The Biosecurity Act 2015 is a piece of Commonwealth legislation which has the stated objectives of managing biosecurity risks, protecting Australia against the spread of human diseases and giving effect to the country’s obligations regarding various international instruments.
Among other things, the Act gives the Governor-General the power to declare a biosecurity emergency and empowers the Health Minister to impose control requirements and give directions during a biosecurity emergency period.
To enforce these powers, the Act contains several criminal offences as well as civil penalty provisions.
Click on a link below to read the relevant section of the Act.