Overview

Response is the action taken during and in the first period after an emergency to reduce the effects and consequences of the emergency on people, their livelihoods, wellbeing and property; on the environment; and to meet basic human needs.

When viewing the Control Agencies for response (table 9) and Lead Response Support Agencies for response (table 10) tables, two response sections of the interactive and functional SEMP PDF should also be considered:

  1. the Response section under Emergency Management Phases
  2. the Response section under Emergency Management Arrangements.

Users (including response planners) should use the Control Agencies for response (table 9) and Lead Response Support Agencies (table 10) tables to identify agencies and functional areas that should be considered and/or included in response plans. The tables do not list all agencies that may be involved in any particular emergency, nor do they list all potential emergencies.  

Control Agencies for response

Control Agencies for response are primarily responsible for managing the response to a specified form of emergency, and responsible for establishing the management arrangements for an integrated response to the emergency.

Control Agencies for response (table 9), which the Emergency Management Act 2013 (External link) requires, identifies Control Agencies for response in a specified form of emergency, with sub-plans also listed for some emergencies, where applicable, but there are exceptions to the listing in certain circumstances. Where multiple Control Agencies are listed for the same emergency type, the Control Agency responsibility is delineated through legislation or administrative arrangements. 

Lead Response Support Agencies

Lead Response Support Agencies (table 10), which the Emergency Management Act 2013 requires, identifies functional areas to be considered that may be impacted during the response to a form of emergency, and the corresponding Lead Response Support Agencies (RSAs).

Lead RSAs provide services, personnel or material to support or assist a Control and/or a Coordination Agency and/or members of the public during the response to a form of emergency, within the considered functional area. The Lead RSA is the agency that is generally the most closely aligned to the functional area, with other agencies also having the potential to be RSAs, if they have the skills, expertise or resources to contribute to the response to a form of emergency.

Where there is a functional area required to manage an emergency but is not listed or there is uncertainty as to which agency may potentially support this function, the EMC or relevant emergency response coordinator may request any agency to lead this function.

Table 9: Control Agencies for response  

 

Emergency: A disruption to an essential service

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Dam safety incidentsDEECA2
Electricity (see SEMP Energy Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Gas (see SEMP Energy Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Liquid fuels (see SEMP Energy Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Reticulated water and wastewater disruption (sewerage) servicesDEECA2
Cyber security (see SEMP Cyber Security Sub-Plan)DGS2
Public transport (see SEMP Public Transport Disruption Sub-Plan)DTP2
Roads/bridges/tunnels/rail networkDTP2
Critical infrastructure damage or disruptionVicPol2
 

Emergency: A warlike act or act of terrorism, hijack, siege or riot

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
A warlike act or act of terrorism, hijack, siege or riotVicPol3
Other threats against persons, property or environmentVicPol2
 

Emergency: Fire and explosion

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
AircraftCFA / FRV1
Aircraft (designated aerodromes [1])ARFFS2
Boilers and pressure vesselsCFA / FRV1
ExplosionCFA / FRV1
Fire (see SEMP Bushfire Sub-Plan)CFA / FRV / DEECA1
Fire (designated aerodromes)ARFFS2
Explosive deviceVicPol3

Footnotes

  1. For the purposes of the SEMP, an ‘aerodrome’ is defined as an area of land or water (including buildings, installations, and equipment) being such an area intended for use wholly or partly for the arrival, departure, or movement of aircraft, whilst an ‘airport’ includes an aerodrome, but also includes extended facilities, commercial buildings and infrastructure, not necessarily connected with aviation. 
 

Emergency: Hazardous materials incident

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Hazardous materials [1], high consequence dangerous goods or dangerous goods (including leaks and spills)CFA / FRV1
Radioactive materials (including leaks and spills)DH2
Biological releases (including leaks and spills)DH2

Footnotes

  1. For the purposes of the SEMP, ‘hazardous’ is defined as any contaminants or materials that are harmful to human health (including substances that are dangerous goods as defined by Dangerous Goods Act 1985), and ‘non-hazardous’ is defined as any contaminants or materials (not identified as ‘hazardous’) that are not harmful to human health (noting these may be harmful to the environment and/or biodiversity (including plants and animals)). Where there is any doubt, contaminants or materials are to be deemed hazardous until such time as the Control Agency or support agency confirm they are non-hazardous 
 

Emergency: Natural event

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Blue-green algaeDEECA2
Heat (see SEMP Extreme Heat Sub-Plan)EMC2
Earthquake (see SEMP Earthquake Sub-Plan) VICSES1
Flood (see SEMP Flood Sub-Plan)VICSES1
Storm (see SEMP Storm Sub-Plan)VICSES1
Tsunami (see SEMP Tsunami Sub-Plan)VICSES1
LandslideVICSES1
 

