Western Australian Current Acts Western Australian Current Acts (1) The objects of
this Act are —
(a) to
promote and improve public health and wellbeing and to prevent disease,
injury, disability and premature death; and
(b) to
protect individuals and communities from diseases and other public health
risks and to provide, to the extent reasonably practicable, a healthy
environment for all Western Australians; and
(c) to
promote the provision of information to individuals and communities about
public health risks; and
(d) to
encourage individuals and communities to plan for, create and maintain a
healthy environment; and
(e) to
provide for the prevention or early detection of diseases and other public
health risks, and certain other conditions of health; and
(f) to
support programmes and campaigns intended to improve public health; and
(g) to
facilitate the provision of information to decision-making authorities about
public health risks and benefits to public health that may result from certain
proposals; and
(h) to
provide for the collection, disclosure and use of information about the
incidence and prevalence of diseases and other public health risks in the
State, and certain other conditions of health, for research or public health
purposes; and
(i)
to reduce the inequalities in public health of
disadvantaged communities; and
(j) to
provide for functions relating to public health to be performed by the State
and local governments.
(2) In the pursuit of
the objects of this Act, regard must be had to the principles set out in the
Table.
Table
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1. Sustainability principle (1) Sound public
health practices and procedures should be adopted as a basis for
sustainability for the benefit of all people and the community today, while
consideration is given to the public health, social, economic and
environmental needs of future generations. (2) Public health,
social, economic and environmental factors should be considered in
decision-making, with the objective of improving community wellbeing and the
benefit to future generations. (3) Public health
practices and procedures should be cost effective and in proportion to the
significance of the public health risks and consequences being addressed. |
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2. Precautionary principle (1) If there is a
public health risk, lack of scientific certainty should not be used as a
reason for postponing measures to prevent, control or abate that risk. (2) In the application
of the precautionary principle, decision-making should be guided by — (a) a
careful evaluation to avoid, where practicable, harm to public health; and (b) an
assessment of the risk-weighted consequences of the options. |
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3. Principle of proportionality (1) Decisions made and
actions taken in the administration of this Act to prevent, control or abate a
public health risk should be proportionate to the public health risk sought to
be prevented, controlled or abated. (2) In the application
of the principle of proportionality, decision-making and action should be
guided by the aim that, where measures that adversely impact on an
individual’s or business’s activities or a community’s
functioning are necessary, measures that have the least adverse impact are
taken before measures with a greater adverse impact. |
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4. Principle of intergenerational equity The present generation
should ensure that public health is maintained or enhanced for the benefit of
future generations. |
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5. Principle relating to local government The functions of local
governments in relation to public health should be acknowledged and respected.
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(3) Persons involved
in the administration of this Act must perform their functions with due regard
to the objects and principles of this Act.