Emergency management legislation

Find out about the legislation that underpins emergency management in Western Australia.
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The Emergency Management Act 2005 (EM Act) provides for prompt and coordinated organisation of emergency management in WA. 

It formally establishes the State Emergency Management Committee (SEMC) and other bodies, including the SEMC’s subcommittees.

The EM Act also details emergency management roles and responsibilities at a state, district and local level in relation to the four aspects of emergency management: prevention, preparation, response and recovery. To add to this, the EM Act provides for additional powers in particular circumstances. 

The Emergency Management Regulations 2006 (EM Regulations) support the EM Act, and further detail roles and responsibilities. 

In April 2020, the Emergency Management Amendment (COVID-19 Response) Bill 2020 amended the EM Act and EM Regulations.

For more information, see our amendments section.

Other legislation applies to hazard prevention and mitigation as outlined in the respective State Hazard Plans