[no bill text published] NSW Large Buildings and Public Vehicles Must Have Defibrillators, and Fines or Jail for Damaging Them

Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2024

Opposition Bill

21 Mar 2024: This bill has lapsed and is no longer under discussion.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

building safety defibrillators emergency medical equipment emergency services healthcare medical training public health public safety

Introduced by: Gareth Ward (LIB)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

People must not intentionally damage, destroy, or remove a defibrillator without a reasonable excuse.
Owners or managers of large commercial, government, educational, health, and entertainment buildings, as well as emergency and public passenger vehicles, must install and maintain at least one defibrillator. Larger buildings must install extra defibrillators for every additional 1,200 square metres of floor space.
Owners of emergency and public passenger vehicles must install a defibrillator; they must place a sign on the outside of the vehicle.
Responsible persons must notify the Health Minister where the defibrillators are and when batteries are replaced within 30 days of installation; they must report any changes to this information within 14 days.
The Health Minister must keep a free public register of defibrillators on a website and a smartphone app that directs users to the nearest device.
The Health Minister must provide defibrillator training to specific groups of people and run a public awareness campaign for at least 5 years.
Authorised officers can issue penalty notices to people who break the rules regarding defibrillators.
People who intentionally damage, destroy, or remove a required defibrillator without a reasonable excuse can be fined or jailed.
People responsible for these buildings and vehicles must test each defibrillator at least once every 12 months and put up signs showing where they are located.

News articles and press releases

Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2024

Mr GARETH WARD, Member for Kiama — 2024-03-21

As outlined in the overview, the objects of the bill are to mandate the installation, registration and maintenance of automated external defibrillators [AEDs] in certain buildings and vehicles. The bill requires the Minister to keep a publicly accessible register of the defibrillators, including their location, and to develop a strategy to inform the public about defibrillators. What good is a defibrillator if it is locked away in a canteen or behind a roller door in a private building when it is urgently needed? Other jurisdictions have found an answer to that important problem with quite a simple solution.