NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES ACT 1981
As in force at 27 November 2023
Table of provisions
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Repeal ............................................................................................. 1
4 Transitional ...................................................................................... 1
5 Interpretation ................................................................................... 2
Part 2 Notifiable diseases
6 Declaration of notifiable disease ...................................................... 3
7 Person to seek medical advice ........................................................ 3
8 Notification by medical practitioner .................................................. 3
9 Details of contact ............................................................................. 4
10 Advice by medical practitioner ......................................................... 4
11 Notice to infected person ................................................................. 4
12 Review by NTCAT ........................................................................... 5
13 Chief Health Officer may ensure direction complied with ................ 5
14 Notice to attend ............................................................................... 6
15 Bodies ............................................................................................. 6
16 Pathology investigation .................................................................... 6
Part 3 Isolation areas
17 Declaration of isolation area ............................................................ 7
18 Power of Chief Health Officer in isolation area ................................ 7
19 Powers within isolation area ............................................................ 8
20 Unauthorized exit from isolation area .............................................. 9
21 Compensation ................................................................................. 9
22 Self-induced loss ............................................................................. 9
23 Unauthorized persons ................................................................... 10
24 Compensation a debt due.............................................................. 10
25 Recovery from person found guilty ................................................ 10
26 Civil remedy ................................................................................... 11
Part 3A Liability of Red Cross Society etc. in
respect of transmittable diseases
26A Interpretation ................................................................................. 11
26B Liability of Red Cross Society ........................................................ 12
26C Liability of hospitals and medical practitioners etc. ........................ 13
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 ii
26D Liability where requirements not complied with ............................. 13
26E Liability of blood donor ................................................................... 14
26F Evidentiary certificates ................................................................... 14
Part 4 Miscellaneous matters
27 Registers ....................................................................................... 15
28 Application ..................................................................................... 15
29 Secrecy to be preserved ................................................................ 15
30 Disclosures to be protected ........................................................... 15
31 Delegation ..................................................................................... 16
32 Distribution of information .............................................................. 16
33 Statutory declarations .................................................................... 16
34 Specific offences ........................................................................... 16
35 Taking bribes ................................................................................. 17
36 Unlawful destruction ...................................................................... 17
37 Averments ..................................................................................... 17
38 Offences and penalties .................................................................. 18
38A Regulatory offences....................................................................... 18
39 Regulations.................................................................................... 18
Part 5 Transitional matters for Health Legislation
Amendment Act 2021
40 Approval of form of declaration ...................................................... 18
Part 6 Transitional matters for Statute Law
Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of
Jurisdiction) Act 2023
41 Definitions ...................................................................................... 19
42 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement.... 19
43 Appeals not commenced before commencement.......................... 19
44 Appeals not determined before commencement ........................... 20
45 Compliance with notices served before commencement............... 20
Schedule 1 Ordinances repealed
Schedule 2
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 27 November 2023
NOTIFIABLE DISEASES ACT 1981
An Act to consolidate and amend the law relating to notifiable, infectious
and other diseases, and for related purposes
Part 1 Preliminary matters
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Notifiable Diseases Act 1981.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the
Administrator by notice in the Gazette.
3 Repeal
(1) The Ordinances listed in Schedule 1 and the Leprosy Amendment
Act 1980 are repealed.
(2) The Public Health (Infectious and Notifiable Diseases) Regulations,
being Regulations No. 12 of 1960, No. 9 of 1961 and No. 49
of 1978, are repealed.
4 Transitional
(1) The area described in Schedule 2 is deemed to be an area
declared by the Administrator under section 17 to be an isolation
area.
(2) A person who was, immediately prior to the commencement of this
Act, a leprosy patient within the meaning of the Leprosy Act 1954
as then in force is deemed to be an infected person upon whom a
notice under section 11(1), directing him:
(a) to remain at the isolation area referred to in subsection (1);
and
(b) to submit himself to the care and control of the Chief Health
Officer, until otherwise directed by a medical officer,
Part 1 Preliminary matters
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 2
has been duly served.
