Civil Defence Emergency Management Act 2002

The purpose of the Act is to:

• improve and promote the sustainable management of hazards in a way that contributes to the social, economic, cultural and environmental well-being and safety of the public and the protection of property
• encourage and enable communities to achieve acceptable levels of risk by identifying risks and applying risk reduction management practices
• provide for planning and preparation for emergencies and for response and recovery in the event of an emergency
• require local authorities to coordinate Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) through regional groups across the “4Rs” (reduction, readiness, response and recovery) and encourage cooperation and joint action between those groups
• integrate local and national CDEM planning and activity through the alignment of local planning with a national plan and strategy
• encourage the coordination of emergency management across the range of agencies and organisations with responsibilities for preventing or managing emergencies.

The Act provides for the appointment of a Director CDEM, whose functions and duties include: 

• advising the Minister for Emergency Management and Recovery
• identifying hazards and risks of national significance
• co-ordinating national implementation and promotion of civil defence emergency management
• monitoring and evaluating the national civil defence emergency management strategy
• developing the National CDEM Plan, technical standards and guidelines
• monitoring performance of CDEM groups
• directing and controlling the resources available for civil defence emergency management during a national disaster.

Government departments, local government agencies, emergency services and lifeline utilities all have a key role in planning and preparing for emergencies and for response and recovery in the event of an emergency. The Act defines these functions and responsibilities. Amongst other things, central government agencies must:

• ensure they can continue to function, albeit potentially at a reduced level, during and after an emergency, and
• perform key functions under the Act and the National CDEM Plan.

Local authorities must:

• ensure they can continue to function, albeit potentially at a reduced level, during and after an emergency, and
• plan and provide for civil defence emergency management within their district.

Emergency services must:

• participate in the development of the National CDEM Strategy and CDEM Plans
• provide an active member for each of the CDEM Coordinating Executive Groups.

Lifeline utilities must:

• ensure they can continue to function, albeit potentially at a reduced level, during and after an emergency, and have plans available for this
• participate in the development of the National CDEM Strategy and CDEM Plans
• provide technical advice to the Director and CDEM Groups as required.

Find advice for lifeline utilities.

Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups (CDEM Groups) are a core component of the Act. A CDEM Group is a consortium of the local authorities in a region, working in partnership with emergency services, to undertake CDEM functions within their region.

Learn more about CDEM Groups.

Under the Act, every CDEM Group must prepare and approve a Civil Defence Emergency Management Plan (CDEM Plan). 

Learn more about CDEM Group Plans.

The Act provides for local authority delegated representatives, Mayors, or the Minister, to declare a state of local emergency. The Minister also may declare a state of national emergency.

Learn more about states of emergency and transition periods.

The Act provides the Director with the authority to issue technical standards and guidelines. The purpose of these guidelines is to assist organisations with responsibilities under the Act to properly exercise those responsibilities. 

Learn more about guidelines issues under the Act.