Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young Granted Extraordinary Powers – @Qldaah #qldpol

Queensland Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young Granted Extraordinary Powers

Misunderstood by many media commentators & some politicians is the declaration of a public health emergency such as for covid-19. In Queensland this grants extraordinary powers to the Chief Health Officer (CHO), Dr Jeannette Young. “During a public health emergency, the Chief Health Officer can issue Public Health Directions to assist in containing, or to respond to, the spread of COVID-19 within the community.” Chief Health Officer public health directions.

In September 2020, a number of death threats were made against the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Dr Young. Man charged with making death threats to Queensland Premier and Chief Health Officer

The Australian Medical Association Queensland President Dr Chris Perry addressed the media on the threats and explained how the CHO’s directions are law and how they differ to a jurisdiction like Victoria.

“We believe Queensland should follow the advice of the Chief Health Officer, and if she says the borders should stay closed, we think they should stay closed,” he added. ‘Leave her alone’: Queensland doctors step in to defend Chief Health Officer.

ABC Insiders misunderstands the public health direction

Unfortunately, this explanation didn’t filter through to a September 13, 2020 ABC Insiders episode in which ABC Radio National presenter Fran Kelly turned on the Queensland premier. Not understanding either, the Australian Financial Review’s Phillip Coorey piled on.

As Professor of IP & Innovation Law at Queensland University of Technology, Dr Matthew Rimmer, explained later under section 362b of the Public Health Act 2005, Qld CHO Dr Jeanette Young is granted directions pursuant to such powers.

In an article by Paul Bongiorno entitled, Crass border politics blows up on Prime Minister, Law of Politics at the University of Queensland, Professor Graeme Orr, confirmed that under the state’s legislation, “only a public health officer can let someone out of quarantine to go to a funeral” adding further that “it would be highly inappropriate for a minister to intervene”.

Directions extend to quarantine

Hotel quarantine in Queensland is directed by Dr Young and is managed by Qld Health staff and Qld Police.

Strategy against covid-19 has always been suppression

Queensland Police act on CHO health directions

As Queensland Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski explained, any health direction given by the Qld CHO are lawful.

Dr Young has confidence in Queenslanders

When NSW attacks

New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard was another who hadn’t come to terms with the Queensland public health orders accusing the government of politics over health but refusing to say what evidence he had of that in an ABC radio interview.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steve Miles defends Queensland’s public health orders and the CHO.

Dr Young upset by media accusations of making political decisions

Dr Young accused of fascism

Columnist for The Australian Janet Albrechtsen didn’t understand the Queensland health declarations either. In a piece entitled, “Cruel and unusual, with a whiff of fascism” she accused Dr Young of, We will look with horror at the hysterical health fascism unfolding across this country.

Matters were not helped when ABC 730 presenter Leigh Sales joined the fascism accusation.

Pseudo-Premier accusation

Queensland based columnist Madonna King writing about Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s luck soon to run out, made the same mistake of not acknowledging the public health declaration that empowers Dr Young, accusing her of being a pseudo-premier. Handing the decision making over to chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young (who is really the state’s pseudo-premier at the moment) also meant she was largely protected from any unpopular edicts.

Dr Young to become Queensland Governor

On November 1, 2021, Dr Young will replace Governor Paul de Jersey and become Queensland’s 27th Governor.

While it hasn’t been officially announced yet, the next Qld CHO is tipped to be Dr Krispin Hajkowicz from the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.


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