BUSH FIRES ACT 1954 - SECT 22B

BUSH FIRES ACT 1954 - SECT 22B

22B .         Lighting of fires prohibited during total fire ban

        (1)         Subsection (2) —

            (a)         has effect subject to subsection (4) and sections 22C and 64 and any exemption provided for in the regulations but despite any other provision of this Act; and

            (b)         applies —

                  (i)         in the period during which; and

                  (ii)         in the area of the State in respect of which,

                a total fire ban has effect.

        (2)         A person must not —

            (a)         light, maintain or use a fire in the open air; or

            (b)         carry out an activity in the open air that causes, or is likely to cause, a fire.

        Penalty: a fine of $25 000 or imprisonment for 12 months, or both.

        (3)         Without limiting subsection (2), a person commits an offence under that provision if the person —

            (a)         uses in the open air an appliance that consumes solid fuel; or

            (b)         carries out in the open air any process or operation that is specified in regulations made under section 27A(1)(a)(ii) as being a process or operation likely to create a bush fire danger; or

            (c)         carries out in the open air an activity that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection.

        (4)         Subsection (2) —

            (a)         does not prohibit the use of a gas appliance as authorised under section 25(1aa); and

            (b)         does not apply to an activity, or in circumstances, prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this subsection.

        [Section 22B inserted: No. 25 of 2009 s. 7.]