Part 1
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Commonwealth legislation
This law creates a comprehensive bush fire management regime for the Jervis Bay Territory, establishing a Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service of paid staff and volunteers to prevent, fight and coordinate fire responses. It sets up a multi‑agency Fire Management Committee, requires operational and risk‑management fire plans, and integrates with NSW fire bans and services.
It imposes duties on landholders, enables permits, bans and enforcement (with significant offences and penalties), protects emergency workers acting in good faith, and requires consultation on Defence land.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Ordinance 2014.
This Ordinance is the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Ordinance 2014.
This Ordinance is made under the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
The objects of this Ordinance are to provide for: (a) the prevention, mitigation and suppression of bush and other fires in the Territory; and (b) the coordination of bush fire fighting and bush fire prevention throughout the Territory; and (c) the protection of persons from injury or death, and property from damage, arising from fires; and (ca) the protection of infrastructure and environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and community assets from damage arising from fires; and (d) the protection of the environment.
In this Ordinance:
AFP means the Australian Federal Police.
approved form means a form approved by the Minister under section 7A.
authorised member of a fire fighting authority or other authority means:
(a) a member of the authority; or
(b) a person authorised by the authority to perform functions conferred on authorised members under this Ordinance.
back burning means the application of fire to combustible matter to provide a fire break to control or suppress a fire or protect persons, property or the environment from an existing or imminent danger arising out of a fire.
bush fire includes a grass fire.
bush fire danger period has the meaning given by section 72.
bush fire hazard complaint means a complaint made under subsection 61(1).
bush fire hazard reduction notice means a notice issued by a hazard reduction officer under subsection 56(1).
bush fire hazard reduction work means:
(a) the establishment or maintenance of fire breaks and fire trails on land; or
(b) the controlled application of appropriate fire regimes or other means for the reduction or modification of available fuels within a predetermined area to mitigate against the spread of a bush fire;
but does not include construction of a track or road.
bush fire management plan means a plan of operations or a bush fire risk management plan.
bush fire risk management plan means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 44 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 48.
combustible matter means any matter or substance:
(a) capable of ignition:
(i) spontaneously; or
(ii) by the application of heat, fire, flame or sparks; or
(b) prescribed by the rules as combustible matter for the purposes of this definition.
Defence Department means the Department of State that deals with defence and that is administered by the Minister administering section 1 of the Defence Act 1903.
Defence land means land in the Territory that is occupied by, or being used by, the Defence Department or the Australian Defence Force.
Director of National Parks means the Director of National Parks referred to in section 514A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
emergency means an emergency due to an actual or imminent event:
(a) that:
(i) endangers, or threatens to endanger, the safety or health of persons or animals in the Territory; or
(ii) destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage, property in the Territory, including any part of the environment of the Territory; and
(b) that requires a significant and coordinated response.
emergency services organisation means any of the following organisations:
(a) the AFP;
(b) the police force of New South Wales;
(c) the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service;
(d) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(e) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(f) the State Emergency Service of New South Wales;
(g) the Ambulance Service of New South Wales;
(h) any other emergency service operating in the Territory under an agreement with the Commonwealth, or on an ad hoc basis during an emergency.
environment includes:
(a) the physical characteristics of the Territory; and
(b) plants, native animals and marine life; and
(c) natural and physical resources.
financial year means the period from 1 July to the following 30 June.
fire fighting apparatus includes vehicles, equipment and other things used for or in connection with the prevention or suppression of fire or the protection of life or property in case of fire.
fire fighting authority means any of the following:
(a) the Rural Fire Service;
(b) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(c) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(d) Parks Australia;
(e) the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service;
(f) any other person or body specified by the rules for this definition.
Fire Management Committee means the Jervis Bay Territory Fire Management Committee established by section 40.
fire permit means a permit issued under section 77.
fire risk object: see subsection 86K(1).
function includes a power, authority or duty.
hazard management officer means a person nominated as a hazard management officer under section 54.
Infrastructure Department means the Department administered by the Minister responsible for administering the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
interstate fire brigade means a fire brigade (by whatever name) established under a law of a place outside the Territory.
light a fire includes:
(a) maintain or use a fire; and
(b) cause a fire to be lit, maintained or used.
managed land has the meaning given by the rules.
motorised machine includes any vehicle or machine that is operated by means of an internal combustion engine or other fuel‑burning engine.
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service means the service established by section 6 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW).
occupier of land means:
(a) the person who has the management or beneficial use of the land (whether resident on the land or not); or
(b) if the land is a public reserve or park—the trustees or any person having the care, control and management of the land.
officer of a rural fire brigade means the holder of a rank determined as a rank of an officer by the Minister under subsection 10(2).
officer in charge, at a fire at which a rural fire brigade is present for the purpose of mitigating or suppressing the fire, means the person for the time being in charge of the members of the rural fire brigade present at the fire.
owner of land:
(a) for leased Commonwealth land—means the lessee; and
(b) for Commonwealth land that is not leased—means:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a person to whom the Commonwealth has lawfully contracted to sell the land but in respect of which the purchase price or other consideration for the sale has not been received by the Crown; and
(c) for land other than Commonwealth land—includes:
(i) each person who jointly or severally, whether at law or in equity, is entitled to the land for any estate of freehold in possession; and
(ii) every such person who is entitled to receive, or is in receipt of, or if the land were let to a tenant would be entitled to receive, the rents and profits of the land, whether as beneficial owner, trustee, mortgagee in possession, or otherwise.
Parks Australia means:
(a) that part of the Department (the Environment Department) administered by the Minister administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that is known as Parks Australia; or
(b) if there is a change in the name by which that part of the Environment Department is known—that part of the Environment Department known by the changed name.
plan of operations means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 43 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 49.
premises includes a building or part of a building, and any land whether built on or not, but does not include a building on, or land forming part of, managed land.
public authority means:
(a) a public authority constituted under an Ordinance other than this Ordinance; or
(b) a Department; or
(c) a statutory body of the Commonwealth; or
(d) a person prescribed by the rules as a public authority;
and includes, for the purposes of Part 4, an authorised network operator within the meaning of the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015 (NSW), as in force at the time the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Ordinance 2019 commenced.
rules means rules made under section 98.
rural fire brigade means a rural fire brigade formed under section 12.
Rural Fire Service means the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service established by section 8.
Service Standards means the standards issued by the Minister under section 11.
this Ordinance includes the rules.
tree includes bush, shrub, scrub or timber.
unoccupied Commonwealth land means Crown land that is not:
(a) held under lease or licence; or
(b) vested in, or under the control of, trustees.
vehicle means any means of transport whether self‑propelled or not, and whether used on land or water or in the air.
volunteer rural fire fighters means:
(a) members of a rural fire brigade; or
(b) a person (other than a member of a rural fire brigade) who, without remuneration or reward, voluntarily and without obligation engages in fighting, or activities associated with fighting, a fire with the consent of, or under the authority and supervision of, an officer of a rural fire brigade.
(1) The Minister may delegate, in writing, his or her functions and powers under this Ordinance (other than section 98) to: (a) a member of a fire fighting authority; or (aa) the Secretary of the Infrastructure Department; or (b) an SES employee of the Infrastructure Department; or (c) an employee of the Infrastructure Department.
Note 1: The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service is a member of a fire fighting authority, and is covered by paragraph (a).
Note 2: A provision of this Ordinance may make a delegation unnecessary, for example subsection 32(1).
(2) If the Minister delegates a power or function to the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service under paragraph (1)(a), the Commissioner may sub‑delegate, in writing, the power or function to a member of a fire fighting authority. (3) If the Minister delegates a power or function to an SES employee of the Infrastructure Department under paragraph (1)(b), the SES employee may sub‑delegate, in writing, the power or function to a member of a fire fighting authority. (4) Sections 34AA, 34AB and 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 apply to a sub‑delegation by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service or an SES employee in a corresponding way to the way in which they apply to a delegation.
(1) The Minister may approve forms for this Ordinance. (2) If the Minister approves a form for a particular purpose, the approved form must be used for the purpose. (3) The Minister must ensure that approved forms are publicly available.
This Ordinance is the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Ordinance 2014.
This Ordinance is made under the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
The objects of this Ordinance are to provide for: (a) the prevention, mitigation and suppression of bush and other fires in the Territory; and (b) the coordination of bush fire fighting and bush fire prevention throughout the Territory; and (c) the protection of persons from injury or death, and property from damage, arising from fires; and (ca) the protection of infrastructure and environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and community assets from damage arising from fires; and (d) the protection of the environment.
In this Ordinance:
AFP means the Australian Federal Police.
approved form means a form approved by the Minister under section 7A.
authorised member of a fire fighting authority or other authority means:
(a) a member of the authority; or
(b) a person authorised by the authority to perform functions conferred on authorised members under this Ordinance.
back burning means the application of fire to combustible matter to provide a fire break to control or suppress a fire or protect persons, property or the environment from an existing or imminent danger arising out of a fire.
bush fire includes a grass fire.
bush fire danger period has the meaning given by section 72.
bush fire hazard complaint means a complaint made under subsection 61(1).
bush fire hazard reduction notice means a notice issued by a hazard reduction officer under subsection 56(1).
bush fire hazard reduction work means:
(a) the establishment or maintenance of fire breaks and fire trails on land; or
(b) the controlled application of appropriate fire regimes or other means for the reduction or modification of available fuels within a predetermined area to mitigate against the spread of a bush fire;
but does not include construction of a track or road.
bush fire management plan means a plan of operations or a bush fire risk management plan.
bush fire risk management plan means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 44 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 48.
combustible matter means any matter or substance:
(a) capable of ignition:
(i) spontaneously; or
(ii) by the application of heat, fire, flame or sparks; or
(b) prescribed by the rules as combustible matter for the purposes of this definition.
Defence Department means the Department of State that deals with defence and that is administered by the Minister administering section 1 of the Defence Act 1903.
Defence land means land in the Territory that is occupied by, or being used by, the Defence Department or the Australian Defence Force.
Director of National Parks means the Director of National Parks referred to in section 514A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
emergency means an emergency due to an actual or imminent event:
(a) that:
(i) endangers, or threatens to endanger, the safety or health of persons or animals in the Territory; or
(ii) destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage, property in the Territory, including any part of the environment of the Territory; and
(b) that requires a significant and coordinated response.
emergency services organisation means any of the following organisations:
(a) the AFP;
(b) the police force of New South Wales;
(c) the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service;
(d) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(e) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(f) the State Emergency Service of New South Wales;
(g) the Ambulance Service of New South Wales;
(h) any other emergency service operating in the Territory under an agreement with the Commonwealth, or on an ad hoc basis during an emergency.
environment includes:
(a) the physical characteristics of the Territory; and
(b) plants, native animals and marine life; and
(c) natural and physical resources.
financial year means the period from 1 July to the following 30 June.
fire fighting apparatus includes vehicles, equipment and other things used for or in connection with the prevention or suppression of fire or the protection of life or property in case of fire.
fire fighting authority means any of the following:
(a) the Rural Fire Service;
(b) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(c) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(d) Parks Australia;
(e) the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service;
(f) any other person or body specified by the rules for this definition.
