20Powers to take other safety measures

20 Powers to take other safety measures

(1) If the Minister is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so to protect persons or animals from injury or death, or to protect property, in relation to an emergency, the Minister may direct, or authorise an emergency services officer (an authorised emergency services officer) to direct, any of the following: (a) the closure to traffic of a street, road, lane or footpath, or another place open to or used by the public, in part or all of an emergency area; (b) the closure of any other public or private place in part or all of an emergency area; (c) the destruction, taking down or shoring up of a wall or premises, or part of premises, in part or all of an emergency area, that are damaged or insecure; (d) the shutting off or disconnection of the supply of water or any gas, liquid, solid, grain, powder or other substance in or from a main, pipeline, container or storage facility in an emergency area or part of an emergency area; (e) the shutting off or disconnection of the supply of gas or electricity to premises in an emergency area or part of an emergency area; (f) the taking possession, removal or destruction of any thing in an emergency area or part of an emergency area that may be dangerous to life or property or that may interfere with the response to the emergency. (2) Before making a direction under subsection (1) in relation to Defence land, the person making the direction must be satisfied that the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell, or a person authorised by the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer, has been consulted. (3) However, subsection (2) does not apply if: (a) the direction is made in circumstances in which the person making the direction considers there is an imminent threat to life; or (b) the requirement to be consulted has been waived by: (i) the Secretary of the Defence Department; or (ii) the Chief of the Defence Force; or (iii) the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell; or (iv) a person authorised by the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer to waive the requirement. (4) For the purposes of a direction made under paragraph (1)(d) or (e), the Minister or an authorised emergency services officer may require the person who controls or supplies the substance or service to which the direction relates to immediately send a competent person to carry out the direction in accordance with the reasonable directions of the Minister or authorised emergency services officer. (5) A person who supplies a substance or service mentioned in paragraph (1)(d) or (e) is not liable for damages for any interruption of that supply because the supply is shut off or disconnected in accordance with a direction of the Minister or an authorised emergency services officer made under that paragraph. (6) A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with a direction of the Minister or an authorised emergency services officer made under this section.