Bill

National Emergency Declaration Bill 2020

passed, as at 2020-12-15. Attorney-General portfolio.

Sponsor: Not recorded
Portfolio: Attorney-General

Recorded stages

introduced — 2020-12-03
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second reading — 2020-12-03
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second reading — 2020-12-09
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second reading — 2020-12-09
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committee — 2020-12-09
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third reading — 2020-12-09
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introduced — 2020-12-10
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second reading — 2020-12-10
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third reading — 2020-12-10
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passed — 2020-12-10
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royal assent — 2020-12-15
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Divisions

The majority voted against adding [additional words](https://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2020-12-10.58.1) (see below) to the usual [second reading](https://peo.gov.au/understand-our-parliament/how-parliament-works/bills-and-laws/making-a-law-in-the-australian-parliament/) motion, which is "*that the bill be read a second time*" - parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill. This means the words won't be added. ### Amendment text > *At the end of the motion, add: ", but the Senate:* > > *(a) notes:* > >> *(i) the Prime Minister's failure to prepare adequately for the last bushfire season,* >> >> *(ii) the Prime Minister's catastrophic failure of leadership during the last bushfire season, which Australians have come to know as the Black Summer, and* >> >> *(iii) the bill largely re-states existing emergency powers of the Commonwealth Government; and* > > *(b) calls on the Prime Minister and the Government to:* > >> *(i) learn from their catastrophic failure to prepare for, or respond to, the Black Summer,* >> >> *(ii) urgently prepare for this disaster season, including by releasing funding for mitigation works from their $4 billion Emergency Response Fund, and* >> >> *(iii) accept, and implement, the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements' recommendation to develop a sovereign aerial firefighting fleet".* — 2020-12-10, Senate: negative, ayes 27, noes 30
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Plain-language summary

Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2020-12-03.

This bill would let the Governor-General declare a national emergency on the Prime Minister's recommendation.

It would create a single list of existing federal emergency powers so decision-makers can see all options, and let ministers cut red tape during a declared emergency.

The Prime Minister could also order Commonwealth agencies to share details on stockpiles, assets and response plans.

Establishes a legal process for the Governor-General to declare a national emergency.
Compiles existing Commonwealth emergency powers into one list for easier access by decision-makers.
Lets ministers suspend or change regulatory requirements in their own legislation if it helps the public during or after a national emergency.
Allows the Prime Minister to require Commonwealth entities to provide information on stockpiles, assets and response options.

The Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Commonwealth ministers and Commonwealth entities are affected.

Sources

em supp

em revised

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