Some people may find content on this website distressing. Read more
Queensland - Legislation

Mental Health Act 1974 (1974 - 2000)

From
1974
To
2000
Categories
Principal Act
Website
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/act-1974-002

The Mental Health Act 1974 (Act no. 2/1974) repealed and replaced the Mental Health Act of 1962. This act was repealed and replaced in 2000 by the Mental Health Act 2000 (Act no. 16/2000).

Details

The Mental Health Act 1974 had the full title: 'An Act relating to the Treatment and Care of mentally ill persons and to their property and affairs; to amends the Prisons Act 1958 - 1969 in certain particulars and The Inebriates Institutions Acts 1896 to 1968 in a certain particular; and for connected purposes' (Act no. 2/1974).

The Mental Health Act 1974 was extensive in reach and covered multiple aspects of the lives of people with a mental illness and their treatment. This included regulations on involuntary admission to institutions, the role of police and health care professionals, the treatment of people with a mental illness found guilty of crime and the property of persons with a mental illness.

Timeline

 1938 - c. 1962 Mental Hygiene Act of 1938
       1962 - 1974 Mental Health Act 1962
             1974 - 2000 Mental Health Act 1974
                   2000 - Mental Health Act 2000

Publications

Online Resources

Sources used to compile this entry: Comparative table: Mental Health Act 1974 and Mental Health Act 2000, Queensland Health, https://web.archive.org/web/20190324225530/http://www.health.wa.gov.au/mhareview/resources/documents/Qld_MHA_Comparative.pdf; Queensland Health, The road to recovery - a history of mental health services in Queensland 1859-2009, Queensland Government, 2013, https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0028/444583/qld-mh-history.pdf.

Prepared by: Elizabeth Daniels