5 Interpretation
(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
animal includes a dead animal and part of an animal.
authorized person means a person to whom the Chief Health
Officer delegates, in relation to a power or function, the exercise of
that power or performance of that function under section 31 and
who, in the instrument of delegation, is described as an authorized
person.
child means a person who has not attained the age of 18 years.
diagnostic procedures means the collection and examination of
samples from an infected person or suspect person for pathology
investigation and includes radiological examinations.
goods includes animals, plants and minerals and any other kind of
moveable property.
infected person means a person:
(a) who is suffering from a notifiable disease;
(b) who is a carrier of a notifiable disease; or
(c) from whom a notifiable disease may be contracted.
isolation area means an area declared under section 17 to be an
isolation area.
medical examination means a physical examination by a medical
practitioner and includes the use of diagnostic procedures, where
necessary, to establish the presence of a notifiable disease.
medical officer means an authorised officer, under the Public and
Environmental Health Act 2011, who is a medical practitioner or
entitled to be registered as a medical practitioner.
notifiable disease means a disease declared to be a notifiable
disease under section 6.
plant includes a dead plant and part of a plant.
suspect person means a person who:
(a) is suspected of being an infected person; or
Part 2 Notifiable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 3
(b) has or may have been exposed to an infected person or
goods which are known or suspected to be infected or a
source of infection.
(2) A power of prohibition under this Act shall include a prohibition
generally or with limitations as to place and subject-matter and
either absolutely or subject to specified conditions or restrictions.
(3) Where a notice or order under this Act may be served on a child, a
copy of such notice or order shall be deemed to have been served
on that child if a copy of that notice or order was served on a parent
or guardian of that child.
(4) Where an obligation under this Act is placed upon a child, the
parent or guardian of the child shall be liable for carrying out that
obligation or ensuring that the obligation is carried out, unless the
contrary intention appears.
Part 2 Notifiable diseases
6 Declaration of notifiable disease
The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare a disease to be
a notifiable disease for the purposes of this Act.
7 Person to seek medical advice
A person who has reasonable grounds to believe that he may be an
infected person or suspect person shall consult a medical
practitioner at the first reasonable opportunity.
8 Notification by medical practitioner
(1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, specify:
(a) a notifiable disease in relation to which information is to be
given;
(b) the information to be given in relation to a notifiable disease;
and
(c) the manner in which information in relation to a notifiable
disease is to be given.
(2) If a medical practitioner:
(a) diagnoses that a person is an infected person; or
Part 2 Notifiable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 4
(b) considers that a person is a suspect person, in relation to a
notifiable disease specified under subsection (1), the medical
practitioner must give to a medical officer the information
required under subsection (1) to be given in relation to the
disease.
(3) The medical practitioner must give the information in the manner
required under subsection (1).
9 Details of contact
A person who is:
(a) an infected person shall provide to a medical practitioner,
medical officer or authorized person the names and addresses
of all persons from whom the notifiable disease may have
been contracted; or
(b) a suspect person shall provide to a medical practitioner,
medical officer or authorized person the names and addresses
of all persons with whom he has been in contact during a
period of time specified by the medical practitioner, medical
officer or authorized person.
10 Advice by medical practitioner
A medical practitioner who diagnoses that a person is an infected
person or who considers a person to be a suspect person:
(a) shall advise, where the person is an adult – the person;
(b) shall advise, where the person is a child who has not attained
the age of 16 years – the parents or the guardian of the child;
or
(c) as he thinks fit, may also advise, where the person is a child
who has attained the age of 16 years – the parents or the
guardian of the child,
of the nature of the notifiable disease, the measures needed to be
taken to prevent the spread of that disease and the treatment, if
any, required.
11 Notice to infected person
(1) A medical officer may, by notice in writing personally served on an
infected person or suspect person, direct the person to carry out
measures which the medical officer believes necessary for the
treatment of, or to prevent the spread or possible spread of, the
relevant notifiable disease.
Part 2 Notifiable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 5
(2) A person duly served with a notice under subsection (1) shall carry
out all measures which he is directed by the notice to carry out.
12 Review by NTCAT
(1) NTCAT has jurisdiction to review a decision of a medical officer to
serve a notice on a person under section 11(1).
(2) The person who is served with the notice may apply to NTCAT for
review of the medical officer's decision.
(3) In determining an application for review under this section, NTCAT
may, by order:
(a) confirm the notice; or
(b) vary a direction contained in the notice; or
(c) revoke the notice.
(4) Section 44(2) of the Northern Territory Civil and Administrative
Tribunal Act 2014 does not apply in relation to a proceeding for
review of a decision under this section.
Note for section 12
The Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2014 sets out the
procedure for applying to NTCAT for review and other relevant matters in relation
to reviews.
