Originally Posted by
currawong
Technically, international quarantine is a federal responsibility.
It was made so shortly after the Spanish Flu epidemic, in order to settle disputes and inconsistencies between the states regarding, you guessed it, borders and quarantine.
That was actually made so about 20 years BEFORE the 1918 flu:
51. Legislative powers of the Parliament
The (Federal) Parliament shall, subject to this Constitution, have power to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Commonwealth with respect to:
(ix) quarantine;