EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2005 - SECT 72

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2005 - SECT 72

72 .         Exchange of information

        (1)         In this section —

        relevant information means —

            (a)         the personal details of a person;

            (b)         information about the whereabouts of a person;

            (c)         information about the state of health of a person;

            (ca)         information about any recent travel undertaken by a person;

            (cb)         information about persons with whom a person has been in close contact;

            (d)         information of a kind prescribed by the regulations;

        welfare services means the provision of the following for persons affected by an emergency —

            (a)         accommodation;

            (b)         catering;

            (c)         clothing and personal requisites;

            (d)         registration and inquiry services for the purpose of enabling individuals to be traced, families to be reunited and inquiries answered;

            (e)         financial assistance.

        (2)         During an emergency situation or state of emergency, for the purposes of emergency management —

            (a)         a hazard management officer or an authorised officer may disclose relevant information —

                  (i)         to an emergency management agency; and

                  (ii)         if the regulations so provide, to a person or entity engaged by an emergency management agency to provide welfare services, in accordance with those regulations;

                and

            (b)         if the regulations so provide, an agency, person or entity to whom relevant information is disclosed under paragraph (a) may further disclose the information in accordance with those regulations.

        (3)         During an emergency situation or state of emergency, for the purposes of emergency management, a hazard management officer or an authorised officer may request an emergency management agency that holds relevant information to disclose the information to the hazard management officer or authorised officer.

        (4)         An emergency management agency may comply with a request under subsection (3) despite any law of this State relating to secrecy or confidentiality.

        (5)         If information is disclosed, in good faith, under subsection (2) or in compliance with a request under subsection (3) —

            (a)         no civil or criminal liability is incurred in respect of the disclosure; and

            (b)         the disclosure is not to be regarded as a breach of any duty of confidentiality or secrecy imposed by law; and

            (c)         the disclosure is not to be regarded as a breach of professional ethics or standards or as unprofessional conduct.

        (6)         The SEMC must establish procedures for the disclosure of information under subsection (2)(a)(i).

        (7)         The regulations may include provisions about —

            (a)         the circumstances in which information may be disclosed under this section; and

            (b)         the agencies, persons and entities to whom information may be disclosed under this section; and

            (c)         the conditions subject to which information may be disclosed under this section; and

            (d)         the receipt and storage of information disclosed under this section; and

            (e)         the restriction of access to such information.

        [Section 72 amended: No. 11 of 2020 s. 8.]

        [Heading inserted: No. 33 of 2022 s. 5.]