13 Chief Health Officer may ensure direction complied with
(1) Subject to any order made by NTCAT under section 12(3), if a
person is served with a notice under section 11(1) and the person
fails to comply with the notice, the Chief Heath Officer may make
any order that the Chief Heath Officer thinks fit.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Chief Health
Officer may order, either in writing or orally, that:
(a) an infected person or suspect person be removed to and
detained at a hospital or other place until a medical officer
authorizes the release of the person on the grounds that that
person is not an infected person or is no longer a suspect
person;
(b) premises in which an infected person or suspect person has
resided, worked, attended for educational purposes or has
otherwise occupied, shall be closed for a specified period or
disinfected, or both;
Part 2 Notifiable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 6
(c) bedding, clothing or other articles which have been, or which
are believed to have been, exposed to contamination by an
infected person or to possible contamination by a suspect
person be destroyed or disinfected; or
(d) a supply of water for human consumption or use which is or is
suspected of being contaminated by a notifiable disease be
treated to render it fit for human consumption or use.
(3) The Chief Health Officer may take whatever steps are necessary to
give effect to an order under subsection (2).
14 Notice to attend
The Chief Health Officer may, by notice in the Gazette, require:
(a) a specified person; or
(b) persons who are members of a specified class of persons,
to attend at specified times and places for medical examinations
and to answer such questions to determine whether that person or
any of those persons of that specified class of persons is an
infected person or suspect person.
15 Bodies
(1) If a medical practitioner considers that a deceased person was, at
the time of his death, an infected person or suspect person, the
medical practitioner shall notify a medical officer of that fact by the
fastest practicable form of communication.
(2) A medical officer may give such order as he thinks fit in relation to
the disposal of the body of a deceased person who, at the time of
his death, was an infected person or suspect person.
(3) A person in charge of the body of a deceased person who, at the
time of his death, was an infected person or suspect person shall
comply with an order of a medical officer in relation to the treatment
and disposal of that body.
16 Pathology investigation
(1) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, specify:
(a) a notifiable disease in relation to which information is to be
given;
(b) the information to be given in relation to a notifiable disease;
and
Part 3 Isolation areas
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 7
(c) the manner in which information in relation to a notifiable
disease is to be given.
(2) If a laboratory receives results from a pathology investigation that
indicate that a person is an infected person in relation to a disease
specified under subsection (1), the person in charge of the
laboratory must give to the Chief Health Officer the information
required under subsection (1) to be given in relation to the disease.
(3) The person in charge of the laboratory must give the information in
the manner required under subsection (1).
Part 3 Isolation areas
17 Declaration of isolation area
(1) The Administrator or Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, declare
an area to be an isolation area.
(2) A declaration under subsection (1) made by the Minister is effective
only:
(a) until the expiration of such period, not exceeding 2 years, as is
specified in the declaration; or
(b) until a like or inconsistent declaration under that subsection
relating to the area becomes effective;
whichever first occurs.
18 Power of Chief Health Officer in isolation area
(1) In relation to an isolation area, the Chief Health Officer may, by
order:
(a) prohibit the movement of a person or persons who are
members of a specified class of persons;
(b) prohibit the movement of goods;
(c) require a person or persons who are members of a specified
class of persons to report at specified times and places and
submit to medical examinations, to answer questions and to
submit to such medical treatment as the Chief Health Officer
thinks fit; and
Part 3 Isolation areas
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 8
(d) authorize the destruction, disposal or treatment of goods, a
building, structure, water supply, drainage and sewerage
system or other thing within the isolation area known or
suspected to be infected or a source of infection.
(2) Action necessary to give effect to an order under subsection (1),
may be taken by:
(a) a medical officer;
(b) a member of the Police Force; or
(c) an authorized person.
19 Powers within isolation area
(1) A medical officer or authorized person may ask such questions of:
(a) a person who is or was located within; or
(b) a person whom the medical officer or authorized person
believes to have been located within,
an isolation area either while a declaration made under section 17
is or was in force, or within 14 days prior to the date of that
declaration, as are necessary for him to ascertain:
(c) the identity of the person;
(d) whether or not the person has been within the isolation area;
(e) whether the person is an infected person or a suspect person;
(f) the identity of a person with whom the person may have come
in contact before, within or since leaving the isolation area;
and
(g) the details of goods with which the person has had contact
and their whereabouts.
(2) A person who is questioned under subsection (1) shall truly answer
to the best of his knowledge all questions put to him.
(3) It is not a defence to a prosecution under this section that a person
did not know that:
(a) he was entering, leaving or located in an isolation area;
(b) the person asking questions under subsection (1) was a
medical officer or authorized person; or
Part 3 Isolation areas
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 9
(c) he was required to truly answer to the best of his knowledge
all questions put to him.
