Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

FIREARMS ACT 1996 - SECT 261

    (1)     This section applies if a health professional believes that—

        (a)     a person to whom the health professional is or has been providing professional services may pose a threat to public safety or a threat to the person's own safety; and

        (b)     the person possesses or has access to a firearm.

    (2)     The health professional may tell the registrar about the belief.

    (3)     If the health professional acts honestly under this section—

        (a)     the telling of the belief to the registrar is, for all purposes, not a breach of confidence or professional etiquette or ethics, or a breach of a rule of professional conduct, applying to the health professional; and

        (b)     civil or criminal liability is not incurred by the health professional only because of the health professional telling the registrar about the belief.

Note     The Civil Law (Wrongs) Act 2002

, s 59 provides a defence of truth and public benefit to civil defamation actions.

    (4)     In this section:

"health professional "means any of the following people:

        (a)     a doctor, psychologist, nurse, midwife or social worker;

        (b)     a person who provides professional counselling services;

        (c)     anyone else declared under the regulations to be a provider of health-related services.