A re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government will commence a targeted review of Tasmania’s Emergency Management Act 2006 within the first 100 days of forming Government.

We will release the draft Terms of Reference for public comment and consultation within this time frame and the review will commence in full once the public health emergency has been stood down.

This review will update and modernise key parts of the legislation to incorporate the lessons that have been learnt in responding to the unprecedented COVID pandemic, and specifically the outbreak that the North West faced in 2020.

The Emergency Management Act 2006 is one of the most important pieces of legislation in the state’s arsenal for dealing with emergencies. It has been broadly fit for purpose since becoming law, however the COVID crisis, especially the North West outbreak presents an opportunity to review and update it so Tasmania is best prepared to respond to future challenges.

The COVID pandemic was the first time we have had to respond to not only a state-wide health emergency, but a highly regionalised viral outbreak. It tested the legislation and identified key areas we can improve to keep Tasmanians safe.

The review of the Act will also consider important amendments to other legislation such as the Public Health Act 1997. This will ensure our emergency management framework is consistent, robust and provides a strong foundation for our emergency response into the future.

It’s important to note that our Government will not make amendments specific to the State Emergency Service or its functions. The review will focus on Tasmania’s emergency response framework and functions when a whole of government response is required.

Only a re-elected majority Gutwein Liberal Government has the clear plan to secure Tasmania’s future and keep Tasmanians safe.