20 Unauthorized exit from isolation area
(1) A person who has or is suspected of having left an isolation area in
contravention of an order under section 18 may be arrested without
warrant.
(2) A person referred to in subsection (1) who is arrested shall:
(a) be placed in isolation if practicable; and
(b) submit to such medical examination and such medical
treatment as the Chief Health Officer thinks fit.
(3) Goods removed from an isolation area in contravention of an order
under section 18 shall be forfeited to the Crown and may be seized,
treated, destroyed or disposed of as the Chief Health Officer thinks
fit.
21 Compensation
(1) Subject to section 22, if a person suffers:
(a) a loss; or
(b) damage to his property,
as the result of an order of the Chief Health Officer under this Act or
purported to be under this Act, the person shall be compensated by
the Crown for such loss or damage directly caused by that order.
(2) If the Chief Health Officer and a person entitled under this section
or section 23(2) to be compensated cannot agree on an amount of
compensation, the person may apply to the Local Court to
determine an amount of compensation.
(3) Where a person applies to the Local Court under subsection (2),
the Court shall hear and determine the matter in such manner and
may make such order as to costs, as it thinks fit.
22 Self-induced loss
A person shall not be entitled to compensation under section 21 if
the relevant loss or damage arose from his failure:
(a) to comply with an order under section 18; or
(b) to take reasonable precautions to prevent the need for action
under section 18.
Part 3 Isolation areas
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 10
23 Unauthorized persons
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person who is not but holds himself
out as:
(a) the Chief Health Officer;
(b) a medical officer;
(c) a medical practitioner;
(d) a member of the Police Force; or
(e) an authorized person,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) If a person consents to an act or omission by an offender under
subsection (1) and such consent:
(a) results in the person suffering a loss or his property being
damaged or destroyed; and
(b) was given in the reasonable belief that the offender was
authorized or empowered to cause such loss or damage,
that person shall be compensated by the Crown for such loss or
damage directly caused by the act or omission of the offender.
24 Compensation a debt due
Compensation payable under this Act by the Crown is a debt due
by the Crown.
25 Recovery from person found guilty
(1) Where a person is found guilty of an offence under section 23(1)
and compensation is paid under section 23(2) in respect of the loss
or damage from the act or omission constituting the offence, a court
may, at any time on the application of the Crown, make an order
that the person found guilty of the offence under section 23(1)
refund to the Crown the whole or a part of the amount of
compensation paid by the Crown under section 23(2) together with
the whole or a part of any costs awarded in respect of the
application for compensation.
(2) An order made under subsection (1) may be for the payment by the
person found guilty of a lump sum or of periodical payments during
a specified period, or both.
Part 3A Liability of Red Cross Society etc. in respect of transmittable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 11
26 Civil remedy
An order made for the payment of compensation under this Act
shall not affect the civil right of a person to compensation or
damages in respect of his loss or damage.
Part 3A Liability of Red Cross Society etc. in respect
of transmittable diseases
26A Interpretation
(1) In this Part:
approved means approved by the Chief Health Officer.
donor means a blood donor.
Society means the society incorporated by Royal Charter under the
name of the Australian Red Cross Society.
specified action means an action at law brought by or on behalf of:
(a) a person who claims to have contracted a transmittable
disease:
(i) by reason of having been administered blood supplied
by the Society or a blood product derived from blood
supplied by the Society;
(ii) by reason of having been involved in the taking, testing,
handling, producing, supplying, or administering to a
patient of blood supplied by the Society or a blood
product derived from blood supplied by the Society; or
(iii) from a person who contracted a transmittable disease in
a circumstance specified in subparagraph (i) or (ii); or
(b) a dependant of a person who dies as a result of having
contracted a transmittable disease in a circumstance specified
in paragraph (a);
transmittable disease means any of the following diseases:
(a) the disease known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
in any of its forms or stages;
(b) hepatitis B;
(c) hepatitis C;
Part 3A Liability of Red Cross Society etc. in respect of transmittable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 12
(d) any disease resulting from infection by the Human T cell
Lymphoma virus 1 or 2;
(e) syphilis;
(f) hepatitis G;
(g) New Variant Creutzfeldt Jakob Disease;
(h) a prescribed disease.
