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BUSH FIRES ACT 1954

Table of Provisions

PART I -- Preliminary  

  • 1 Short title
  •  
  • 3 Commencement
  •  
  • 4 Saving provisions
  •  
  • 7 Terms used

PART II -- Administration  

  • 9 Terms used
  •  
  • 10 Powers of FES Commissioner
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  • 12 Bush fire liaison officers
  •  
  • 13 Duties and powers of bush fire liaison officers
  •  
  • 14A Powers and duties under section 13 not affected by certain powers under Emergency Management Act 2005
  •  
  • 14B Powers of authorised persons and police officers during authorised periods
  •  
  • 14C Failure to comply with directions
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  • 14 Certain persons may enter land or building for purposes of Act

PART III -- Prevention of bush fires

Division 2 -- Prohibited burning times  

  • 17 Prohibited burning times may be declared by Minister

Division 3 -- Restricted burning times  

  • 18 Restricted burning times may be declared by FES Commissioner
  •  
  • 20 Regulations as to restricted burning times

Division 4 -- Total fire ban  

  • 21 Terms used
  •  
  • 22A Minister may declare total fire ban
  •  
  • 22B Lighting of fires prohibited during total fire ban
  •  
  • 22C Power of Minister to exempt from provisions of section 22B

Division 5 -- Burning during prohibited times and restricted times  

  • 22 Burning on exempt land and land adjoining exempt land
  •  
  • 23 Burning during prohibited burning times
  •  
  • 24 Bush on land growing subterranean clover may be burnt during prohibited burning times
  •  
  • 24A Bush on land in prescribed irrigation areas may be burnt during prohibited times for purpose of germinating clover
  •  
  • 24B Production of permit to burn may be required
  •  
  • 24C Terms used
  •  
  • 24D Burning garden refuse prohibited if fire danger high to catastrophic
  •  
  • 24E Burning of garden refuse at rubbish tips
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  • 24F Burning garden refuse during limited burning times
  •  
  • 24G Minister or local government may further restrict burning of garden refuse
  •  
  • 25 No fire to be lit in open air unless certain precautions taken
  •  
  • 25A Power of Minister to exempt from provisions of section
  •  
  • 26 Burning of plants to eradicate disease during prohibited burning times
  •  
  • 26A Burning of declared plants during prohibited burning times

Division 6 -- General restrictions, prohibitions and offences  

  • 27 Prohibition on use of tractors or engines except under certain conditions
  •  
  • 27A Regulation of blasting and matters likely to create bush fire danger
  •  
  • 27B False alarms
  •  
  • 27C Vandalism
  •  
  • 27D Requirements for carriage and deposit of incendiary material
  •  
  • 28 Occupier of land to extinguish bush fire occurring on own land
  •  
  • 30 Disposal of burning cigarettes etc.
  •  
  • 32 Offences of lighting or attempting to light fire likely to injure
  •  
  • 33 Local government may require occupier of land to plough or clear fire-break
  •  
  • 34 Burning on Crown lands
  •  
  • 35 Powers of FES Commissioner on default by local government

Division 7 -- Bush fire risk treatment standards  

  • 35AA FES Commissioner may make bush fire risk treatment standards
  •  
  • 35AB Compliance with bush fire risk treatment standards

PART IV -- Control and extinguishment of bush fires

Division 1 -- Local governments  

  • 35A Terms used
  •  
  • 36 Local government may expend moneys in connection with control and extinguishment of bush fires
  •  
  • 38 Local government may appoint bush fire control officer
  •  
  • 38A FES Commissioner may designate person employed in Department as Chief Bush Fire Control Officer
  •  
  • 39 Special powers of bush fire control officers
  •  
  • 39A Duties of bush fire authorities on outbreak of fire
  •  
  • 40 Local governments may join in appointing and employing bush fire control officers

Division 2 -- Bush fire brigades  

  • 41 Bush fire brigades
  •  
  • 42 Local governments may join in establishing bush fire brigade
  •  
  • 42A Constitution of bush fire brigade
  •  
  • 43 Election and duties of officers of bush fire brigades
  •  
  • 44 Powers and authorities of officers of bush fire brigade
  •  
  • 45A Requests to authorised CALM Act officers to take control of bush fires
  •  
  • 45 Powers and authorities exercisable by authorised CALM Act officers
  •  
  • 46 Bush fire control officer or forest officer may postpone lighting fire
  •  
  • 47 Fire-break not to be lit when bush fire burning

PART V -- Miscellaneous  

  • 48 Delegation by local governments
  •  
  • 50 Records to be maintained by local governments
  •  
  • 51 Saving of remedies
  •  
  • 52 Approved area may be declared
  •  
  • 53 Reduction in insurance premium of crops in approved area
  •  
  • 54 Approved area may be cancelled
  •  
  • 56 Duties of police officers, bush fire control officers etc.
  •  
  • 57 Obstructing officers
  •  
  • 58 General penalty and recovery of expenses incurred
  •  
  • 59 Prosecution of offences
  •  
  • 59A Alternative procedure -- infringement notices
  •  
  • 60 Assisting to commit an offence
  •  
  • 61 Regulations
  •  
  • 62 Local government may make local laws
  •  
  • 62A Governor may amend or repeal local laws
  •  
  • 64 Prohibitions excluded by certain circumstances
  •  
  • 65 Proof of certain matters
  •  
  • 66 Proof of ownership or occupancy
  •  
  • 67 Advisory committees
  •  
  • 68 Regional advisory committees
  •   Other notes Defined terms

            [Heading inserted: No. 19 of 2010 s. 43(3)(a).]

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