STATE EMERGENCY AND RESCUE MANAGEMENT ACT 1989 - SECT 59 Liability for actions of members of rescue units and volunteers

STATE EMERGENCY AND RESCUE MANAGEMENT ACT 1989 - SECT 59

59 Liability for actions of members of rescue units and volunteers

(1) Anything done or omitted to be done by an accredited rescue unit or by a person as a member of an accredited rescue unit or authorised volunteer does not, if done or omitted in good faith in connection with a rescue operation or otherwise in response to an emergency, subject the accredited rescue unit, the person or any other person to any action, liability, claim or demand.

(2) Anything done or omitted to be done by a casual volunteer does not, if done or omitted in good faith in connection with a rescue operation or otherwise in response to an emergency, subject the volunteer personally to any action, liability, claim or demand.

(3) In this section--


"accredited rescue unit" includes--

(a) a rescue unit (within the meaning of Division 4) engaged in surf life-saving, and

(b) any organisation or agency (other than a government agency) that manages or controls an accredited rescue unit, whether on its own or jointly with another organisation or agency.

"authorised volunteer" means a person who assists an accredited rescue unit in carrying out a rescue operation with the consent of the person in charge of the rescue operation.


"casual volunteer" means a person who assists, on his or her own initiative, in a rescue operation or otherwise in response to an emergency in circumstances in which the assistance was reasonably given.