State Emergency Service Act 2024 (Qld)

State Emergency Service Act 2024

An Act to establish the State Emergency Service and for related purposes

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the State Emergency Service Act 2024.

2 Commencement This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.

3 Main purpose of Act The main purpose of this Act is to establish the State Emergency Service to provide— (a) emergency services in the State; and (b) other related services to government entities and the community.

4 Act binds all persons (1) This Act binds all persons, including the State and, to the extent the legislative power of the Parliament permits, the Commonwealth and the other States. (2) However, the Commonwealth or a State can not be prosecuted for an offence against this Act.

5 Definitions The dictionary in schedule 1 defines particular words used in this Act.

Part 2 State Emergency Service

Division 1 Establishment, functions, powers and membership

6 Establishment of SES The State Emergency Service (the SES) is established.

7 Functions and powers (1) The functions of the SES are— (a) to perform rescue or similar operations in an emergency situation, including— (i) helping injured persons; and (ii) protecting persons, property or the environment from danger or potential danger associated with the situation; and Examples of rescue or similar operations in an emergency situation— • operations for rescuing persons from road crashes • operations for vertical rescues • operations requested by another entity providing emergency services in an emergency situation (b) to perform search operations in an emergency or similar situation; and Examples of search operations in situations similar to an emergency situation— • a search, whether carried out by land, air or water for a missing person • a search to find a weapon used in the commission of an alleged offence (c) to perform activities in response to a severe weather event; and (d) to perform other activities to help communities or other entities prepare for, respond to, recover from and enhance resilience to, an event or a disaster; and (e) to perform activities to raise the profile of the SES or raise funds to support the SES in the performance of its other functions; and (f) to provide services, and give help reasonably requested, in an emergency or another situation, as required of a member of the SES under any Act or law or the reasonable expectations of the community; and Example of providing a service for paragraph (g)— helping to manage pedestrian or vehicular traffic at a community event (g) to perform any other functions given to the SES under this Act or another Act. (2) The SES has power to do anything necessary or convenient to be done for the performance of its functions.