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New Legislation Clarifies Roles During Emergencies

New laws introduced into Parliament this month will help make Victoria safer by clarifying the roles of government and emergency service agencies in responding to natural disasters.

"This legislation will help steer Victoria's emergency management towards an 'all hazards, all agencies' approach so that, for example, CFA and VICSES volunteers will be able to operate under either agencies' structure," Deputy Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Peter Ryan said.

"The Victorian Government is implementing all 67 Bushfires Royal Commission recommendations and these changes will directly fulfill recommendations 11 and 51."

Mr Ryan said amendments to the Victorian State Emergency Service Act 2005 would further increase efficiency among agencies.

"Changes include broadening the powers of the Chief Officer, Operations to enable them to direct individual VICSES members, or any other person who volunteers."

"Under these changes, the Chief Commissioner will have responsibility for coordinating the response to an emergency and for keeping the Minister for Police and Emergency Services informed during an emergency.”

"It also means that the Minister's role is to ensure that satisfactory emergency management arrangements are in place to facilitate the prevention of, response to and recovery from emergencies."

The Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission highlighted the shared responsibility for community safety and these changes were among several measures being undertaken to make Victoria safer.

In addition, the Victorian Government recently launched a discussion paper - Towards a More Disaster Resilient and Safer Victoria to initiate major reform to Victoria's crisis and emergency management arrangements.

The paper will ensure the state is fully prepared for future emergencies and is better able to recover more quickly from the impacts.