Fire Management Committee means the Jervis Bay Territory Fire Management Committee established by section 40.
fire permit means a permit issued under section 77.
fire risk object: see subsection 86K(1).
function includes a power, authority or duty.
hazard management officer means a person nominated as a hazard management officer under section 54.
Infrastructure Department means the Department administered by the Minister responsible for administering the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
interstate fire brigade means a fire brigade (by whatever name) established under a law of a place outside the Territory.
light a fire includes:
(a) maintain or use a fire; and
(b) cause a fire to be lit, maintained or used.
managed land has the meaning given by the rules.
motorised machine includes any vehicle or machine that is operated by means of an internal combustion engine or other fuel‑burning engine.
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service means the service established by section 6 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW).
occupier of land means:
(a) the person who has the management or beneficial use of the land (whether resident on the land or not); or
(b) if the land is a public reserve or park—the trustees or any person having the care, control and management of the land.
officer of a rural fire brigade means the holder of a rank determined as a rank of an officer by the Minister under subsection 10(2).
officer in charge, at a fire at which a rural fire brigade is present for the purpose of mitigating or suppressing the fire, means the person for the time being in charge of the members of the rural fire brigade present at the fire.
owner of land:
(a) for leased Commonwealth land—means the lessee; and
(b) for Commonwealth land that is not leased—means:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a person to whom the Commonwealth has lawfully contracted to sell the land but in respect of which the purchase price or other consideration for the sale has not been received by the Crown; and
(c) for land other than Commonwealth land—includes:
(i) each person who jointly or severally, whether at law or in equity, is entitled to the land for any estate of freehold in possession; and
(ii) every such person who is entitled to receive, or is in receipt of, or if the land were let to a tenant would be entitled to receive, the rents and profits of the land, whether as beneficial owner, trustee, mortgagee in possession, or otherwise.
Parks Australia means:
(a) that part of the Department (the Environment Department) administered by the Minister administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that is known as Parks Australia; or
(b) if there is a change in the name by which that part of the Environment Department is known—that part of the Environment Department known by the changed name.
plan of operations means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 43 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 49.
premises includes a building or part of a building, and any land whether built on or not, but does not include a building on, or land forming part of, managed land.
public authority means:
(a) a public authority constituted under an Ordinance other than this Ordinance; or
(b) a Department; or
(c) a statutory body of the Commonwealth; or
(d) a person prescribed by the rules as a public authority;
and includes, for the purposes of Part 4, an authorised network operator within the meaning of the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015 (NSW), as in force at the time the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Ordinance 2019 commenced.
rules means rules made under section 98.
rural fire brigade means a rural fire brigade formed under section 12.
Rural Fire Service means the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service established by section 8.
Service Standards means the standards issued by the Minister under section 11.
this Ordinance includes the rules.
tree includes bush, shrub, scrub or timber.
unoccupied Commonwealth land means Crown land that is not:
(a) held under lease or licence; or
(b) vested in, or under the control of, trustees.
vehicle means any means of transport whether self‑propelled or not, and whether used on land or water or in the air.
volunteer rural fire fighters means:
(a) members of a rural fire brigade; or
(b) a person (other than a member of a rural fire brigade) who, without remuneration or reward, voluntarily and without obligation engages in fighting, or activities associated with fighting, a fire with the consent of, or under the authority and supervision of, an officer of a rural fire brigade.
(1) The Minister may delegate, in writing, his or her functions and powers under this Ordinance (other than section 98) to: (a) a member of a fire fighting authority; or (aa) the Secretary of the Infrastructure Department; or (b) an SES employee of the Infrastructure Department; or (c) an employee of the Infrastructure Department.
Note 1: The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service is a member of a fire fighting authority, and is covered by paragraph (a).
Note 2: A provision of this Ordinance may make a delegation unnecessary, for example subsection 32(1).
(2) If the Minister delegates a power or function to the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service under paragraph (1)(a), the Commissioner may sub‑delegate, in writing, the power or function to a member of a fire fighting authority. (3) If the Minister delegates a power or function to an SES employee of the Infrastructure Department under paragraph (1)(b), the SES employee may sub‑delegate, in writing, the power or function to a member of a fire fighting authority. (4) Sections 34AA, 34AB and 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 apply to a sub‑delegation by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service or an SES employee in a corresponding way to the way in which they apply to a delegation.
(1) The Minister may approve forms for this Ordinance. (2) If the Minister approves a form for a particular purpose, the approved form must be used for the purpose. (3) The Minister must ensure that approved forms are publicly available.
(1) The Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service is established by this Ordinance.
Note: The Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service is referred to in this Ordinance as the “Rural Fire Service”.
(2) The Rural Fire Service comprises the following members: (a) staff of the Service; (b) volunteer rural fire fighters. (3) Before carrying out a function of a person mentioned in subsection (2) under this Ordinance that relates to or otherwise affects: (a) Defence land; or (b) anything on Defence land; or (c) an activity being conducted, or to be conducted, on Defence land; or (d) a person on Defence land; the person 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. (4) However, the person is not required to comply with subsection (3) if the requirement to be consulted has been waived by: (a) the Secretary of the Defence Department; or (b) the Chief of the Defence Force; or (c) the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell; or (d) a person authorised by the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell to waive the requirement in subsection (3).
The Rural Fire Service has the following functions: (a) to provide the following services for the Territory: (i) services for the prevention, mitigation and suppression of fires in the Territory; (ii) the protection of persons from dangers to their safety and health, and property from destruction or damage, arising from fires in the Territory; (iia) the protection of infrastructure and environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and community assets from destruction or damage arising from fires in the Territory; (iii) any other services prescribed by the rules for this section; (b) to issue public warnings about bush fires and bush fire threats in the Territory; (c) to assist other emergency services organisations at emergencies under the control of those organisations, including incidents and emergencies in New South Wales; (d) to perform other functions assigned to it under this or any other Ordinance; (e) to do anything necessary for, or incidental to, the performance of its functions.
(1) The Minister is responsible for managing and controlling the activities of the Rural Fire Service. (2) The Minister may: (a) determine the duties that members of the Rural Fire Service are to perform; and (b) determine the ranks of members; and (c) allocate duties to be carried out by each member. (3) The Minister may conduct an audit of all or any activities of the Rural Fire Service to determine whether the Rural Fire Service is carrying out its activities effectively, efficiently and in compliance with the Service Standards. (4) The Minister may enter into contracts or arrangements, on behalf of the Commonwealth, with any person or organisation for the: (a) carrying out of works; or (b) performance of services; or (c) supply of goods or materials; in connection with the performance of the functions of the Rural Fire Service. (5) The Minister may use any fire fighting apparatus other than fire fighting apparatus under the control of the authority responsible for managed land. (6) The Minister must ensure that all fire fighting apparatus in the Territory is inspected at least once each year, other than fire fighting apparatus under the control of the authority responsible for managed land. (7) The Minister must take all necessary measures within the Minister’s powers and functions for suppressing fires in the Territory and protecting and saving life and property: (a) in case of fire; and (b) as part of assisting an emergency services organisation at an emergency or other incident under the control of the organisation. (8) In carrying out the Minister’s functions under subsection (7), the Minister must: (a) comply with the conditions (if any) specified in the bush fire management plan; and (b) if performing functions on managed land—comply with the conditions (if any) specified in any relevant plan of the authority responsible for the managed land of which the Minister is aware; and (c) ensure, as far as practicable, that any member of the Rural Fire Service assisting the Minister in the exercise of the function complies with the conditions mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b).
Note: Example: Relevant plans for paragraph (b) include the Booderee Fire Management Plan and the Booderee Fire Action Plan.
(9) Before carrying out a function of the Minister under this Ordinance that relates to or otherwise affects: (a) Defence land; or (b) anything on Defence land; or (c) an activity being conducted, or to be conducted, on Defence land; or (d) a person on Defence land; the Minister 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. (10) However, the Minister is not required to comply with subsection (9) if the requirement to be consulted has been waived by: (a) the Secretary of the Defence Department; or (b) the Chief of the Defence Force; or (c) the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell; or (d) a person authorised by the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell to waive the requirement in subsection (9).
(1) The Minister may issue written Service Standards for members of the Rural Fire Service in relation to procedures to be followed in connection with the operation, management and control of the Rural Fire Service. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), the Service Standards may set out standard operating procedures, including procedures in respect of the following: (a) fire reporting; (b) operational coordination; (c) operational planning; (d) bush fire risk management planning; (e) fire fighting assistance planning; (f) standards of fire cover reporting; (g) implementation of training standards; (h) communications; (i) brigade management; (j) community education; (k) protocols on relevant matters; (l) health and safety. (3) The Service Standards apply as in force from time to time.
(1) The Minister may form one or more rural fire brigades for the Territory. (2) The Minister may form a rural fire brigade on the Minister’s initiative or on request.
(1) The Minister may disband a rural fire brigade by giving written notice to the officer in charge of the rural fire brigade. (2) The disbandment takes effect 21 days after the notice is given.
The Minister may: (a) determine the area in which the brigade is to operate; and (b) appoint, as an officer for the brigade, a person selected by the members of the brigade, in accordance with the Service Standards, to be an officer for the brigade.
The Minister must keep a register of the members of a rural fire brigade, in accordance with any requirements in the Service Standards.
(1) An officer of a rural fire brigade has the functions conferred on the officer under this or any other Ordinance.
Note: Functions may also be conferred by the Service Standards.
(2) An officer or other member of a rural fire brigade is not taken to be an employee of the Commonwealth merely because the officer or other member may perform functions under this Ordinance. (3) Before carrying out a function of an officer of a rural fire brigade under this Ordinance that relates to or otherwise affects: (a) Defence land; or (b) anything on Defence land; or (c) an activity being conducted, or to be conducted, on Defence land; or (d) a person on Defence land; the officer 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. (4) However, the officer is not required to comply with subsection (3) if the requirement to be consulted has been waived by: (a) the Secretary of the Defence Department; or (b) the Chief of the Defence Force; or (c) the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell; or (d) a person authorised by the Senior Australian Defence Force Officer at HMAS Creswell to waive the requirement in subsection (3).
(1) An officer of a rural fire brigade may take any action reasonably necessary for or incidental to the effective performance of a function conferred on the officer under this Ordinance. (2) An officer of a rural fire brigade may perform a function conferred on the officer, or take action reasonably necessary or incidental to the effective performance of such a function, with the assistance of any other person as the officer considers necessary. (3) Any function that may be performed, or action that may be taken, by an officer of a rural fire brigade because of this section may be performed or taken by the Minister.
