New legislation to make to the process of declaring a national emergency clearer and simpler has passed Parliament.
Attorney-General Christian Porter said the National Emergency Declaration Bill 2020 put Australia in a stronger position to respond to major emergencies.
“This means that national resources can be more rapidly deployed in order to help Australians affected by emergency situations, including natural disaster,” Mr Porter said.
“When an emergency situation arises, rapid response is critical not just from State and Territory Governments which are on the front-line of emergency response but from all levels of Government,” he said.
“These new laws will mean the Commonwealth is better able to respond with a national emergency declaration, wherever the situation is arising, and State/Territory Governments can focus on delivering immediate assistance.”
Mr Porter said that under the new laws, a declaration could be made where an emergency arose that caused, was causing, or was likely to cause, nationally significant harm to the life or health of an individual, or group of individuals, animals or plants; the environment; property, including infrastructure; or disruption to an essential service.
The Attorney-General said the laws implemented a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
“Under the new laws, the Governor-General can declare a national emergency on the advice of the Prime Minister, for emergencies that are causing nationally significant harm,” he said.
“The Bill provides for States and Territories to request, or be consulted on, the declaration of a national emergency unless there are exceptional circumstances which necessitate the Commonwealth making a unilateral declaration.”
Mr Porter said this would allow for quick action to be taken at a national level to deal with rapidly-developing emergencies, particularly in situations where a State or Territory was incapacitated or overwhelmed by events.
