Emergency Management Act 2013 (Vic)

In my post ‘Emergency Management Act 2013 (Vic)’ (24 January 2014) I discussed this Act that was passed by the Victorian Parliament on 3 December.  The Act says that the Act comes into force on a date to be proclaimed, but if no date is proclaimed it will commence on 1 September 2014.

The Government has commenced the Act with effect from 1 July 2014 (Special Gazette (No. 148) 13 May 2014 page 1).  With that proclamation, Emergency Management Victoria is now in place, the offices of Fire Services and Emergency Services Commissioner have been abolished and replaced by the Emergency Management Commissioner and the Inspector General for Emergency Management.

Public Safety Business Agency Bill 2014 (Qld)

In my post ‘Passage of the Public Safety Business Agency Bill 2014 (Qld)’ (8 May 2014) I said

When does the Bill take effect?
The answer to that is not obvious; there is no section that says ‘This Act commences on…’. Presumably therefore the Act will commence operation when it receives Royal Assent (that is when it is approved by the Governor).

Indeed that is correct, an Act without a prescribed commencement date commences on Royal Assent.  This Act received Royal Assent, and commenced operation on 21 May 2014.  With that commencement the administrative roles of Emergency Management Queensland are taken over by the Public Safety Business Agency and the operational responsibilities, in particular running the SES, are transferred to Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (formerly Queensland Fire and Rescue Service).

Ambulance Service Amendment Bill 2013 (Tas)

In my post ‘New law for ambulance services in Tasmania – Update’ (7 September 2013) I discussed the Ambulance Service Amendment Bill 2013 (Tas) that amongst other things would protect the title ‘paramedic’. That law came into effect on 1 July 2014.  Now, to call yourself a paramedic in Tasmania you need to an employee of Ambulance Tasmania who holds ‘a Bachelor of Paramedic Science’ (Ambulance Service (Paramedic) Regulations 2014 (Tas) reg 3) or who has ‘a qualification and experience that the Commissioner is satisfied demonstrates a satisfactory level of understanding and competence ‘ of equivalent standing.

Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) (Protection of Title—Paramedics) Amendment Act 2013 (SA)

The ‘Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) (Protection of Title—Paramedics) Amendment Bill 2013 (SA)’ (29 October 2013) has been passed, and received Royal Assent on 21 November 2013. The Act has not yet been commenced so it is not yet effective or current law.