Last December the sunshine state's Chief Health Officer John Gerrard vacated the post after a tenure marred by threats of violence over COVID-19.

Australia's pandemic-era CHOs were under extreme scrutiny as they balanced the use of extraordinary powers affecting the lives of citizens, with a duty to limit harm and deaths from the virus.

While those profoundly turbulent times have passed, some public health issues remain bitterly contested.

After Dr Gerrard returned to his job as an infectious disease specialist at the Gold Coast, other experienced clinicians have filled in as top doctor, a position that has legal powers to make public health directions like quarantining or mask wearing.

But no one was permanently appointed as CHO and three weeks ago it was revealed Brisbane-based infe

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