(2) For the purposes of sections 26B and 26C, the specified
requirements in relation to taking blood from a donor are that:
(a) before taking the blood, the Society obtains from the donor a
declaration in the form approved under subsection (3); and
(b) before supplying the blood to be administered to a person or
to be used in the preparation of blood products to be
administered to a person, a sample of the blood is tested,
using approved equipment and in accordance with an
approved method, for the presence of any pathogen capable
of causing the relevant transmittable disease and the Society
ascertains that the result of the test is negative.
(3) The Chief Health Officer may approve the form of a declaration for
subsection (2).
(4) The Chief Health Officer must publish the approved form of a
declaration on the Agency's website.
26B Liability of Red Cross Society
In a specified action against:
(a) the Society;
(b) an officer or employee of, or person working whether with or
without payment or reimbursement for, the Society; or
(c) any other person or body who takes blood from a donor on
behalf of the Society,
it is a defence that the Society complied with the specified
requirements, or caused the specified requirements to be complied
with, in taking the relevant blood and in testing, processing, and
handling that blood and blood products derived from that blood.
Part 3A Liability of Red Cross Society etc. in respect of transmittable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 13
26C Liability of hospitals and medical practitioners etc.
In a specified action against:
(a) a hospital or other body at whose premises blood supplied by
the Society or a blood product derived from blood supplied by
the Society is administered to a patient; or
(b) a medical practitioner, or a person acting on behalf of a
medical practitioner, who administered to a patient or
authorized the administration to a patient of blood supplied by
the Society or a blood product derived from blood supplied by
the Society,
it is a defence that:
(c) at the time the blood or blood product was administered there
was attached to the container in which the blood or blood
product was contained a certificate purporting to be signed by
the person in charge of the laboratory at which a sample of the
blood was tested, stating that a sample of the blood or, in the
case of the blood product, a sample of each unit of blood from
which the blood product was derived, was tested, using
approved equipment and in accordance with an approved
method, for the presence of any pathogen capable of causing
the relevant transmittable disease and the result of the test
was negative; or
(d) the Society complied with the specified requirements or
caused them to be complied with in respect of the taking of the
relevant blood and the testing, processing, and handling of
that blood or of blood products derived from it.
26D Liability where requirements not complied with
(1) The defence afforded by section 26B does not apply if, after the
Society has supplied blood to be administered to a person or to be
used in the preparation of a blood product to be administered to a
person, the Society has reasonable grounds for believing that that
blood or blood product is likely to contain any pathogen capable of
causing the relevant transmittable disease and:
(a) the Society does not take all reasonable steps to ascertain
whether the blood or blood product has been administered to
a person; or
(b) having taken those steps and having reason to believe that
that blood or blood product has not been so administered, the
Society does not take all reasonable steps to ensure that the
blood or blood product is not administered to a person.
Part 3A Liability of Red Cross Society etc. in respect of transmittable diseases
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 14
(2) The defence afforded by section 26C does not apply if, at any time
up to and including the time at which the blood or blood product
was administered, the hospital or other body at the premises of
which the blood or blood product was administered:
(a) had been informed that that blood or blood product was likely
to contain any pathogen capable of causing the relevant
transmittable disease; and
(b) did not take all reasonable steps to ensure that the blood or
blood product was not administered to a person.
(3) The defence afforded by section 26C does not apply to or in
relation to a medical practitioner or person acting on behalf of a
medical practitioner if, at the time the blood or blood product was
administered, the medical practitioner or other person had been
informed that that blood or blood product was likely to contain any
pathogen capable of causing the relevant transmittable disease.
26E Liability of blood donor
(1) A person who, in a declaration referred to in section 26A(2)(a),
makes a statement that is false in a material particular is guilty of an
offence.
Maximum penalty: 85 penalty units or imprisonment for
2 years.
(2) No proceedings, civil or criminal, other than proceedings under
subsection (1), lie against a donor of blood by reason only of a
person having contracted a transmittable disease from the
administration to the person of blood given by, or of a blood product
derived partly from blood given by, that donor.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to or in relation to a blood donor who
has been found guilty of an offence against subsection (1).
26F Evidentiary certificates
For the purposes of this Part, a certificate purporting to be signed
by the person in charge of the laboratory at which a sample of
blood was tested and stating that:
(a) the blood sample was tested using approved equipment and
in accordance with an approved method; and
(b) the results specified in the certificate were obtained,
is evidence of the matters so stated and of the facts on which they
are based.
Part 4 Miscellaneous matters
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 15
Part 4 Miscellaneous matters
27 Registers
The Chief Health Officer may keep such registers:
(a) of persons who are or were infected persons or suspect
persons; and
(b) in such form,
as he thinks fit.