If an officer of a rural fire brigade believes the presence of a person, vehicle, vessel or other thing at or near a fire might interfere with the work of a rural fire brigade or the performance of functions by the officer, the officer may: (a) remove the person or thing; or (b) authorise or direct a member of a rural fire brigade to remove the person or thing.
An officer of a rural fire brigade may, for the purpose of performing a function conferred on the officer under this Ordinance: (a) enter any premises; or (b) authorise or direct a member of a rural fire brigade to enter any premises.
Note: See sections 24 to 26 for requirements about consent, authorisation and use on force on entering premises.
The officer in charge of a rural fire brigade may close a street or public place to traffic, or authorise or direct a member of a rural fire brigade to close a street or public place to traffic, if the street or public place is in the vicinity of a fire, incident or other emergency.
(1) An officer of a rural fire brigade may, if a person or property is endangered or likely to be endangered by a fire, incident or other emergency, do any of the following things: (a) pull down, cut or remove a fence; (b) destroy, pull down, shore up or remove a building or structure, or part of a building or structure; (c) destroy or remove any living or dead vegetation; (d) establish fire breaks; (e) authorise or direct a member of a rural fire brigade to do any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d). (2) The cost of doing something under paragraph (1)(b) is to be borne by the owner of the building or structure and is to be paid to the Minister. (3) The Minister may waive payment of the whole or any amount payable under subsection (2) in such circumstances as the Minister thinks appropriate.
(1) An officer of a rural fire brigade may, for the purpose of controlling or suppressing a fire: (a) take and use water from any source without payment; or (b) use without payment any water mains, water plugs, valves, pipes or works of water supply vested in, or under the management or control of, a water supply authority, public authority or body; or (c) authorise or direct a member of a rural fire brigade to do any of the things mentioned in paragraphs (a) and (b). (2) The Minister may, by arrangement with the owner or occupier or person having control or management of land containing a water source, take and use, free of charge, water from that source for the purpose of training or demonstration by any rural fire brigade.
(1) If damage to property is caused by a person performing a function under this Division in good faith, the damage is taken to be damage by fire within the meaning of a policy of insurance against fire covering the property. (2) A provision or condition in an agreement that negates, limits or modifies, or purports to negate, limit or modify, the operation of this section is void and of no effect.
(1) A person entering premises under this Division must give the owner or occupier of the premises reasonable written notice of the intention to enter the premises. (2) However, the person may enter the premises without notice if: (a) the entry is made with the consent of the owner or occupier of the premises; or (b) the premises are open to the public or the entry is to a part of the premises open to the public; or (c) entry is required urgently. (3) In entering the premises, and taking action on the premises, the person must do as little damage as possible.
(1) A person may use reasonable force to gain entry to premises under this Division if the Minister has authorised, in writing, the use of force: (a) in the particular case; or (b) in circumstances present in the particular case. (2) If a person uses force to enter premises, the person must, as soon as practicable, tell the Minister that the person used force to enter the premises. (3) The Minister must, on being told of the use of force, tell any other person or authority that the Minister considers appropriate about the use of the force.
(1) A power to enter premises, or to take action on premises, must not be exercised unless the person proposing to enter the premises or take the action: (a) is in possession of an authority mentioned in subsection (2); and (b) produces the authority if required to do so by the owner or occupier of the premises. (2) The authority must be a written authority, signed by the Minister, that: (a) states that it is issued under this Ordinance; and (b) gives the name of the person to whom it is issued; and (c) describes the nature of the power conferred and the source of the power; and (d) states the date (if any) on which it expires; and (e) describes the kind of premises to which the power extends.
(1) With the consent of the Minister, a rural fire brigade may, in or out of the Territory, voluntarily cooperate with a public authority in the performance of a function of the public authority prescribed by the rules for this section. (2) If: (a) a public authority, or a member of a public authority, has immunity from legal proceedings that would otherwise lie in relation to the performance by the authority or member of a function; and (b) a member of a rural fire brigade cooperates under this section in the performance of the function; the member has the same immunity.
The object of this Division is to assist in the prevention of fires by expressly authorising entry onto land to investigate the cause or origin of a fire.
In this Division, a reference to land includes any building on the land.
(1) The Minister may enter and inspect any land for the purposes of investigating the cause or origin of a fire that has occurred on the land or adjacent land.
Note: The Minister may delegate his or her power under this section—see section 7.
(2) However, if the Minister enters and inspects the land more than 24 hours after the fire has been put out, the Minister must hold a search warrant, issued under section 31, authorising the entry. (3) The Minister may enter and inspect the land whether or not the owner or occupier of the land has given his or her consent to the entry and inspection. (4) However, if the Minister enters any part of land used only for residential purposes, the Minister must: (a) hold a search warrant, issued under section 31, authorising the entry; or (b) obtain the consent of the owner or occupier of the land.
(1) The Minister may apply to an issuing officer for a search warrant for any land if the Minister reasonably believes that entry onto the land is necessary for the purposes of an investigation of the cause or origin of a fire that has occurred on the land or adjacent land.
Note: The Minister may delegate his or her powers under this section—see section 7.
(2) The issuing officer may, if satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for doing so, issue a search warrant authorising the Minister or any other person named in the warrant to enter land for the purposes of an investigation of the cause or origin of a fire that has occurred on the land or adjacent land. (3) Sections 196 to 205 of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT) apply to a search warrant issued under this section. (4) In this section:
issuing officer has the same meaning as in section 185 of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT).
(1) A function conferred on the Minister under section 30 or 31 may be performed by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service, but only to the extent that the function is performed in respect of land within the Territory. (2) The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service may delegate a function that may be performed by the Commissioner under subsection (1) to a member of a fire fighting authority. (3) Any of the Minister’s functions under sections 30 and 31 may be exercised by a member or special member of the AFP for the purpose of determining whether the cause or origin of a fire should be the subject of a criminal investigation. (4) Subsection (3) does not limit the functions of a member or special member of the AFP under this or any other Ordinance or any Act.
(1) A function conferred on the Minister under this Ordinance may be performed by a member of a rural fire brigade authorised for the purpose by the Minister. (2) The authorisation may be written or oral. (3) The Minister must keep a record of all authorisations given under this section.
(1) The officer in charge at a fire, incident or other emergency may authorise a member of a rural fire brigade to perform all or specified functions that may be performed, under this Ordinance, by the officer in charge at a fire, incident or other emergency. (2) The authorisation may be written or oral.
(1) A person must recognise the authority of: (a) the Minister exercising powers or performing functions under this Ordinance; and (b) a member of a rural fire brigade acting under the Minister’s direction; and (c) the officer in charge at a fire, incident or other emergency at which a rural fire brigade is present; and (d) an officer of a rural fire brigade directly assisting the person primarily responsible for responding to a fire. (2) Each member and special member of the AFP must support the authority of a person mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d), and assist that person in enforcing compliance with a direction given under this Ordinance.
(1) A person commits an offence if the person obstructs or hinders the Minister or a member of a rural fire brigade, in the performance of the Minister’s or member’s functions under this Ordinance.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 months, or 50 penalty units, or both.
(2) A person commits an offence if the person obstructs or hinders a person, including a volunteer rural fire fighter, acting under the direction of the Minister or an officer of a rural fire brigade.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 months, or 50 penalty units, or both.
A member of an interstate fire brigade who is in the Territory for the purpose of mitigating or suppressing a fire may exercise all the powers, and perform all the functions, that, if the fire were in the area of the interstate fire brigade, the member would have and be capable of exercising and performing.
The Minister is responsible for taking charge of bush fire fighting operations and bush fire prevention measures, and taking any measures the Minister considers necessary to control or suppress a bush fire in the Territory if, in the opinion of the Minister: (a) a bush fire has assumed or is likely to assume such proportions as to be incapable of control or suppression by the fire fighting authority or other authority in whose area it is burning; or (b) the prevailing weather conditions are conducive to the outbreak of a bush fire likely to assume such proportions; or (c) a bush fire is not being effectively controlled or suppressed by the fire fighting authority or other authority in whose area it is burning; or (d) a bush fire is burning in a place that is not the responsibility of any fire fighting authority.
Note: The Minister may delegate the Minister’s functions and powers under this Division—see section 7.
(1) The Minister may give directions that the Minister considers necessary to any person in connection with the prevention, control or suppression of a bush fire that the Minister has taken charge of, or in relation to which the Minister is taking measures, under this Division. (2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person is given a direction under subsection (1); and (b) the person fails to comply with the direction; and (c) the person is not a police officer.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 months, or 50 penalty units, or both.
(3) This section has effect despite anything to the contrary in this or any other Ordinance. (4) Nothing in this Division enables the Minister to commandeer equipment or resources (human or otherwise).
(1) The Jervis Bay Territory Fire Management Committee is established by this section. (2) The Committee is to consist of the following persons appointed, in writing, by the Minister: (a) a nominated representative of the Infrastructure Department; (b) a nominated representative of the AFP; (c) a nominated representative of the Director of National Parks; (d) a nominated representative of the NSW Rural Fire Service; (e) a nominated representative of Fire and Rescue NSW; (f) a nominated representative of each rural fire brigade; (g) a nominated representative of the Wreck Bay Aboriginal Community Council; (h) a nominated representative of the Defence Department; (i) a nominated representative of the Shoalhaven City Council; (j) such other persons (if any) as the Minister considers appropriate. (3) The Minister must not appoint, under paragraph (2)(j), a person who is an officer or employee of a State, or of an authority of a State, unless the State or authority (as the case may be) has nominated the person for the appointment. (4) The representative of the Infrastructure Department is the Chair of the Committee. (5) A member of the Committee holds office on the terms and conditions (if any) determined by the Minister.
(1) The Fire Management Committee has such functions as are conferred on it under this or any other Ordinance. (2) The Fire Management Committee must, within 2 months after the end of each financial year, report to the Minister on the implementation of the bush fire risk management plan. (3) In performing its functions, the Fire Management Committee must have regard to the principles of ecologically sustainable development described in section 3A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
(1) The Fire Management Committee may draw to the Minister’s attention any matter the committee considers relevant to the protection of land, persons, animals, property or the environment in the Territory from the impact of fires. (2) The committee has no power to conduct or take any other part in fire fighting or fire prevention operations authorised by this Ordinance, any other Ordinance or any other legislative instrument.
Note: Subsection (2) does not prevent individual members of the committee from taking part in fire fighting or fire prevention operations otherwise than as members of the committee.
