QUARANTINE.

No. 61 of 1961.

An Act to amend the Quarantine Act 1908–1950.

[Assented to 24th October, 1961.]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.)     This Act may be cited as the Quarantine Act 1961.

(2.)   The Quarantine Act 1908–1950 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.)   The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Quarantine Act 1908–1961.

Commencement.

2.   This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3.     Section three of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

Parts.

“3.  This Act is divided into Parts, as follows:—

Part I.—Introductory (Sections 1–7).

Part II.—Administration (Sections 8a–11).

Part III.—General Provisions (Sections 12–16).

Part IV.—Quarantine of Vessels, Persons, and Goods.

Division 1.—Liability to Quarantine (Sections 17–34).

Division 2.—Performance of Quarantine (Sections 35–49).

Part V.—Quarantine of Animals and Plants (Sections 50–58).

Part VI.—Expenses of Quarantine (Sections 59–66).

Part VII.—Miscellaneous (Sections 67–87).”.

Powers of inspection.

4.   Section seventy of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-sections (1.) and (2.) and inserting in their stead the following sub-sections:—

“(1.)    A quarantine officer may board any vessel that is in a port or place in Australia and—

(a) enter and inspect any part of the vessel;

(b) inspect any animals or goods on board the vessel; and

(c) inspect the passenger list, log, manifest, journal and any other papers relating to the vessel or to any persons, animals or goods on board the vessel.

“(2.)    The master of a vessel shall, if so required by a quarantine officer, produce to him for inspection the papers referred to in paragraph (c) of the last preceding sub-section.

Penalty: Twenty pounds.”.

Medical inspections an examinations.

5.   Section seventy-two of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—

“72.—(1.)  A quarantine officer may require the master of a vessel to cause all or any of the persons on the vessel to be informed that, for the purposes of quarantine inspection, a muster of those persons will be held at a time, and at a place on or in the vicinity of the vessel, specified by the quarantine officer.

“(2.)    The master of a vessel shall comply with a requirement made by a quarantine officer under the last preceding sub-section and, whether or not such a requirement is made, shall, by all reasonable means, facilitate the inspection by a quarantine officer of persons on the vessel.

“(3.)    A person on a vessel shall, unless prevented by illness or some other cause, attend a muster of which he is informed in pursuance of a requirement made under sub-section (1.) of this section.

“(4.)    If so required by a quarantine officer, a person on a vessel shall, unless prevented by illness or some other cause, attend, for the purpose of quarantine inspection, at a time, and at a place on or in the vicinity of the vessel, specified by the quarantine officer.

“(5.)    A person on a vessel, or a person who attends at a place in the vicinity of a vessel in pursuance of sub-section (3.) or (4.) of this section—

(a) shall answer truly to the best of his knowledge all questions asked him by a quarantine officer concerning his personal health and the likelihood of his having been exposed to infection; and

(b) if required by a quarantine officer, shall submit to a medical examination.

Penalty: Fifty pounds.”.