28 Application
Where an order or direction made or given under, or a provision of,
this Act is inconsistent with the Emergency Management Act 2013
or an order or direction made or given under that Act, that Act or
order or direction made or given under that Act shall prevail to the
extent of that inconsistency.
29 Secrecy to be preserved
(1) An employee within the meaning of the Public Sector Employment
and Management Act 1993 or other person, who acts or assists in
the administration of this Act or who is present in a room or at a
place where a matter under this Act concerning another person is
being discussed, shall preserve and aid in preserving secrecy
concerning all matters and things which come to his knowledge
whilst so acting, assisting or being present, except so far as his
duties under this Act require or except in answer to a question he is
bound to answer.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) In this section, this Act includes the Ordinances and Regulations
repealed by section 3.
30 Disclosures to be protected
Subject to section 21, no action, claim or demand lies, or shall be
commenced or allowed, by or in favour of a person against another
person or the Crown, in respect of an act, matter or thing done by
that other person in good faith in the exercise or purported exercise
of a power or performance or purported performance of a function
under this Act, for the purpose of giving effect to the provisions or
objects of this Act, or for discharging an obligation placed upon that
other person or the Crown by this Act.
Part 4 Miscellaneous matters
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 16
31 Delegation
(1) The Chief Health Officer may, by instrument in writing, either
generally or in relation to a particular matter or class of matters,
delegate to a person specified in the instrument of delegation all or
any of his powers or functions under this Act, other than this power
of delegation.
(2) A power or function delegated in accordance with subsection (1)
shall be exercised or performed by the delegate in accordance with
the instrument of delegation.
(3) A delegation under this section is revocable at will by the Chief
Health Officer and does not prevent the exercise of a power or the
performance of a function by him.
(4) When delegating a power or a function under subsection (1) to a
person, the Chief Health Officer may describe the person as an
authorized person and the person so described is an authorized
person for the purposes of the exercise of that power or
performance of that function.
32 Distribution of information
The Chief Health Officer may, as he thinks fit, disseminate
information relating to the cause, nature and effects of a notifiable
disease.
33 Statutory declarations
(1) A question referred to in section 19 may be written or oral and the
medical officer or authorized person may require the answers to be
given in writing or orally.
(2) A medical officer or authorized person may, if he thinks fit, require a
person to verify by a declaration an answer to a question asked
under section 19.
34 Specific offences
A person who:
(a) gives, offers, promises to give or procure to be given a bribe,
recompense or reward to a medical practitioner, medical
officer or authorized person, to induce him to neglect his duty;
(b) makes a collusive agreement with a medical practitioner,
medical officer or authorized officer to neglect his duty;
Part 4 Miscellaneous matters
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 17
(c) by threats, demands or promises, attempts to improperly
influence a medical practitioner, medical officer or authorized
person in the performance of his duty; or
(d) assaults or by force molests, hinders, obstructs or intimidates
a medical practitioner, medical officer or authorized person in
the performance of his duty,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months.
35 Taking bribes
A medical practitioner, medical officer or authorized person who:
(a) accepts a bribe, recompense or reward for or on account of a
neglect to perform his duty; or
(b) makes a collusive agreement with a person to neglect his
duty,
is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years.
36 Unlawful destruction
A medical officer or authorized person shall not unlawfully destroy
or damage goods.
37 Averments
In proceedings for an offence against this Act:
(a) an averment of the prosecutor, contained in a complaint or
information, that at a specified time an area was an isolation
area;
(b) a certificate from a medical officer that a person was an
infected person or suspect person; or
(c) a certificate from a person conducting a pathology
investigation which states that a sample from a person or
animal establishes that a notifiable disease is present or
confirms a diagnosis of a medical practitioner,
is prima facie evidence of the matter so averred or certified, as the
case may be.
Part 5 Transitional matters for Health Legislation Amendment Act 2021
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 18
38 Offences and penalties
(1) A person shall not contravene or fail to comply with a provision of,
or an order under, this Act or the Regulations.
(2) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of, or
an order under, this Act or the Regulations for which a penalty is
not provided by a provision of this Act or the Regulations other than
this section, is punishable upon being found guilty by a fine not
exceeding 8 penalty units or imprisonment for 6 months.
(3) A prosecution for an offence against a provision of, or an order
under, this Act or the Regulations shall not be commenced unless
approved by the Chief Health Officer.