(1) The Fire Management Committee must, in accordance with this Division, prepare and give to the Minister a draft of each of the following kinds of bush fire management plans for the Territory: (a) a plan of operations; (b) a bush fire risk management plan. (2) The Fire Management Committee must give the draft plans to the Minister within 12 months after the establishment of the Fire Management Committee. (3) The Fire Management Committee must prepare and give to the Minister a revised draft plan of operations within each successive 2 year period following the establishment of the Fire Management Committee. (4) The Fire Management Committee must prepare and give to the Minister a revised draft bush fire risk management plan within each successive 5 year period following the establishment of the Fire Management Committee.
The draft plan of operations must set out the procedures to be followed if: (a) a bush fire breaks out in the Territory and assumes, or is likely to assume, such proportions as to be incapable of control or suppression by the Rural Fire Service; or (b) the prevailing weather conditions are conducive to the outbreak of a bush fire likely to assume such proportions; or (c) a bush fire breaks out in a part of New South Wales adjacent to the Territory and threatens to spread to the Territory and assume such proportions as to be incapable of control or suppression in the Territory by the Rural Fire Service.
(1) The draft bush fire risk management plan must set out schemes for the reduction of bush fire hazards in the Territory. (2) Without limiting the matters that may be contained in the draft plan, the plan may restrict or prohibit the use of fire, or provide for other fire hazard reduction activities, in all or specified circumstances or in places to which the plan applies.
Note: The plan might, for example, prohibit the use of fire because of its effect on fauna or flora in, or the cultural heritage of, a particular place.
(3) The Minister may direct the Fire Management Committee to amend the draft bush fire risk management plan.
(1) A draft bush fire management plan may: (a) include schemes for the performance of functions, or exercise of powers, in the Territory under this Ordinance; and (b) confer or impose functions or powers on: (i) the Minister; or (ii) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW; or (iii) the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service; or (iv) the Director of National Parks; or (v) the Director‑General of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service; or (vi) any other person or body associated with the prevention, mitigation or suppression of bush fires in the Territory. (2) A draft bush fire management plan must include any provisions that the Minister has advised the Fire Management Committee to include in the plan. (3) A draft bush fire management plan must take into account: (a) the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 and any regulations made under that Act; and (b) the Booderee National Park Management Plan.
Note: The Booderee National Park Management Plan could in 2019 be viewed on the Environment Department’s website (http://www.environment.gov.au).
The Minister may perform the functions of the Fire Management Committee under this Division if the Committee has failed to give the Minister a draft bush fire management plan in accordance with this Division or has given the Minister a draft plan that, in the opinion of the Minister, is inadequate.
(1) The Fire Management Committee or Minister must: (a) in accordance with the rules, give public notice of, and display, for the purpose of receiving submissions from any interested persons, the draft bush fire risk management plan prepared by the Committee; and (b) concurrently display for information the draft plan of operations or plan of operations. (2) The Fire Management Committee or Minister must ensure that no operational contact information is displayed.
(1) After considering any submissions received in relation to the draft bush fire risk management plan, the Fire Management Committee may amend the draft plan. (2) The Fire Management Committee must give the draft plan, or the draft plan as amended by the Committee under subsection (1), to the Minister as the proposed bush fire risk management plan. (3) The Minister must: (a) consider any submissions received in relation to the draft plan; and (b) either: (i) approve the draft plan or amended draft plan; or (ii) make such amendments to the draft plan or amended draft plan as the Minister considers necessary, and approve the plan as amended; and (c) revoke any existing bush fire risk management plan. (4) The Fire Management Committee must adopt the draft plan approved by the Minister under subsection (3). (5) The bush fire risk management plan, as adopted, applies as in force from time to time.
(1) After preparing the draft plan of operations, the Fire Management Committee must give the draft plan of operations to the Minister. (2) The Minister must review the draft plan of operations and any existing plan of operations. (3) After the review, the Minister may approve the draft plan of operations (as given to the Minister or after amendment by the Minister), and revoke any existing plan of operations. (4) The Fire Management Committee must adopt the draft plan of operations approved by the Minister under subsection (3). (5) The plan of operations, as adopted, applies as in force from time to time.
(1) The Fire Management Committee or the Minister may amend a bush fire management plan adopted under this Division by means of another bush fire management plan that is prepared and adopted in accordance with sections 43 to 49. (2) A bush fire management plan may be revoked by a bush fire management plan approved by the Minister, and adopted by the Fire Management Committee, under this Division.
A bush fire management plan or draft bush fire management plan must be available for public inspection at, and be able to be obtained free of charge from, the office of the Jervis Bay Territory Administration.
(1) A public authority must take the notified steps (if any), and any other practicable steps, to prevent the occurrence of bush fires on, and to minimise the danger of the spread of a bush fire on or from: (a) land vested in the public authority or under its control or management; or (b) a highway, road, street, land or thoroughfare, the maintenance of which is the responsibility of the authority. (2) An owner or occupier of land must take the notified steps (if any), and any other practicable steps, to prevent the occurrence of bush fires on, and to minimise the danger of the spread of bush fires on or from, that land. (3) A public authority, owner or occupier is liable for the costs incurred by it in complying with this section. (4) In this section:
notified steps means steps included in a bush fire management plan to prevent bush fires or minimise the danger of the spread of bush fires.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person is the occupier of land; and (b) a fire is burning on the land during the bush fire danger period; and (c) the fire was not lit under the authority of this or any other Ordinance; and (d) the person is able to extinguish the fire without assistance; and (e) the person does not, immediately on becoming aware of the fire, take all possible steps to extinguish the fire.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 4 months, 20 penalty units or, or both.
(2) It is a defence to a prosecution under subsection (1) that the fire was lit or used by the person for cooking, heating or preparing meals or boiling water, or for a similar purpose, in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the rules. (3) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person is the occupier of land; and (b) a fire is burning on the land during the bush fire danger period; and (c) the fire was not lit under the authority of this or any other Ordinance; and (d) the person is unable to extinguish the fire without assistance; and (e) the person has a means of communication practicably available; and (f) it is practicable for the person to inform a fire fighting authority of the existence and location of the fire, without leaving the fire unattended, by telephoning the emergency telephone number (000); and (g) the person does not, immediately on becoming aware of the fire, inform a fire fighting authority of the existence and location of the fire.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 4 months, or 20 penalty units, or both.
The Minister may appoint a member of the Rural Fire Service or the NSW Rural Fire Service as a hazard management officer for the purposes of this Division.
(1) An authorised person may, with the permission of: (a) the fire fighting authority or authority responsible for unoccupied Commonwealth land or managed land; or (b) a person nominated by such an authority to give such permission; enter the land and carry out bush fire hazard reduction work.
Note: For the definition of bush fire hazard reduction work, see section 6.
(2) The authorised person may carry out the bush fire hazard reduction work with the assistance of such other persons as the authorised person considers necessary. (3) The authority responsible for unoccupied Commonwealth land or managed land is taken to have given permission under subsection (1) to the extent necessary to give effect to the bush fire risk management plan. (4) If permission under this section is given subject to conditions, the authorised person, and any person assisting the authorised person in accordance with subsection (2), must comply with those conditions. (5) In this section:
authorised person means:
(a) a hazard management officer; or
(b) a member of a rural fire brigade, or of the NSW Rural Fire Service, appointed for the purposes of this section by the Minister; or
(c) a person performing bush fire hazard reduction functions under a bush fire risk management plan; or
(d) an authorised member of a fire fighting authority.
(1) A hazard management officer may, by notice in writing served on the owner or occupier of land (other than a public authority), require the owner or occupier to carry out bush fire hazard reduction work specified in the notice on the land. (2) A hazard management officer must serve a bush fire hazard reduction notice under this section if required to do so by the bush fire risk management plan. (3) A bush fire hazard reduction notice served under this section may specify any or all of the following matters: (a) the circumstances in which the bush fire hazard reduction work is to be carried out; (b) the conditions under which the bush fire hazard reduction work is to be carried out; (c) the means by which the bush fire hazard reduction work is to be carried out and alternative means, other than fire, by which the work should, if practicable, be carried out. (4) The bush fire hazard reduction notice may specify a day by which the work must be carried out, but the day must not be less than 7 days after the day the notice is served. (5) The bush fire hazard reduction notice must include any requirements or conditions specified in the bush fire risk management plan that are applicable to the land. (6) The bush fire hazard reduction notice may include a requirement or condition that the burning of fire breaks or of combustible matter or other material must be carried out by, or under the supervision of, a member of a rural fire brigade specified in the notice. (7) If the bush fire hazard reduction notice requires the establishment of a fire break, the notice cannot require an occupier or owner to kill or remove any trees that are reasonably necessary for: (a) shade, shelter, windbreak or fodder; or (b) the protection of threatened species, populations, ecological communities or critical habitats within the meaning of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. (8) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person is the occupier or owner of land; and (b) the person has been served with a bush fire hazard reduction notice in relation to the land; and (c) the notice is in effect; and (d) the person fails to comply with the notice.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 months, or 50 penalty units, or both.
(9) It is a defence to a prosecution under subsection (8) that: (a) the person is the owner of the land; and (b) the person is not also the occupier of the land; and (c) the person had no legal right, as between the person and the occupier of the land, to enter the land and comply with the requirements of the bush fire hazard reduction notice. (10) If the bush fire hazard reduction notice is the subject of an objection under section 57, the notice does not have effect until the objection is finally determined.
(1) The owner or occupier of land on whom a bush fire hazard reduction notice has been served (the objector) may lodge an objection with the hazard management officer who served the notice, or, if that officer is not available, any other hazard management officer. (2) The objection must state the grounds on which it is made. (3) The objection must be lodged within 7 days after the bush fire hazard reduction notice is served. (4) The hazard management officer and the objector must genuinely attempt to resolve the matter by consultation, having regard to: (a) the provisions of the bush fire risk management plan; and (b) the matters referred to in subsection 56(7); and (c) any other matters prescribed by the rules. (5) Within 14 days of the objection being lodged, the hazard management officer must: (a) confirm the bush fire hazard reduction notice; or (b) if the hazard management officer is satisfied that the notice can be varied in a way that will appropriately address the threat of fire—vary the notice; or (c) if the hazard management officer is satisfied that there is no longer any need for the notice—withdraw the notice. (6) If the hazard management officer confirms or varies the bush fire hazard reduction notice, the officer must give the objector a notice: (a) advising of the officer’s decision; and (b) specifying a time within which the objector must comply with the bush fire hazard reduction notice as confirmed or varied.
(1) A hazard management officer may, for the purpose of forming an opinion as to: (a) whether to serve a bush fire hazard reduction notice under section 56 on an occupier or owner of land; or (b) whether or not such a notice has been complied with; enter any part of the land to which the notice relates (other than a part of land used only for residential purposes) that it is necessary to inspect in order to form that opinion. (2) However, the officer may only enter the land during daytime hours. (3) A hazard management officer who requires an occupier or owner of land to take action under a bush fire hazard reduction notice must give notice in the approved form to the persons or bodies prescribed by the rules for this subsection. (4) A hazard management officer must keep a record of whether or not bush fire hazard reduction work has been carried out in accordance with a bush fire hazard reduction notice.
