Australians could face life in prison for coughing on doctors and nurses
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt has slammed reports of people abusing healthcare workers, warning those who deliberately cough on doctors or nurses could face life in prison.
Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Hunt said there had been “troubling” reports of assaults and threats against healthcare workers.
“Whether it’s verbally or by coughing on them, by threatening to transmit the virus ... These cases are completely unacceptable and we will be cracking down on them across the jurisdictions,” Hunt said.
The minister said the deliberate transmission of the coronavirus “is an offence under the general criminal laws that apply in every state and territory”, carrying penalties up to life imprisonment.
State and territory criminal laws also made it an offence to “cause someone else to fear” they had been given the virus, “for example by coughing on them”.
Two people in the ACT had been charged with “precisely this type of behaviour”, he said.
Hunt thanked healthcare workers for being “on the frontline saving lives and protecting lives”.
Reports of doctors and nurses being spat on, harassed and assaulted in public places have emerged across Australia in recent weeks.
Some hospitals have also told staff not to wear their uniforms to avoid unwanted attention during their travel to and from work.
NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the “appalling” acts must end.
“I think every right-minded member of our community would be that our doctors and nurses are being targets for these people who don’t seem to get it,” he told reporters on Sunday.
“And I want all of us as a community to make it clear to that small minority that your behaviour is completely unacceptable. Completely.
“It’s not Australia, it’s not the way that Aussies behave.”