This National Pandemic Act 2020, consisting of 65 sections divided into nine Parts, aims principally at fulfilling the following purposes: a) responding to a pandemic, pestilence or a Public Health Emergency; and b) enabling the delivery of a pandemic, pestilence or a National Response to a Public Health Emergency. The National Control Centre shall be an ad-hoc body established for a Declared Period. The Centre shall consist of the Controller, a Deputy Controller, Authorised Persons and other persons approved by the Controller to provide operational, administrative and ancillary support. The Head of State, acting on advice, shall make a Declaration of the existence of a pandemic, pestilence or a Public Health Emergency for the purposes of this Act.
The Act establishes that a Declaration shall be revoked by the Head of State. Where a Declaration has been made, the State shall coordinate a National Response through a National Control Centre. Immediately after a Declaration has been made, a National Control Centre shall be established. The National Control Centre shall be an ad-hoc body established for a Declared Period. The National Control Centre shall consist of the Controller, a Deputy Controller, Authorised Persons, and other persons approved by the Controller to provide operational, administrative and ancillary support. The Controller shall coordinate the conduct of patrols and surveillance at Papua New Guinea's borders. The Controller may impose measures for border patrols and surveillance and require implementation by the relevant authorities. The imposition of measures shall be done in consultation with the National Department of Health and in accordance with the relevant laws. The Act is divided as follows: Preliminary (Part I); Administration (Part II); Stakeholder Engagement (Part III); Measures (Part IV); Enforcement of Measures (Part V); Offences and Penalties (Part VI); Finances and Procurement (Part VII); Transitional and Savings (Part VIII); Miscellaneous (Part IX).