(1) If the owner or occupier on whom a relevant notice is served fails to comply with the notice within the time specified in the notice, the Minister may, without prejudice to the liability of the owner or occupier, enter the land to which the notice relates and carry out the bush fire hazard reduction work that the owner or occupier was required to do under the notice. (2) Any costs incurred by the Minister in carrying out the bush fire hazard reduction work (including costs incurred in obtaining approval under another law to carry out the work) may be recovered from the owner or occupier of the land as a debt due to the Commonwealth in a court of competent jurisdiction. (3) It is a defence to an action under subsection (2) against the owner of the land that: (a) the owner and occupier of the land are not the same person; and (b) the owner had no legal right, as between the owner and the occupier of the land, to enter the land and comply with the requirements of the relevant notice. (4) In this section:
relevant notice means:
(a) a bush fire hazard reduction notice; or
(b) if a bush fire hazard reduction notice is confirmed or varied following an objection to the notice—the notice as confirmed or varied and notified under subsection 57(6).
(1) Any damage to property caused by a person in the exercise in good faith of a power conferred by or under this Division is taken to be damage by fire within the meaning of a policy of insurance against fire covering the damaged property. (2) However, subsection (1) does not apply in relation to damage caused by a person in the act of entering land under subsection 59(1).
Note: Subsection 59(1) allows the Minister to enter land if the owner or occupier fails to comply with a bush fire hazard reduction notice, and carry out bush fire hazard reduction work on the land.
(1) This section applies to a public authority that has the care, control or management of a road, or of vegetation on the side of a road. (2) The public authority may, for the purposes of bush fire hazard reduction work, light a fire on the road, or on the verge of the road, if doing so is consistent with the bush fire management plan. (3) If the public authority lights a fire under subsection (2), the authority may, while the fire is burning, prohibit, direct or regulate the movement of persons, vehicles or animals along the road or along another road of which the authority has the care, control or management.
(1) A person may make a bush fire hazard complaint that a bush fire hazard exists on land because of the failure of a public authority, or owner or occupier of the land, to carry out bush fire hazard reduction work on the land. (2) A bush fire hazard complaint may be made whether or not the public authority, or owner or occupier, has a duty under section 52 to carry out the bush fire hazard reduction work.
A bush fire hazard complaint may be made by any owner or occupier of land adjacent to, or in the vicinity of, the land to which the complaint relates.
(1) A person making a bush fire hazard complaint relating to unoccupied Commonwealth land, or managed land, for which a public authority is responsible, must give the complaint to the Minister. (2) A person making a bush fire hazard complaint relating to any other kind of land must give the complaint to the Jervis Bay Territory Administration. (3) The complaint must: (a) be in writing; and (b) identify the complainant; and (c) state the address of the land to which the complaint relates; and (d) state the grounds for the complaint. (4) As soon as practicable after the Jervis Bay Administration receives the complaint, the Jervis Bay Administration must give written notice of the complaint, and the grounds of the complaint, to the owner or occupier of, or public authority responsible for, the land to which the complaint relates.
(1) The Minister must investigate a bush fire hazard complaint as soon as practicable after receiving it. (2) The Minister, or a person authorised by the Minister, may, for the purpose of forming an opinion as to whether a bush fire hazard exists on the land to which the complaint relates, enter any part of the land (other than a part of land used only for residential purposes) that it is necessary to inspect in order to form that opinion. (3) However, the Minister or authorised person may only enter the land during daytime hours. (4) The Minister may decline to deal with a complaint, or dismiss a complaint, if the Minister considers the complaint is vexatious, misconceived, frivolous or lacking in substance. (5) The Minister must notify the complainant if the Minister declines to deal with, or dismisses, the complaint.
(1) If the Minister finds that a bush fire hazard exists on land to which a bush fire hazard complaint relates, and a public authority is not responsible for the land, the Minister may: (a) if a bush fire hazard reduction notice has not already been served on the owner or occupier of the land—direct a hazard management officer to serve a notice under section 56 on the owner or occupier; and (b) if a bush fire hazard reduction notice has already been served on the owner or occupier of the land—subject to section 58, exercise the Minister’s powers under section 59. (2) If the Minister finds that a bush fire hazard exists on land to which a bush fire hazard complaint relates because a public authority has failed to take notified steps, or otherwise perform a duty imposed on it by section 52, the Minister may, by notice in writing served on the public authority, require the public authority to carry out specified bush fire hazard reduction work.
If the Minister takes action in relation to a bush fire hazard complaint, the Minister must, as soon as practicable after taking the action, advise the complainant of the action taken.
In this Division:
adjoining owners means the owners or occupiers of land (other than excluded land) on either side of a dividing fence.
dividing fence means a fence separating land owned or occupied by different persons.
excluded land means land that the bush fire management plan specifies is excluded land for the purposes of this Division.
fence means a structure, ditch or embankment, or a hedge or similar vegetation barrier, that encloses or bounds land and separates the land from other land, whether or not continuous or extending along the whole of the boundary, and includes:
(a) a gate, cattlegrid or apparatus necessary for the operation of the fence; and
(b) a foundation or support necessary for the support and maintenance of the fence.
(1) This section applies if: (a) an adjoining owner (the first adjoining owner) has cleared all of the land on his or her side of a dividing fence of combustible matter for a distance of 6 metres from the fence; and (b) the other adjoining owner in relation to the fence (the second adjoining owner) has not cleared all of the land on his or her side of the fence of all combustible matter for a distance of 6 metres from the fence; and (c) the fence has been damaged or destroyed by fire for a reason connected with the second adjoining owner’s failure to clear all of the land on his or her side of the fence of all combustible matter for a distance of 6 metres from the fence. (2) The first adjoining owner may, by written notice to the second adjoining owner, require the second adjoining owner to repair or restore the fence. (3) The second adjoining owner must repair or restore the dividing fence at his or her expense: (a) within one month of being given the notice; or (b) within such longer period as the ACT Magistrates Court may allow on application by the second adjoining owner to the ACT Magistrates Court. (4) The second adjoining owner must repair or restore the dividing fence to a reasonable standard, having regard to its state before the damage or destruction. (5) The first adjoining owner may apply to the ACT Magistrates Court for an order authorising the first adjoining owner to repair or restore the fence if: (a) the second adjoining owner fails to repair or restore the fence within the time required by subsection (3); or (b) the first adjoining owner has not, after making reasonable inquiries, been able to ascertain the whereabouts of the second adjoining owner for the purposes of giving the notice to the second adjoining owner. (6) An adjoining owner who repairs or restores a fence under this section (including the owner’s employees or agents) may, at any reasonable time, enter on land adjoining the fence for the purpose of carrying out the work.
(1) A first adjoining owner who repairs or restores a fence in accordance with an order under subsection 68(5) is entitled to recover the cost of carrying out the work from the second adjoining owner. (2) Any money that a second adjoining owner is required or liable to pay under this section may be recovered as a debt in a court of competent jurisdiction. (3) In any proceedings for the recovery of the money, a certificate of the ACT Magistrates Court as to the making and content of an order made by it under subsection 68(5) is evidence of the matters set out in the certificate.
The ACT Magistrates Court has jurisdiction to hear and determine any matter arising under this Division.
(1) Subsection (2) applies if: (a) an adjoining owner (the first adjoining owner) has cleared all of the land on his or her side of a dividing fence of combustible matter for a distance of 6 metres from the fence; and (b) the other adjoining owner in relation to the fence (the second adjoining owner) has not cleared all of the land on his or her side of the fence of combustible matter for a distance of 6 metres from the fence; and (c) an unattended fire on the land of the second adjoining owner has approached a distance that unreasonably endangers or threatens the first adjoining owner’s land or any fence or property on the first adjoining owner’s land. (2) The first adjoining owner may: (a) enter the land of the second adjoining owner; and (b) take all necessary steps to extinguish the fire.
(1) For the purposes of this Ordinance, the bush fire danger period is: (a) the period specified in the rules; or (b) if no period is specified in the rules—the period commencing on 1 October and ending on 31 March in the following year. (2) Before making a rule for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), the Minister must take into account the bush fire danger period applying in relation to each local government area of New South Wales adjacent to the Territory.
In this Division:
land clearance means clearing land of vegetation and other material.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire: (i) for the purpose of land clearance, back burning or burning a fire break; or (ii) in circumstances in which the fire is likely to endanger a building; and (b) the person is not carrying out land clearance or back burning, or burning a fire break, as an authorised member of a fire fighting authority; and (c) the person does not, before lighting the fire, give notice in accordance with subsections (3), (4) and (5).
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.
(2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire for the purpose of land clearance, back burning or burning a fire break; and (b) the person is not carrying out land clearance or back burning, or burning a fire break, as an authorised member of a fire fighting authority; and (c) either or both of the following apply: (i) a bush fire hazard reduction notice has not been issued in relation to the land clearance, back burning or fire break; (ii) an approval, consent or other authority required for the land clearance, back burning or fire break under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or any other law has not been given.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.
(3) A notice mentioned in paragraph (1)(c) must be in writing and include: (a) the name of the person intending to light the fire; and (b) the location and purpose of the proposed fire; and (c) a statement that a fire permit has been issued authorising the lighting of the fire; and (d) the time the person intends lighting the fire; and (e) the period for which it is proposed the fire will burn. (4) A notice mentioned in paragraph (1)(c) must be given to: (a) the Minister; and (b) each occupier (or, if there is no occupier, each owner) of land that is: (i) contiguous to the land on which the fire is to be lit; or (ii) separated only by a lane, road or waterway (whether fenced or unfenced) from the land on which the fire is to be lit. (5) A notice mentioned in paragraph (1)(c) must be given: (a) within the period specified for giving the notice in the fire permit authorising the lighting of the fire; or (b) if no period is specified—no later than 24 hours before the fire is lit.
A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire on land, for the purpose of land clearance, back burning or burning a fire break; and (b) the person is not carrying out land clearance or back burning, or burning a fire break, as an authorised member of a fire fighting authority; and (c) the person lights the fire during the bush fire danger period; and (d) the person: (i) is not authorised to light the fire by a fire permit; or (ii) fails to comply with any conditions set out in a fire permit authorising the person to light the fire.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.
A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire in circumstances in which the fire is likely to endanger a building; and (b) the person is not carrying out land clearance or back burning, or burning a fire break, as an authorised member of a fire fighting authority; and (c) the person: (i) is not authorised to light the fire by a fire permit; or (ii) fails to comply with any conditions set out in a fire permit authorising the person to light the fire.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.