38A Regulatory offences
An offence of contravening or failing to comply with the provisions
of, or an order under, section 11(2), 15(3) or 19(2) is a regulatory
offence.
39 Regulations
(1) The Administrator may make regulations not inconsistent with this
Act prescribing all matters which are required or permitted to be
prescribed or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed
for carrying out or giving effect to this Act and for prescribing
penalties not exceeding 8 penalty units or imprisonment for
6 months for a breach of a regulation.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the Administrator
may prescribe procedures and forms for an application to the Local
Court to determine an amount of compensation under
section 21(2).
Part 5 Transitional matters for Health Legislation
Amendment Act 2021
40 Approval of form of declaration
(1) An approval given under section 26A(3) that was in effect
immediately before the commencement of Part 2 of the amending
Act continues to have effect as if it were given by the Chief Health
Officer under the section as amended by the amending Act.
(2) In this section:
amending Act means the Health Legislation Amendment Act 2021.
Part 6 Transitional matters for Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of
Jurisdiction) Act 2023
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 19
Part 6 Transitional matters for Statute Law
Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of Jurisdiction)
Act 2023
41 Definitions
In this Part:
amending Act means the Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT
Conferral of Jurisdiction) Act 2023.
commencement means the commencement of Part 12 of the
amending Act.
former Act means this Act as in force immediately before the
commencement.
42 NTCAT review limited to decisions made after commencement
Sections 12 and 13(1), as inserted by sections 101 and 102 of the
amending Act, apply only in relation to a notice that is served on a
person by a medical officer after the commencement.
43 Appeals not commenced before commencement
(1) This section applies to a person if, immediately before the
commencement, the person:
(a) was entitled to appeal to the Local Court against a notice
served on the person or a direction contained in the notice
under section 12 of the former Act; and
(b) had not yet commenced an appeal against the notice or
direction.
(2) The person may appeal to the Local Court against the notice or a
direction contained in the notice in accordance with section 12 of
the former Act, as if Part 12 of the amending Act had not
commenced.
(3) The Local Court must hear and determine the person's appeal in
accordance with section 12 of the former Act, as if Part 12 of the
amending Act had not commenced.
Part 6 Transitional matters for Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of
Jurisdiction) Act 2023
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 20
44 Appeals not determined before commencement
(1) Subsection (2) applies in relation to an appeal to the Local Court
that:
(a) was commenced by a person under section 12 of the former
Act; and
(b) had not been finally determined by the Local Court before the
commencement.
(2) The Local Court must continue to hear and determine the person's
appeal in accordance with section 12 of the former Act, as if Part 12
of the amending Act had not commenced.
45 Compliance with notices served before commencement
Section 13 of the former Act continues to apply after the
commencement in relation to:
(a) a notice that was served on a person under section 11(1)
before the commencement; and
(b) an order that was made by the Chief Health Officer before the
commencement.
Schedule 2
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 22
Schedule 2
section 4
ALL THAT piece of land near East Arm in the Hundred of Bagot
County of Palmerston Northern Territory of Australia containing an
area of 91.51 hectares more or less being Hundred of Bagot
Portion 1787 and being more particularly delineated on survey plan
A 1006 lodged with the Surveyor-General, Darwin.
