Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts35. Declaration of state of disaster
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where at any time it appears to the Administrator that the extent or severity of a disaster or impending disaster is, or is likely to be, so great that:
(a) it is beyond the resources of normal government services or privately owned services available in the Territory at the time; or
(b) special powers are required,
to provide appropriate counter disaster measures, he may declare that a state of disaster exists in respect of so much of the Territory as, in his opinion, is affected by the disaster or is likely to be affected by the impending disaster.
(2) Where during a vacancy in the office of Administrator, or the Administrator is absent from duty or from the Territory or is, for any reason, unable to exercise the powers or perform the functions of his office, a declaration under subsection (1) or an extension under subsection (4) may be made by 2 Ministers acting jointly.
(3) A declaration of a state of disaster shall:
(a) come into force immediately the declaration is made; and
(b) continue in force for 7 days from the date of the declaration unless sooner revoked.
(4) A state of disaster may be extended by the Administrator or, in circumstances referred to in subsection (2), by 2 Ministers for such periods, not exceeding 14 days in each case, as he considers or they consider necessary.