Emergency Management Act 2004.

The objects of the Emergency Management Act 2004 are to establish an emergency management framework for the State to promote prompt and effective decision-making associated with emergencies and make provision for comprehensive and integrated planning in relation to emergencies and to promote community resilience and reduce community vulnerability in the event of an emergency.
The guiding principles under this Act are that emergency management arrangements must be based on an all hazards approach in addressing emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PPRR), that reflect the collective responsibility and co-ordinated approach of all sectors of the community, including both State and local government, the business and non-government sectors, and individuals. The Act is organised in 6 Parts and 1 Schedule. Part 2 establish the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) describing powers, functions, appointment of members and Part 1A requires the SEMC to prepare, keep under review and maintain the State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP). Part 3 regulates the appointment and powers of the State Co-ordinator to manage and co-ordinate response and recovery operations in accordance with this Act and the SEMP.
Part 4 concerns the management of emergencies, it identifies roles and responsibilities of Co-ordinating agency and Control agency, provides guidance to the SEMC on how to make a declaration of emergencies and how to draw emergency management guidelines (e.g. it distinguishes among major accidents, major emergencies, disasters, and public health incidents and emergencies), it lists powers that may be exercised in relation to declared emergencies (e.g. power of state coordinator to remove or destroy, or order the removal or destruction of, any building, structure, vehicle, vegetation, animal or other thing; for supply of gas and electricity the Act recognises power of the State Co-ordinator or an authorised officer to send a competent person to connect, reconnect, disconnect or shut off the supply of gas or electricity to the premises or other place; take possession of, protect or assume control over any land, body of water, building, structure, vehicle or other thing;connect, disconnect, reconnect, shut off or cut off the supply of water or any drainage facility). Division 6 concerns electricity supply emergencies and regulates when the Minister may declare electricity supply emergency and what are the Minister's power under this type of emergency.