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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 14 Hansard (11 December) . . Page.. 5082 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

The Bill provides for the Territory Controller, when appointed, to exercise some extraordinary powers to reduce the risk to life and property, and to coordinate the immediate recovery requirements to restore the Territory to normal operations. The Bill also formalises an Emergency Management Executive that is charged with the responsibility of ensuring the Emergency Plan (current DISPLAN) is prepared and that same Emergency Management Executive is there to support the Territory Controller during an emergency.

Members of the Assembly will recall that in my speech covering the Government Response to the ACT Emergency Service Restructure Inquiry that I foreshadowed that the Emergency Management Bill would formally establish that Service and provide for roles and functions. There are provisions for the appointment of members, command of units and clauses that prevent victimisation by employers in the event of volunteers providing support over lengthy periods - something that many other jurisdictions have addressed in recent times. The Bill also provides for coverage of compensation for volunteers in the event of injury in performing their tasks. It also provides for cross-border coverage for volunteers which is something that all jurisdictions are being asked to address.

Mr Speaker I believe that the Territory is very fortunate in the professional level of its police and emergency services staff and volunteers as evidenced recently in the multi agency taskforce that supported NSW in the Thredbo landslide emergency. This Bill will formalise most of the existing arrangements and provide for a higher level of preparedness and response coordination in the event of a major emergency.

I am presenting an exposure draft of the Emergency Management Bill so that it can be carefully considered by members and the community over the course of the next few months.

The Bill does delegate exceptional powers, some of which will be
viewed with some concern by Assembly members, but only to be

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