Marine Rescue Queensland Bill 2023 (Qld)

An Act to establish Marine Rescue Queensland and for related purposes The Parliament of Queensland enacts—

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Marine Rescue Queensland Act 2023.

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 Marine Rescue Queensland to provide— (a) a marine rescue service in the State; and (b) other maritime 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 Marine Rescue Queensland

Division 1 Establishment, functions, powers and membership

6 Establishment Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) is established.

7 Functions and powers (1) MRQ has the following functions— (a) to perform marine search and rescue operations; (b) to provide marine assistance to persons or vessels in difficulty; (c) to provide other marine assistance to any entity in the performance of its functions and to the community if the assistance is reasonably requested and another entity is not reasonably able to assist; (d) to support other entities providing emergency services to help communities respond to and recover from an event or a disaster; (e) to perform activities to raise the profile of MRQ, promote marine safety or raise funds to be used to support MRQ in the performance of its functions; (f) to provide services or assistance by a member of MRQ if required under any Act or law or the reasonable expectations of the community; (g) to perform any other function given to MRQ under this or another Act. (2) MRQ has power to do anything necessary or convenient to be done for the performance of MRQ's functions.