13 am A2001-44 amdt 1.2037, amdt 1.2038
Modification of Act
pt 4 hdg ins A2004-39 amdt 1.33
exp 9 January 2009 (s 16)
Endnotes
4 Amendment history
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Application of pt 4
s 14 ins A2004-39 amdt 1.33
exp 9 January 2009 (s 16)
Dictionary, definition of Health Professionals Act
s 15 ins A2004-39 amdt 1.33 (as am by A2005-28 amdt 1.59)
exp 9 January 2009 (s 16)
Expiry of pt 4
s 16 ins A2004-39 amdt 1.33
exp 9 January 2009 (s 16)
Dictionary
dict ins A2003-56 amdt 3.154
am A2011-28 amdt 3.131
def Drug Regulation Act reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
om A2008-26 amdt 2.111
def drugs and poisons standard ins A2002-49 amdt 3.55
reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
om A2008-26 amdt 2.111
def exemption period reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
def health care services reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
am A2011-28 amdt 3.132
def Health Professionals Act ins A2004-39 amdt 1.34
om A2008-26 amdt 2.111
def Health Registration Act reloc from s 3 A2003-56
amdt 3.152
om A2004-39 amdt 1.34
def notification procedure reloc from s 3 A2003-56
amdt 3.152
def prescription medicine ins A2008-26 amdt 2.112
def registered reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
def restricted substance sub A2002-49 amdt 3.56
am A2003-56 amdt 3.149
reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
om A2008-26 amdt 2.113
def special event sub A2003-56 amdt 3.150
reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
def special event declaration ins A2001-44 amdt 1.2032
reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
def supply sub A2003-56 amdt 3.151
reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152
sub A2008-26 amdt 2.114
def visiting health professional reloc from s 3 A2003-56
amdt 3.152
def visitor reloc from s 3 A2003-56 amdt 3.152