(1) The Minister may issue a fire permit, in writing, authorising a person to light a fire on land specified in the permit for a purpose specified in the permit. (2) The Minister must not issue a fire permit unless: (a) if the lighting of the fire would require an approval, consent or other authority under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 or any other law—the Minister is satisfied that the approval, consent or other authority has been given; and (b) the Minister is satisfied that the lighting of the fire would not contravene any other Act or law.
(1) A fire permit remains in force for the period specified in the permit, unless the permit is cancelled or suspended before the end of that period. (2) The Minister must not specify a period in a fire permit that is longer than 21 days after the day of the issue of the permit. (3) A fire permit has no force during a period in which a direction under section 85 is in force: (a) in relation to the Territory; or (b) in relation to a part of the Territory in which the land specified in the fire permit is located.
(1) The Minister may cancel or suspend a fire permit at any time by written notice given to the person to whom the permit is issued. (2) However, if the Minister is of the opinion that: (a) the weather conditions are conducive to the outbreak or spread of bush fires; or (b) weather conditions conducive to the outbreak or spread of bush fires are imminent; the Minister may give the notice orally or in another manner the Minister considers appropriate, including, if no other means are practicable, by broadcasting the notice by a television or radio station transmitting to the Territory.
(1) A fire permit is subject to: (a) a condition that the person to whom the permit is issued must carry the permit when the person lights a fire authorised by the permit; and (b) a condition that the person has, before lighting the fire, obtained any approval, consent or other authority required in relation to lighting the fire by any other Ordinance or any Act; and (c) any other condition imposed on the permit by a bush fire hazard reduction notice; and (d) any other condition prescribed by the rules or specified in the permit. (2) A person commits an offence if: (a) a fire permit has been issued to the person; and (b) the person fails to comply with a condition of the fire permit.
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
The Minister may refuse to issue a fire permit if: (a) the issue of the permit would be inconsistent with the bush fire risk management plan; or (b) the Minister has determined in writing that no fire permits be issued for fires to be lit in the Territory because of the severity of bush fire danger in the Territory; or (c) the Minister is authorised or required under this or any other Ordinance not to issue the permit.
If the Minister issues a fire permit to light a fire on land prescribed in the rules for this section, the Minister must give notice in an approved form to the persons or bodies prescribed by the rules.
Nothing in this Division requires a public authority, or a person acting under the direction of a public authority, to hold a permit to light a fire.
The issue of a fire permit to an owner or occupier of land does not limit or affect the duty to prevent bush fires imposed on the owner or occupier by section 52.
(1) If the Minister is of the opinion that it is necessary or expedient in the interests of public safety to do so, the Minister may, by order in writing, direct that the lighting, maintenance or use of a fire or kind of fire in the open air is prohibited: (a) in the Territory or a part of the Territory specified in the order; and (b) during the period specified in the order. (2) The order may also specify: (a) conditions that must be complied with by persons lighting, maintaining or using a fire or kind of fire in the open air during the period specified in the order; and (b) action that must be taken by specified persons or classes of persons to prevent the outbreak or the spread of bush fire, or for controlling or suppressing a bush fire during the period specified in the order. (3) As soon as practicable after making the order, the Minister must ensure that: (a) notice of the order is broadcast by a television or radio station transmitting to the Territory; and (b) a copy of the order is published in the Gazette. (4) If an order (the NSW order) is in force under the Rural Fires Act 1997 (NSW) prohibiting the lighting, maintenance or use of any fire or class of fire in the open air in a local government area of New South Wales adjacent to the Territory, the NSW order has effect in the Territory as if it were an order made by the Minister under subsection (1). (5) If a NSW order has effect in the Territory under subsection (4): (a) the Minister must ensure that: (i) notice of the order is broadcast by a television or radio station transmitting to the Territory; and (ii) a copy of the order is published on the Infrastructure Department’s website; and (b) any special condition specified in the order to be observed, or action specified in the order to be taken, applies (to the extent possible) as if the condition were specified under paragraph (2)(a) or the action were specified under paragraph (2)(b). (6) A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with: (a) an order made by the Minister under subsection (1); or (b) a NSW order that has effect in the Territory under subsection (4).
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 months, or 30 penalty units, or both.
(7) This section has effect despite anything to the contrary in this or any other Ordinance.
(1) A person commits an offence if the person: (a) sets fire, or causes fire to be set, to the land or property of another person, the Commonwealth or a public authority; or (b) being the owner or occupier of land, permits a fire to escape from the land under such circumstances as to cause, or be likely to cause, injury or damage to: (i) the person, land or property of another person; or (ii) the land or property of the Commonwealth or a public authority.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years, or 300 penalty units, or both.
(1A) In determining the penalty for an offence under subsection (1) that was committed when a total fire ban under Division 7 was in force in the part of the Territory in which the fire was set or was permitted to escape, the court must take the total fire ban into account as a reason for aggravating the seriousness of the criminal behaviour to which the offence relates. (1B) A person commits an offence if the person: (a) sets fire or causes fire to be set to the land or property of another person, the Commonwealth or a public authority; or (b) being the owner or occupier of land, permits a fire to escape from the land under such circumstances as to cause or be likely to cause injury or damage to: (i) the person, land or property of another person; or (ii) the land or property of the Commonwealth or a public authority; knowing that a total fire ban under Division 7 is in force in the part of the Territory in which the fire is set or permitted to escape.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 7 years, or 420 penalty units, or both.
(1C) Subsection (1D) applies if, in a prosecution for an offence (the prosecuted offence) against subsection (1B), the trier of fact: (a) is not satisfied that the defendant is guilty of the prosecuted offence; but (b) is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of an offence against subsection (1) (the alternative offence). (1D) The trier of fact may find the defendant not guilty of the prosecuted offence but guilty of the alternative offence, so long as the defendant has been accorded procedural fairness in relation to that finding of guilt. (2) A person commits an offence if the person: (a) leaves (temporarily or otherwise) a fire which the person has lit, or used, in the open air before the fire is thoroughly extinguished; and (b) the person does not have lawful authority to do so.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months, or 60 penalty units, or both.
(3) However subsection (2) does not apply to a person if: (a) the person lit or used the fire for cooking, heating, or preparing meals or boiling water, or for a similar purpose, in accordance with any requirements prescribed by the rules; and (b) when the person leaves the fire, the fire continues to be used by another person.
A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire for the purpose of, or in connection with, the demolition of a building or the destruction of building materials; and (b) the person: (i) is not authorised to light the fire by a fire permit; or (ii) fails to comply with any conditions set out in a fire permit authorising the person to light the fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire for the purpose of destroying sawmill waste material; and (b) the fire is not lit: (i) in an incinerator designed to prevent the escape of sparks and burning material; or (ii) on ground enclosed by a fence of galvanised iron, or other fire resistant material, at least 1.8 metres high and high enough that the top of the waste to be burned is not less than 600 millimetres below the top of the fence at its lowest point; or (iii) in a pit dug for the purpose and in which the top of the waste to be burned is not less than 600 millimetres below the top of the edge of the pit at its lowest point; or (iv) in accordance with the conditions of a fire permit authorising the person to light the fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire for the purpose of destroying sawmill waste material; and (b) the fire is lit on ground enclosed as mentioned in subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) or in a pit mentioned in subparagraph (1)(b)(iii); and (c) either or both of the following apply: (i) the ground within 9 metres of any part of the fence or edge of the pit is not clear of combustible matter; (ii) the person does not have at least 2 knapsack spray pumps, each with a minimum capacity of 16 litres, and a supply of not less than 450 litres of water, readily available for use on the fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
A person commits an offence if: (a) the person drives or uses a steam‑powered machine; and (b) the person does so in connection with the use of land for agricultural, pastoral or other purposes; and (c) one or more of the following applies: (i) the machine’s smokebox is not fitted with a spark arrester constructed of mesh of a width not exceeding 3.2 millimetres; (ii) the machine’s firebox is not fitted with a tray constructed to prevent the escape of sparks or burning material; (iii) the machine’s smokebox spark arrester or firebox tray is not maintained in a good and serviceable condition; (iv) the machine’s smokebox spark arrester or firebox tray does not comply with Australian Standard AS 1019—2000, Internal combustion engines—Spark emission control devices, published on 1 August 2000.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person drives or uses a motorised machine in grass, crop or stubble land; and (b) the person does so in connection with the use of the land for agricultural, pastoral or other purposes; and (c) either or both of the following apply: (i) the machine is not constructed so that any heated area of the machine will not come into contact with combustible matter; (ii) the machine is not maintained in a good and serviceable condition so as to prevent the outbreak of fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person drives or uses a motorised machine in grass, crop or stubble land; and (b) the person does so in connection with the use of the land for agricultural, pastoral or other purposes; and (c) it is practicable to carry prescribed fire safety equipment on the machine; and (d) the person does not carry, or have in the vicinity, prescribed fire safety equipment, maintained in a serviceable condition, on the machine.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(3) A person commits an offence if the person: (a) either: (i) carries out welding operations; or (ii) uses explosives, an angle grinder or any other implement that is likely to generate sparks; and (b) does not have prescribed fire safety equipment, maintained in a serviceable condition, in the vicinity of the activity mentioned in paragraph (a).
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) In this section:
prescribed fire safety equipment means:
(a) a knapsack spray pump, with a minimum capacity of 16 litres, filled with water; or
(b) an operational liquid type fire extinguisher with a minimum capacity of 9 litres; or
(c) an operational dry powder type fire extinguisher with a minimum capacity of 0.9 kilograms.
A person commits an offence if: (a) a notice is displayed for the purposes of this Ordinance under the authority of the Fire Management Committee, the Minister or a public authority; and (b) the person destroys, defaces or removes the notice; and (c) the person does so without lawful authority.
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire in the open to cook, heat or prepare meals or boil water, or for a similar purpose; and (b) the person lights the fire during the bush fire danger period; and (c) the fire is not surrounded by ground that is clear of all combustible matter for a distance of at least 2 metres from the fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire to destroy household garbage or refuse, or to destroy an animal carcass; and (b) the person lights the fire during the bush fire danger period; and (c) the fire is not surrounded by ground that is clear of all combustible matter for a distance of at least 5 metres from the fire; and (d) either or both of the following apply: (i) the fire is not lit in an incinerator designed to prevent the escape of sparks and burning material; (ii) the fire is not lit in accordance with the conditions of a fire permit authorising the person to light the fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) Subsection (1) does not affect the operation of any law that prohibits or regulates the lighting of fires.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire for, or in connection with: (i) charcoal production; or (ii) the distillation of eucalyptus or other oils; and (b) the person lights the fire during the bush fire danger period; and (c) the fire is not surrounded by ground that is clear of all combustible matter for a distance of at least 30 metres from the fire.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a fire to burn waste products resulting from an activity mentioned in paragraph (1)(a); and (b) the person lights the fire during the bush fire danger period; and (c) either or both of the following apply: (i) the fire is not lit in accordance with the conditions of a fire permit authorising the person to light the fire; (ii) the fire is not lit at least 30 metres from the site of any other fire lit for, or in connection with, the distillation of eucalyptus or other oils.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(3) In this section:
combustible matter does not include the following:
(a) charcoal;
(b) timber to be reduced to charcoal;
(c) material used for the distillation of eucalyptus or other oils;
(d) a building or fence.
