VICTORIA: State of Disaster declared
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has declared a State of Disaster for 18 Local Government Areas and one Alpine Resort.
This follows advice from the Minister for Emergency Services and the Emergency Management Commissioner.
The Premier says that she is satisfied there is an emergency that constitutes, or is likely to constitute, a significant and widespread danger to life or property in the following part of Victoria:
• Alpine Shire
• Ararat Rural City
• Colac Otway Shire
• Corangamite Shire
• East Gippsland Shire
• Golden Plains Shire
• Greater Bendigo City
• Horsham Rural City
• Lake Mountain Alpine Resort (Unincorporated)
• Mansfield Shire
• Mildura Rural City
• Mitchell Shire
• Moira Shire
• Mount Alexander Shire
• Murrindindi Shire
• Pyrenees Shire
• Strathbogie Shire
• Towong Shire
• Wellington Shire
A State of Disaster:
• May be declared to exist in the whole, or parts, of Victoria
• Exists immediately upon the making of the declaration and remains in force for seven days (unless • another declaration is made)
• Can be revoked or varied by the Premier at any time.
The declaration gives the Government, through the Minister for Emergency Services, the powers and resources it needs to keep Victorians safe.
Examples of the Minister’s broad power to direct and allocate government resources include:
• Directing any government agency to do, or refrain from doing, any function, power, duty, or responsibility
• Declaring that the operation of an Act or subordinate instrument is suspended, if compliance by a government agency with that legislation would inhibit response to or recovery from the disaster
• Take possession and make use of any person’s property to respond to the disaster
• Controlling movement in and out of the disaster area and
• Compelling the evacuation of persons from the disaster area or any part of it.
Ms Allan said: “Tonight, following advice from the Minister for Emergency Services and the Emergency Management Commissioner, I declared a State of Disaster in 18 fire-affected local government areas and one alpine resort.
“This declaration gives our authorities extra powers to confront an emergency of extraordinary scale and danger. Tonight, we have reached that level of danger.
“This does not change specific advice currently in place for anyone in fire-affected areas. But it sends a clear message to those who have been advised to leave: if you can, you must.
“The declaration allows authorities to order evacuations, control movement through dangerous areas, and act as decisively as possible.
“It ensures that every part of government – every department, every agency, every authority – is focused on one priority: protecting life. It also means that if someone insists on staying in an area where their life is in danger, authorities have the power to force them to leave.
“These fires are widespread, fast-moving and devastating. Taking this step is about one thing: protecting Victorian lives. And it sends one clear message: if you have been told to leave – go,” Ms Allan said.