South Australian Consolidated Acts

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ACT 2004 - SECT 3

3—Interpretation

In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

"appointed member" of SEMC means a member of SEMC appointed by the Governor under section 6(2)(f);

"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 Medical Officer" has the same meaning as in the Public and Environmental Health Act 1987 ;

"control agency"—see section 20;

"co-ordinating agency"—see section 19;

"disaster"—see section 24;

"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;

"recovery operations" means any measures taken during or after an emergency 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 and services necessary for the normal functioning of a community; and

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

            (d)         the provision of means of emotional support;

"response operations" means any measures taken during an emergency to protect life or property or to otherwise respond to the emergency;

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

"State Co-ordinator"—see section 14;

"State Emergency Management Plan" means a plan (or a series of plans) prepared by SEMC in accordance with section 9 and comprising strategies for the prevention of emergencies in the State and for ensuring that the State is adequately prepared for emergencies, including strategies for the containment of emergencies, the co-ordination of response and recovery operations and the orderly and efficient deployment of resources and services in connection with response and recovery operations;

"vehicle" includes an aircraft or vessel.