(1) A bush fire
liaison officer shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as the FES
Commissioner may direct and may, in addition, exercise all the powers that may
be exercised by a bush fire control officer under this Act.
(2) A bush fire
liaison officer shall exercise his powers and perform his duties —
(a)
subject to such directions as may be given by the FES Commissioner;
(b) in
such part or parts of the State as the FES Commissioner may direct.
(3) Subject to
subsection (6), in the exercise or performance of any of the powers or duties
conferred or imposed on a bush fire liaison officer he shall co-operate with,
and act in an advisory capacity to a bush fire control officer.
(4) If a bush fire is
burning in the district of a local government on land other than conservation
land, the FES Commissioner may, in writing, authorise a bush fire liaison
officer or another person to take control of all operations in relation to
that fire —
(a) at
the request of the local government; or
(b) if,
because of the nature or extent of the bush fire, the FES Commissioner
considers that it is appropriate to do so.
(5) If a bush fire is
burning on conservation land, the FES Commissioner may, in writing, authorise
a bush fire liaison officer or another person to take control of all
operations in relation to that fire —
(a) at
the request of the CALM Act CEO; or
(b) if,
because of the nature or extent of the bush fire, the FES Commissioner
considers that it is appropriate to do so.
(6) If, under
subsection (4) or (5), a bush fire liaison officer or another person (an
authorised person ) is authorised to take control of all operations in
relation to a fire, all —
(a) bush
fire control officers; and
(b) bush
fire liaison officers; and
(c)
authorised CALM Act officers; and
(d)
officers and members of a bush fire brigade,
who are present at the
fire are in all respects subject to, and are to act under, the authorised
person’s orders and directions.
(7) If a person other
than a bush fire liaison officer is authorised under subsection (4) or (5),
the person is to be taken to be a bush fire liaison officer during the period
that the authorisation has effect.
[Section 13 inserted: No. 65 of 1977 s. 10;
amended: No. 42 of 1998 s. 16; No. 38 of 2002 s. 19; No. 25 of 2009 s. 5; No.
22 of 2012 s. 69.]