51AAssaulting registered health practitioners

51A Assaulting registered health practitioners (1) If a registered health practitioner— (a) is employed, self-employed or engaged to provide, or support the provision of, care or treatment in a hospital to a person; and (b) is in the hospital or on the hospital premises— a person must not assault the practitioner, knowing or being reckless as to whether the practitioner is a health practitioner. (2) If a registered health practitioner— (a) is employed, self-employed or engaged to provide, or support the provision of, care or treatment, other than in a hospital, to a person; and (b) is providing, or supporting the provision of, care or treatment to a person in the course of that employment, self-employment or engagement— a person must not assault the practitioner, knowing or being reckless as to whether the practitioner is a health practitioner acting in accordance with paragraph (b). (3) In this section— ***health practitioner*** and ***registered health practitioner*** have the same meanings as in the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law; ***hospital*** means a public hospital, private hospital, denominational hospital or day procedure centre within the meaning of the **Health Services Act 1988**; ***hospital premises*** includes parking areas, driveways, courtyards and forecourts on the premises occupied by a hospital. Pt 3 Div. 2 (Heading and ss 51B−51E) inserted by No. 52/2025 s. 10. Division 2—Assaulting applicable customer-facing workers S. 51B inserted by No. 52/2025 s. 10.