South Australian Current Acts

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2004 - SECT 3

3—Interpretation

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

"Assistant State Co-ordinator"—see section 16;

"authorised officer" means a police officer or a person appointed as an authorised officer under section 17;

"Chief Public Health Officer" means the Chief Public Health Officer under the South Australian Public Health Act 2011 and includes a person for the time being acting in that position;

"control agency"—see section 20;

"co-ordinating agency"—see section 19;

"disaster"—see section 24;

"electricity supply emergency"—see section 27B;

"emergency" means an event (whether occurring in the State, outside the State or in and outside the State) that causes, or threatens to cause—

            (a)         the death of, or injury or other damage to the health of, any person; or

            (b)         the destruction of, or damage to, any property; or

            (c)         a disruption to essential services or to services usually enjoyed by the community; or

            (d)         harm to the environment, or to flora or fauna;

Note—

This is not limited to naturally occurring events (such as earthquakes, floods or storms) but would, for example, include fires, explosions, accidents, epidemics, pandemics, emissions of poisons, radiation or other hazardous agents, hijacks, sieges, riots, acts of terrorism and hostilities directed by an enemy against Australia.

"identified major incident"—see section 22;

"major emergency"—see section 23;

"PPRR"—see section 2(3)(a);

"preparedness", in relation to an emergency, means arrangements made to ensure that, should an emergency occur, the resources and services needed to cope with the effect of the emergency can be mobilised and deployed efficiently;

"prevention", in relation to an emergency, means measures taken to eliminate or reduce the incidence of severity of the emergency;

"recovery operations" means the conduct of any measures (such as human, economic and environmental measures) taken during or after an emergency, being measures necessary to assist the re-establishment of the normal pattern of life of individuals, families and communities affected by the emergency and includes—

            (a)         the restoration of essential facilities and services; and

            (b)         the restoration of other facilities, services and social networks necessary for the normal functioning of a community; and

            (c)         the provision of information, material and personal needs; and

            (d)         the provision of means of emotional support; and

            (e)         the recovery of the natural environment; and

            (f)         support to assist the recovery of business;

"response operations" means any measures taken in anticipation of, during or immediately after an emergency to ensure that the effect of the emergency is minimised and that affected individuals are given immediate relief and support;

"SEMC" means the State Emergency Management Committee established under Part 2;

"State Co-ordinator"—see section 14;

"State Emergency Management Plan" or "SEMP"—see Part 1A;

"vehicle" includes an aircraft or vessel.