EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Health

A.C.T. Public Health (General Sanitation) Regulations

No. 6 of 1971

	Night-soil is collected by contractors from building sites in established urban areas of Canberra and in rural areas such as Hall and Oaks Estate.  The existing Public Health (General Sanitation) Regulations make provision for the disposal of night-soil at an approved place but are silent as to its collection and conveyance to such a place.

	Due to the hazard to public health involved in the spillage of night-soil the Minister for Health has approved an amendment to the abovementioned Regulations to repair the present omission.

	The amendment to regulation 5 of the Public Health (General Sanitation) Regulations makes it an offence to carry night-soil in a receptacle not properly enclosed, to spill night-soil from a receptacle (unless the person carrying it proves that the spillage was due to circumstances beyond his control), to convey night-soil in a vehicle which is not properly fitted to prevent a receptacle containing night-soil from falling from the vehicle, and to spill night-soil from a vehicle (unless the driver proves that the falling or spilling was due to circumstances beyond his control).