The Legal Basis for the Tasmanian Government’s COVID-19 Laws

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to rapid and exceptional changes in Tasmanian law. You can view the current directions on the Tasmanian Government’s COVID-19 response website.

Under normal conditions, laws which impact Tasmanian’s freedom of movement, or the activities of businesses, would need to be passed by both houses of State Parliament.

However, in Tasmania the State Government has been able to bring in COVID-19 specific laws using powers which were already in place under the Emergency Management Act 2006 (Tas) and the Public Health Act 1997 (Tas).

* Please note while every effort has been made to keep this resource current and up to date Tasmania’s COVID-19 laws can be the subject of rapid change as circumstances permit.

The version below is current as at 2 December 2021.

This resource is legal information only and is not intended to be a substitute for actual legal advice. Actual legal advice contemplates a person’s individual circumstances.