(1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person lights a tobacco product, match or other object; and (b) the person lights the object within 15 metres of a stack of grain, hay, corn or straw or any standing crop, dry grass or stubble field.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.
(2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person uses or carries a lit tobacco product, lit match or another lit object; and (b) the person uses or carries the lit object within 15 metres of a stack of grain, hay, corn or straw or any standing crop, dry grass or stubble field.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.
Definition of fire risk object (1) A fire risk object is: (a) a lit tobacco product; or (b) a lit match; or (c) incandescent material. Offence (2) A person commits an offence if the person discards a fire risk object on any land.
Penalty: 30 penalty units.
Aggravated offence (3) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person discards a fire risk object on any land; and (b) the person does so while an order is in force to which Division 7 (total fire bans) applies in the part of the Territory concerned.
Penalty: 60 penalty units.
Driver and owner of vehicle deemed guilty (4) If a fire risk object is, in contravention of subsection (2) or (3), discarded from a motor vehicle, or from a trailer attached to a motor vehicle, the following are taken to be guilty of an offence under the subsection: (a) in the case of a fire risk object discarded from a motor vehicle—the driver of the motor vehicle; (b) in the case of a fire risk object discarded from a motor vehicle—the owner of the motor vehicle; (c) in the case of a fire risk object discarded from a trailer attached to a motor vehicle—the owner of the trailer. Only one person liable (5) Subsection (4) does not affect the liability of the actual offender but, if a penalty has been imposed on or recovered from any person in relation to the offence (whether the actual offender, the driver or the owner), no further penalty may be imposed on or recovered from any other person. Exception for passenger vehicles (6) Subsection (4) does not apply if: (a) the motor vehicle is a bus, taxi or other public transport vehicle and is being used at the time to convey a public passenger; and (b) the fire risk object was discarded by that passenger. Exception for stolen vehicles (7) Paragraph (4)(b) does not apply if the motor vehicle was at the time a stolen motor vehicle or a motor vehicle illegally taken or used. Exception for stolen trailers (8) Paragraph (4)(c) does not apply if the trailer was at the time a stolen trailer or a trailer illegally taken or used. Exception for owner when not driver (9) Paragraph (4)(b) or (c) does not apply if the owner: (a) was not in the motor vehicle, including the motor vehicle to which the trailer was attached, at the relevant time; and (b) either: (i) gives notice in accordance with subsection (13) of the name and address of the person who was in charge of the motor vehicle at the relevant time; or (ii) satisfies the court dealing with the offence that the owner did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, that name and address. (10) A notice under subsection (9) is, in proceedings against the person named in the notice for an offence under subsection (2) or (3), evidence that the person was driving the motor vehicle at the relevant time. Exception for driver when not offender (11) Paragraph (4)(a) does not apply if the driver: (a) gives notice in accordance with subsection (13) of the name and address of the passenger in the motor vehicle who discarded the fire risk object; or (b) satisfies the court dealing with the offence that the driver did not discard the fire risk object and did not know, and could not with reasonable diligence have ascertained, the name and address of the passenger who discarded the fire risk object. (12) A notice under subsection (11) is, in proceedings against the person named in the notice for an offence under subsection (2) or (3), evidence that the person discarded the fire risk object from the motor vehicle. Notice given by owner or driver (13) A notice for the purposes of subparagraph (9)(b)(i) or paragraph (11)(a) must be: (a) verified by statutory declaration; and (b) given to the prosecutor within 28 days after service of the summons or court attendance notice for the offence. Application of terms used in the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW) (14) A term used in this section has the same meaning as in the Road Transport Act 2013 (NSW), as in force at the time the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Ordinance 2019 commenced.
(1) This Ordinance binds the Crown in each of its capacities. (2) This Ordinance does not make the Crown liable to a pecuniary penalty or to be prosecuted for an offence.
(1) The Minister may make a reasonable request for a person or body, on which a function is conferred under this Ordinance, to give the Minister specified information relating to the performance of the function, or the administration of this Ordinance. (2) The person or body must give the information to the Minister in the form (if any) requested by the Minister.
Except as expressly provided in this Ordinance, this Ordinance, or any conviction, payment of penalty or proceeding under this Ordinance, does not affect a civil claim or proceedings in respect of: (a) loss or damage caused by a bush or other fire to which this Ordinance relates; or (b) a trespass committed.
(1) A thing done, or omitted to be done, by a protected person or body does not subject the person personally, or the Commonwealth, to any action, liability, claim or demand if the thing was done, or omitted to be done, in good faith for the purpose of giving effect to a provision of this Ordinance (other than section 27). (2) In this section:
protected person or body means any of the following:
(a) the Minister;
(b) a person acting as a delegate, or under the authority, of the Minister;
(c) a member of the Rural Fire Service;
(d) a member of the Fire Management Committee;
(e) a member or special member of the AFP;
(f) the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW and any person acting under the authority of the Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW;
(g) the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service and any person acting under the authority of the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(h) a member of the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(i) the Director of National Parks and any person acting under the authority of the Director of National Parks;
(j) an officer of the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service;
(k) an interstate fire brigade acting under section 37.
(1) The Minister may be represented by a person appointed by the Minister at an inquest, or inquiry relating to the cause or origin of a fire. (2) The Minister’s representative may adduce evidence, examine witnesses and address the court at the inquest or inquiry.
Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Ordinance, a notice or direction required or permitted by this Ordinance to be served on a person must be served in the way prescribed by the rules.
(1) A member or special member of the AFP who has reason to suspect that a person is committing an offence against this Ordinance may direct the person to state the person’s full name and residential address. (2) A person commits an offence if: (a) a member or special member of the AFP requests the person to state the person’s full name and residential address in accordance with subsection (1); and (b) the person fails to state the person’s full name and residential address.
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
(3) It is a defence to a prosecution under subsection (2) that the member or special member of the AFP did not explain to the person, when giving the direction, that failure to comply with the direction is an offence. (4) A member or special member of the AFP may request a person who is required under this section to state the person’s full name and residential address to provide evidence of the correctness of the name and address if the officer reasonably suspects that the stated name or address is false.
(1) A member or special member of the AFP who has reasonable grounds to suspect that a person is committing an offence against this Ordinance may direct the person to produce a permit, notice or other document by or under the authority of which the person claims that a fire has been lit. (2) A member or special member of the AFP may direct a person who has lit a fire in contravention of a provision of this Ordinance: (a) to extinguish the fire; or (b) if the fire is in the open air, to extinguish the fire before leaving the site of the fire. (3) A person commits an offence if the person fails to comply with a direction given to the person under subsection (2)
Penalty: 5 penalty units.
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution under subsection (3) that the member or special member of the AFP did not explain to the person, when giving the direction, that failure to comply with the direction is an offence.
(1) An authorised member of a fire fighting authority may: (a) enter land (affected land) within the authorised distance from land for which the fire fighting authority is responsible; and (b) take any reasonably necessary action to: (i) suppress a bush fire on the affected land; or (ii) prevent the spread of a bush fire from the affected land to the land for which the fire fighting authority is responsible. (2) An authorised member may take the action referred to in subsection (1) whether or not the authorised member has been requested to assist in suppressing or preventing the spread of the fire by the officer in charge of the affected land. (3) If an authorised member takes action under subsection (1), the authorised member must observe any arrangements set out in any bush fire management plan applying to the affected land, or agreed with the authority responsible for the affected land. (4) In this section:
authorised distance from land for which a fire fighting authority is responsible means:
(a) 8 kilometres from the land; or
(b) if another distance is specified in the bush fire management plan—the distance specified in the plan.
Proceedings for offences against this Ordinance: (a) in the case of offences against subsections 86(1) or (1B) of this Ordinance—may be dealt with in accordance with Part 17 of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT); and (b) in any other case—may be dealt with summarily before the ACT Magistrates Court.
Proceedings for an offence against this Ordinance may be brought by: (a) a member of the Australian Federal Police (within the meaning of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979); or (b) a special member of the Australian Federal Police (within the meaning of that Act).
(1) The Minister may, by legislative instrument, make rules prescribing matters: (a) required or permitted by this Ordinance to be prescribed by the rules; or (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Ordinance. (2) Without limiting subsection (1), rules may be made for or with respect to the following: (a) the issue of fire permits; (g) the classification of substances as combustible; (h) the constitution, rules and functions of committees; (i) the service of notices or directions given under this Ordinance; (j) the conduct and discipline of members of the Rural Fire Service; (k) the membership, officers, functions and operation of rural fire brigades. (3) To avoid doubt, the rules may not do the following: (a) create an offence or civil penalty; (b) provide powers of: (i) arrest or detention; or (ii) entry, search or seizure; (c) impose a tax; (d) directly amend the text of this Ordinance.
The Minister must review this Ordinance within the period of 10 years beginning on the day the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Ordinance 2019 commenced, and at least once in each subsequent 10 year period, to determine whether: (a) the objects set out in section 5 remain valid; and (b) the terms of the Ordinance remain appropriate for securing those objects.
Definitions (1) In this section:
amending Ordinance means the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Ordinance 2019.
commencement day means the day the amending Ordinance commenced.
old Ordinance means the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Ordinance 2014, as in force immediately before the commencement day.
Costs of destroying etc. buildings or structures (2) Section 21, as amended by the amending Ordinance, applies in relation to something done on or after the commencement day. Draft bush fire risk management plans (3) Section 44, as amended by the amending Ordinance, applies in relation to a draft bush fire risk management plan whether the plan was prepared and given to the Minister before, on or after the commencement day. Bush fire hazard reduction work (4) The definition of bush fire hazard reduction work in section 6, as substituted by the amending Ordinance, applies in relation to: (a) permissions given under section 55 on or after the commencement day; and (b) bush fire hazard reduction notices issued under section 56 on or after the commencement day. Validity of fire permits not affected by amendments (5) The amendment of section 77 made by the amending Ordinance does not affect the validity of a fire permit issued under that section before the commencement day. Proceedings for offences (6) Despite the repeal of section 97 of the old Ordinance by the amending Ordinance, that section continues to apply, on and after the commencement day, in relation to any proceeding for an offence against subsection 86(1) of the old Ordinance.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
This Ordinance is the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Ordinance 2014.
