NSW New Road Closure Powers and Volunteer Training for Emergency Services

State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment Bill 2024

12 Nov 2024: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

education services emergency management emergency services rescue services road closures volunteer workforce

Introduced by: The Hon Jihad Dib MP (ALP); The Hon John Graham MLC (ALP)

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:

Emergency services personnel can now temporarily close roads or road-related areas when there is an obstruction or danger to traffic. This can be done whether or not a state of emergency has been declared. However, such closures must comply with directions from police, Transport for NSW, or the relevant roads authority
The State Emergency Management Committee was already responsible for emergency planning in NSW. Now it will be responsible for finding and training volunteers so they are available and able to help where needed by those emergency plans
Providing education (schools, daycare, uni etc) is now specifically included in emergency planning - from pandemic disruptions affecting schools to bushfires and bomb threats.
The “New South Wales Volunteer Rescue Association Inc.” will be renamed to “VRA Rescue NSW Limited”

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Scott Farlow LIB

“I lead for the Opposition in debate on the State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment Bill 2024 and indicate at the outset that we will be supporting it. The bill takes important steps to enhance both the safety and efficiency of emergency management in our State, especially as we face more frequent and severe emergencies.”

Official source →

Bob Nanva ALP

“I support the State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment Bill 2024. The bill contains various proposals to better reflect emergency management arrangements in the current environment and improve the management of emergencies in New South Wales.”

Official source →

Amanda Cohn GRN

“As The Greens spokesperson for emergency services, I indicate that The Greens will support the State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment Bill 2024.”

Official source →

Cameron Murphy ALP

“I am pleased to speak in support of the State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment Bill 2024. The Minister for Emergency Services has introduced a bill to make various amendments to one of the State’s key emergency management legislative frameworks, the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989.”

Official source →

Mark Buttigieg ALP

“Scott Farlow, the Hon. Bob Nanva, Dr Amanda Cohn and the Hon. Cameron Murphy. The bill reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to good policy, practice and governance through the regular review of legislation and response to identified needs.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

State Emergency and Rescue Management Amendment Bill 2024

Mr JIHAD DIB, Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government — 2024-09-25

The bill contains a range of proposals to amend one of the State’s key emergency management laws: the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989, known as the SERM Act. The bill makes changes that will streamline and improve the management of incidents and emergencies in New South Wales, including establishing a new power for emergency services workers to temporarily close roads in relation to hazards; improving safety for those workers and others; creating a new function for the State Emergency Management Committee to support our emergency services and other organisations to plan for the development and maintenance of the capabilities and service delivery capacity of the emergency management volunteer workforce; and establishing education services as a functional area under the SERM Act.