EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2005 - SECT 50
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2005 - SECT 50
50 . State Emergency Coordinator or hazard management agency may make emergency situation declaration
(1A) The State
Emergency Coordinator may, in writing, declare that an emergency situation
exists in an area of the State in respect of any hazard.
(1) A hazard
management agency may, in writing, declare that an emergency situation exists
in an area of the State in respect of a hazard of which it is the hazard
management agency for emergency management.
(2) The State
Emergency Coordinator or the hazard management agency must not make the
declaration unless satisfied that —
(a) an
emergency has occurred, is occurring or is imminent in that area of the State;
and
(b)
there is a need to exercise powers under Part 6 to prevent or minimise —
(i)
loss of life, prejudice to the safety, or harm to the
health, of persons or animals; or
(ii)
destruction of, or damage to, property; or
(iii)
destruction of, or damage to, any part of the
environment.
(3) An emergency
situation declaration is to include —
(a) the
time when, and date on which, the declaration is made; and
(b) the
area of the State to which it applies.
(4) Before making a
declaration under this section the State Emergency Coordinator or the hazard
management agency is to take reasonable steps to undertake consultation in
accordance with State emergency management policies.
(5A) If a declaration
under this section is made by the State Emergency Coordinator in respect of a
hazard, the State Emergency Coordinator must notify the hazard management
agency for emergency management of the hazard as soon as practicable after the
declaration is made.
(5) If a hazard
management agency makes a declaration under this section, the hazard
management agency must notify the State Emergency Coordinator, and each
district emergency coordinator and local emergency coordinator for a local
government district to which the emergency situation declaration applies, as
soon as practicable after the declaration is made.
(6A) If a hazard
management agency is notified under subsection (5A) of a declaration under
this section made by the State Emergency Coordinator, the hazard management
agency —
(a) must
notify each district emergency coordinator and local emergency coordinator for
a local government district to which the emergency situation declaration
applies as soon as practicable after the notification is given; and
(b) is
taken to have made the declaration for the purposes of any provision of this
Act other than this section.
(6) A failure to
consult under subsection (4) or notify under subsection (5A) or (5) does not
affect the validity of the declaration.
(7) The making of an
emergency situation declaration does not prevent the making of further
emergency situation declarations in relation to the same or a different
emergency.
[Section 50 amended: No. 22 of 2012 s. 108.]