This Ordinance is made under the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
The objects of this Ordinance are to provide for: (a) the prevention, mitigation and suppression of bush and other fires in the Territory; and (b) the coordination of bush fire fighting and bush fire prevention throughout the Territory; and (c) the protection of persons from injury or death, and property from damage, arising from fires; and (ca) the protection of infrastructure and environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and community assets from damage arising from fires; and (d) the protection of the environment.
In this Ordinance:
AFP means the Australian Federal Police.
approved form means a form approved by the Minister under section 7A.
authorised member of a fire fighting authority or other authority means:
(a) a member of the authority; or
(b) a person authorised by the authority to perform functions conferred on authorised members under this Ordinance.
back burning means the application of fire to combustible matter to provide a fire break to control or suppress a fire or protect persons, property or the environment from an existing or imminent danger arising out of a fire.
bush fire includes a grass fire.
bush fire danger period has the meaning given by section 72.
bush fire hazard complaint means a complaint made under subsection 61(1).
bush fire hazard reduction notice means a notice issued by a hazard reduction officer under subsection 56(1).
bush fire hazard reduction work means:
(a) the establishment or maintenance of fire breaks and fire trails on land; or
(b) the controlled application of appropriate fire regimes or other means for the reduction or modification of available fuels within a predetermined area to mitigate against the spread of a bush fire;
but does not include construction of a track or road.
bush fire management plan means a plan of operations or a bush fire risk management plan.
bush fire risk management plan means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 44 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 48.
combustible matter means any matter or substance:
(a) capable of ignition:
(i) spontaneously; or
(ii) by the application of heat, fire, flame or sparks; or
(b) prescribed by the rules as combustible matter for the purposes of this definition.
Defence Department means the Department of State that deals with defence and that is administered by the Minister administering section 1 of the Defence Act 1903.
Defence land means land in the Territory that is occupied by, or being used by, the Defence Department or the Australian Defence Force.
Director of National Parks means the Director of National Parks referred to in section 514A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
emergency means an emergency due to an actual or imminent event:
(a) that:
(i) endangers, or threatens to endanger, the safety or health of persons or animals in the Territory; or
(ii) destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage, property in the Territory, including any part of the environment of the Territory; and
(b) that requires a significant and coordinated response.
emergency services organisation means any of the following organisations:
(a) the AFP;
(b) the police force of New South Wales;
(c) the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service;
(d) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(e) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(f) the State Emergency Service of New South Wales;
(g) the Ambulance Service of New South Wales;
(h) any other emergency service operating in the Territory under an agreement with the Commonwealth, or on an ad hoc basis during an emergency.
environment includes:
(a) the physical characteristics of the Territory; and
(b) plants, native animals and marine life; and
(c) natural and physical resources.
financial year means the period from 1 July to the following 30 June.
fire fighting apparatus includes vehicles, equipment and other things used for or in connection with the prevention or suppression of fire or the protection of life or property in case of fire.
fire fighting authority means any of the following:
(a) the Rural Fire Service;
(b) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(c) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(d) Parks Australia;
(e) the New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service;
(f) any other person or body specified by the rules for this definition.
Fire Management Committee means the Jervis Bay Territory Fire Management Committee established by section 40.
fire permit means a permit issued under section 77.
fire risk object: see subsection 86K(1).
function includes a power, authority or duty.
hazard management officer means a person nominated as a hazard management officer under section 54.
Infrastructure Department means the Department administered by the Minister responsible for administering the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
interstate fire brigade means a fire brigade (by whatever name) established under a law of a place outside the Territory.
light a fire includes:
(a) maintain or use a fire; and
(b) cause a fire to be lit, maintained or used.
managed land has the meaning given by the rules.
motorised machine includes any vehicle or machine that is operated by means of an internal combustion engine or other fuel‑burning engine.
New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service means the service established by section 6 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 (NSW).
occupier of land means:
(a) the person who has the management or beneficial use of the land (whether resident on the land or not); or
(b) if the land is a public reserve or park—the trustees or any person having the care, control and management of the land.
officer of a rural fire brigade means the holder of a rank determined as a rank of an officer by the Minister under subsection 10(2).
officer in charge, at a fire at which a rural fire brigade is present for the purpose of mitigating or suppressing the fire, means the person for the time being in charge of the members of the rural fire brigade present at the fire.
owner of land:
(a) for leased Commonwealth land—means the lessee; and
(b) for Commonwealth land that is not leased—means:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a person to whom the Commonwealth has lawfully contracted to sell the land but in respect of which the purchase price or other consideration for the sale has not been received by the Crown; and
(c) for land other than Commonwealth land—includes:
(i) each person who jointly or severally, whether at law or in equity, is entitled to the land for any estate of freehold in possession; and
(ii) every such person who is entitled to receive, or is in receipt of, or if the land were let to a tenant would be entitled to receive, the rents and profits of the land, whether as beneficial owner, trustee, mortgagee in possession, or otherwise.
Parks Australia means:
(a) that part of the Department (the Environment Department) administered by the Minister administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 that is known as Parks Australia; or
(b) if there is a change in the name by which that part of the Environment Department is known—that part of the Environment Department known by the changed name.
plan of operations means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 43 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 49.
premises includes a building or part of a building, and any land whether built on or not, but does not include a building on, or land forming part of, managed land.
public authority means:
(a) a public authority constituted under an Ordinance other than this Ordinance; or
(b) a Department; or
(c) a statutory body of the Commonwealth; or
(d) a person prescribed by the rules as a public authority;
and includes, for the purposes of Part 4, an authorised network operator within the meaning of the Electricity Network Assets (Authorised Transactions) Act 2015 (NSW), as in force at the time the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Amendment (Miscellaneous Measures) Ordinance 2019 commenced.
rules means rules made under section 98.
rural fire brigade means a rural fire brigade formed under section 12.
Rural Fire Service means the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service established by section 8.
Service Standards means the standards issued by the Minister under section 11.
this Ordinance includes the rules.
tree includes bush, shrub, scrub or timber.
unoccupied Commonwealth land means Crown land that is not:
(a) held under lease or licence; or
(b) vested in, or under the control of, trustees.
vehicle means any means of transport whether self‑propelled or not, and whether used on land or water or in the air.
volunteer rural fire fighters means:
(a) members of a rural fire brigade; or
(b) a person (other than a member of a rural fire brigade) who, without remuneration or reward, voluntarily and without obligation engages in fighting, or activities associated with fighting, a fire with the consent of, or under the authority and supervision of, an officer of a rural fire brigade.
(1) The Minister may delegate, in writing, his or her functions and powers under this Ordinance (other than section 98) to: (a) a member of a fire fighting authority; or (aa) the Secretary of the Infrastructure Department; or (b) an SES employee of the Infrastructure Department; or (c) an employee of the Infrastructure Department.
Note 1: The Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service is a member of a fire fighting authority, and is covered by paragraph (a).
Note 2: A provision of this Ordinance may make a delegation unnecessary, for example subsection 32(1).
(2) If the Minister delegates a power or function to the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service under paragraph (1)(a), the Commissioner may sub‑delegate, in writing, the power or function to a member of a fire fighting authority. (3) If the Minister delegates a power or function to an SES employee of the Infrastructure Department under paragraph (1)(b), the SES employee may sub‑delegate, in writing, the power or function to a member of a fire fighting authority. (4) Sections 34AA, 34AB and 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 apply to a sub‑delegation by the Commissioner of the NSW Rural Fire Service or an SES employee in a corresponding way to the way in which they apply to a delegation.
(1) The Minister may approve forms for this Ordinance. (2) If the Minister approves a form for a particular purpose, the approved form must be used for the purpose. (3) The Minister must ensure that approved forms are publicly available.
This Ordinance is the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fires Ordinance 2014.
This Ordinance is made under the Jervis Bay Territory Acceptance Act 1915.
The objects of this Ordinance are to provide for: (a) the prevention, mitigation and suppression of bush and other fires in the Territory; and (b) the coordination of bush fire fighting and bush fire prevention throughout the Territory; and (c) the protection of persons from injury or death, and property from damage, arising from fires; and (ca) the protection of infrastructure and environmental, economic, cultural, agricultural and community assets from damage arising from fires; and (d) the protection of the environment.
In this Ordinance:
AFP means the Australian Federal Police.
approved form means a form approved by the Minister under section 7A.
authorised member of a fire fighting authority or other authority means:
(a) a member of the authority; or
(b) a person authorised by the authority to perform functions conferred on authorised members under this Ordinance.
back burning means the application of fire to combustible matter to provide a fire break to control or suppress a fire or protect persons, property or the environment from an existing or imminent danger arising out of a fire.
bush fire includes a grass fire.
bush fire danger period has the meaning given by section 72.
bush fire hazard complaint means a complaint made under subsection 61(1).
bush fire hazard reduction notice means a notice issued by a hazard reduction officer under subsection 56(1).
bush fire hazard reduction work means:
(a) the establishment or maintenance of fire breaks and fire trails on land; or
(b) the controlled application of appropriate fire regimes or other means for the reduction or modification of available fuels within a predetermined area to mitigate against the spread of a bush fire;
but does not include construction of a track or road.
bush fire management plan means a plan of operations or a bush fire risk management plan.
bush fire risk management plan means a plan prepared under Part 3 containing the matters mentioned in section 44 and adopted by the Fire Management Committee under section 48.
combustible matter means any matter or substance:
(a) capable of ignition:
(i) spontaneously; or
(ii) by the application of heat, fire, flame or sparks; or
(b) prescribed by the rules as combustible matter for the purposes of this definition.
Defence Department means the Department of State that deals with defence and that is administered by the Minister administering section 1 of the Defence Act 1903.
Defence land means land in the Territory that is occupied by, or being used by, the Defence Department or the Australian Defence Force.
Director of National Parks means the Director of National Parks referred to in section 514A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
emergency means an emergency due to an actual or imminent event:
(a) that:
(i) endangers, or threatens to endanger, the safety or health of persons or animals in the Territory; or
(ii) destroys or damages, or threatens to destroy or damage, property in the Territory, including any part of the environment of the Territory; and
(b) that requires a significant and coordinated response.
emergency services organisation means any of the following organisations:
(a) the AFP;
(b) the police force of New South Wales;
(c) the Jervis Bay Territory Rural Fire Service;
(d) Fire and Rescue NSW;
(e) the NSW Rural Fire Service;
(f) the State Emergency Service of New South Wales;
(g) the Ambulance Service of New South Wales;
(h) any other emergency service operating in the Territory under an agreement with the Commonwealth, or on an ad hoc basis during an emergency.
environment includes:
(a) the physical characteristics of the Territory; and
(b) plants, native animals and marine life; and
(c) natural and physical resources.
financial year means the period from 1 July to the following 30 June.
fire fighting apparatus includes vehicles, equipment and other things used for or in connection with the prevention or suppression of fire or the protection of life or property in case of fire.
fire fighting authority means any of the foll
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