ENDNOTES
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 23
ENDNOTES
1 KEY
Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 (Act No. 34, 1981)
Assent date 30 March 1981
Commenced 1 July 1981 (Gaz S7, 26 June 1981)
Criminal Law (Regulatory Offences) Act 1983 (Act No. 68, 1983)
Assent date 28 November 1983
Commenced 1 January 1984 (s 2 s 2 Criminal Code Act 1983 (Act No. 47,
1983), Gaz G46, 18 November 1983, p 11 and Gaz G8,
26 February 1986, p 5)
Notifiable Diseases Amendment Act 1985 (Act No. 46, 1985)
Assent date 19 September 1985
Commenced 30 October 1985 (Gaz G43, 30 October 1985, p 10)
Statute Law Revision Act 1985 (Act No. 49, 1985)
Assent date 1 October 1985
Commenced 1 October 1985
Local Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 (Act No. 14, 1989)
Assent date 5 June 1989
Commenced s 6: 5 June 1989; rem: 1 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Small Claims
Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 43, 1988), Gaz G17,
3 May 1989, p 2, s 2 Local Court Act 1989 (Act No. 31, 1989)
and Gaz G49, 12 December 1990, p 2)
Statute Law Revision Act 1989 (Act No. 60, 1989)
Assent date 2 October 1989
Commenced 2 October 1989
ENDNOTES
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 24
Local Court (Consequential Amendments) Act 1990 (Act No. 31, 1990)
Assent date 11 June 1990
Commenced s 5: 11 June 1990; rem: 1 January 1991 (s 2, s 2 Small
Claims Amendment Act 1988 (Act No. 43, 1988), Gaz G17,
3 May 1989, p 2, s 2 Local Court Act 1989 (Act No. 31, 1989)
and Gaz G49, 12 December 1990, p 2)
Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 17, 1996)
Assent date 19 April 1996
Commenced s 7: 19 April 1996; rem: 1 July 1996 (s 2, s 2 Sentencing Act
1995 (Act No. 39, 1995) and Gaz S15, 13 June 1996)
Statute Law Revision Act 1997 (Act No. 17, 1997)
Assent date 11 April 1997
Commenced 1 May 1997 (Gaz G17, 30 April 1997, p 2)
Notifiable Diseases Amendment Act 1998 (Act No. 82, 1998)
Assent date 7 December 1998
Commenced 7 April 1999 (Gaz G13, 7 April 1999, p 4)
Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 (Act No. 7, 2011)
Assent date 16 March 2011
Commenced 1 July 2011 (Gaz S28, 3 June 2011)
Penalties Amendment (Children and Families, Health and Primary Industry, Fisheries
and Resources) Act 2011 (Act No. 28, 2011)
Assent date 31 August 2011
Commenced 21 September 2011 (Gaz G38, 21 September 2011, p 4)
Emergency Management Act 2013 (Act No. 27, 2013)
Assent date 8 November 2013
Commenced 27 November 2013 (Gaz S63, 27 November 2013)
Local Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016)
Assent date 6 April 2016
Commenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related
Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34,
29 April 2016)
Health Legislation Amendment Act 2021 (Act No. 20, 2021)
Assent date 23 September 2021
Commenced 24 September 2021 (s 2)
Statute Law Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of Jurisdiction) Act 2023 (Act No. 24, 2023)
Assent date 21 September 2023
Commenced 27 November 2023 (Gaz G24, 23 November 2023, p 2)
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 4, 5, 28 and 29.
ENDNOTES
Notifiable Diseases Act 1981 25
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
pt 1 hdg amd No. 20, 2021, s 7
s 4 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 5 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 82, 1998, s 4; No. 7, 2011, s 140
pt II hdg amd No. 20, 2021, s 7
s 8 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
sub No. 82, 1999, s 5
s 12 amd No. 14, 1989, s 7
sub No. 24, 2023, s 101
s 13 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 24, 2023, s 102
s 14 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 16 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
sub No. 82, 1999, s 6
pt III hdg amd No. 20, 2021, s 7
s 17 amd No. 20, 2021, s 4
s 18 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 20 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 21 amd No. 31, 1990, s 7; No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 23 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 28, 2011, s 4
s 25 amd No. 17, 1996, s 6
pt IIIA hdg ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
amd No. 82, 1998, s 7; No. 20, 2021, s 7
s 26A ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
amd No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 82, 1998, s 8; No. 20, 2021, s 5
s 26B ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
s 26C ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
amd No. 82, 1998, s 9; No. 20, 2021, s 7
s 26D ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
amd No. 82, 1998, s 10
s 26E ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
amd No. 82, 1998, s 11; No. 28, 2011, s 4
s 26F ins No. 46, 1985, s 4
pt IV hdg amd No. 20, 2021, s 7
s 27 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 28 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6; No. 27, 2013, s 128
s 29 amd No. 49, 1985, s 4; No. 28, 2011, s 4
ss 31 – 32 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17
s 33 amd No. 60, 1989, s 6
ss 34 – 35 amd No. 28, 2011, s 4
s 38 amd No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 28, 2011, s 4
s 38A ins No. 68, 1983, s 22
s 39 amd No. 46, 1985, s 5; No. 82, 1998, s 12; No. 28, 2011, s 4; No. 8, 2016,
s 45; No. 24, 2023, s 103
pt 5 hdg ins No. 20, 2021, s 6
s 40 ins No. 20, 2021, s 6
sch 3 amd No. 46, 1985, s 6
rep No. 82, 1998, s 13
sch 4 – 5 rep No. 82, 1998, s 13
sch 6 ins No. 46, 1985, s 7
rep No. 82, 1998, s 13
pt 6 hdg ins No. 24, 2023, s 104
ss 41 – 45 ins No. 24, 2023, s 104