Emergency: Plague or an epidemic or contamination 

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Hazardous[1] pollution of inland waters (see SEMP Maritime Emergencies (non SAR) Sub-Plan)CFA/FRV1
Biosecurity incursions (see SEMP Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Emergency animal disease (includes aquaculture) (see SEMP Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan) DEECA2
Invasive plant, animal and exotic marine pest incursion (see SEMP Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Non-hazardous [1] pollution of inland watersDEECA2
Plant pest or disease (includes bee pests and diseases) - (see SEMP Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Vertebrate pest/plaguesDEECA2
Wildlife affected by marine and fresh water pollution (see SEMP Maritime Emergencies (non SAR) Sub-Plan)DEECA2
Drinking water contamination (see SEMP Health Emergencies Sub-Plan)DH2
Food contamination (potential to cause harm to health) (see SEMP Health Emergencies Sub-Plan)DH2
Human disease (including pandemic) (see SEMP Viral (Respiratory) Pandemic Sub-Plan)DH2
Retail food contamination (see SEMP Health Emergencies Sub-Plan)DH2
Maritime-sourced pollution oil spills in Victorian coastal waters up to three nautical miles (see SEMP Maritime Emergencies (non SAR) Sub-Plan)DTP / Port management body [2]2

Footnotes

  1. For the purposes of the SEMP, ‘hazardous’ is defined as any contaminants or materials that are harmful to human health (including substances that are dangerous goods as defined by Dangerous Goods Act 1985), and ‘non-hazardous’ is defined as any contaminants or materials (not identified as ‘hazardous’) that are not harmful to human health (noting these may be harmful to the environment and/or biodiversity (including plants and animals)). Where there is any doubt, contaminants or materials are to be deemed hazardous until such time as the Control Agency or support agency confirm they are non-hazardous 
  2. Port management body as per the Marine Safety Act 2010: Ports Victoria, Port of Hastings Corporation and, Port of Portland, and Local Port Manager: Gippsland Ports.
 

Emergency: Rescue

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Building, structure collapse and/or risk of collapseCFA/FRV [1]1
Lift, crane, scaffolding or amusement structureCFA (exc. cranes)/FRV1
Rail and aircraft[2]CFA/FRV/VICSES1
IndustrialCFA/FRV/VICSES1
Trench or tunnelFRV1
CaveVicPol2
LandVicPol2
Mine/quarryVicPol2
Road (see State Road Crash Rescue Arrangements 2023)VicPol2
WaterVicPol2

Footnotes

  1. Utilising USAR Category 2 FRV/CFA and Category 1 VICSES
  2. Aircraft rescues that occur within designated airports are a Class 2 major emergency, led by ARFFS
 

Emergency: Search

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Distress beacon detectionAMSA2
Overdue aircraftAMSA2
WaterVicPol / AMSA2
LandVicPol2
 

Emergency: Other

Form of emergencyControl AgencyClass of major emergency
Military aircraft and shipsADF2
Aircraft – inflight emergencyAirservices Australia, Australia Air Traffic Control2
AircraftVicPol2
Aircraft (designated aerodromes)ARFFS2
Building damageVICSES1
Gas leakageCFA/FRV1
Lifts, cranes or scaffolding and amusement structuresCFA (exc. cranes)/ FRV1
Cetacean (whale and dolphin) stranding, entanglement and vessel strikeDEECA2
Wildlife welfare arising from an emergency eventDEECA2
Maritime casualty[1]  – non search and rescue in commercial and local port waters (excluding coastal waters) (see SEMP Maritime Emergencies (non SAR) Sub-Plan)Port management body or local port manager[2]2
Maritime casualty – non search and rescue of all vessels in coastal waters (excluding commercial and local port waters) (see SEMP Maritime Emergencies (non SAR) Sub-Plan)ST Vic2
Marine (not including marine pollution, cetaceans or wildlife)VicPol2
Rail and tramVicPol2
RoadVicPol2
Vehicle into building/structureVicPol2
Shark hazardVFA2

Footnotes

  1. As per the National Plan for Maritime Environmental Emergencies 2020, maritime casualty is defined as “a collision of vessels, stranding or other incident of navigation, or other occurrence on board a vessel or external to it resulting in material damage or imminent threat of material damage to a vessel or cargo”
  2. Port management body as per the Marine Safety Act 2010: Ports Victoria and Port of Portland, and Local Port Manager as per the Marine Safety Act 2010

Table 10: Lead Response Support Agencies 

Functional areaLead response support agency (RSA)
Ambulance services/first aid/pre-hospital careAV
Health commandAV
WeatherBoM
Responder agencies

CFA

FRV

DEECA

VICSES

Rescue: aircraft, building/structure collapse, vehicle into building/structure, rail

CFA

FRV

VICSES

Volunteer Search and Rescue Organisations

Rescue: road 

CFA

FRV

VICSES

Volunteer Search and Rescue Organisations

Rescue: industrial

CFA

FRV

VICSES

Volunteer Search and Rescue Organisations

Coronial servicesCCOV
CourtsCourt Services Victoria
EducationDE
AgricultureDEECA
Animal welfare (livestock and companion animals)DEECA
Earth resources (mines)DEECA
Fish death events due to natural causesDEECA
Public landDEECA
Spatial dataDEECA
Threatened ecosystems and speciesDEECA
Human services and community wellbeingDFFH
Consumer AffairsDGS
Local governmentDGS
Public telecommunicationsDGS
Health protection – public healthDH
Health servicesDH
CorrectionsDJCS
Business and industryDJSIR
Cross-border relationsDJSIR
Food and grocery supply continuityDJSIR
Post-school education DJSIR
TourismDJSIR
Public transportDTP
RailDTP
RoadsDTP
Transport (including ports and access to aerodromes[1])DTP
Media/communicationsEMV
Environment and environmental public health impact (air, land and water quality)EPA
Emergency services telecommunications TZV
Specific facilities (including secure facilities)Owner or manager
Fisheries (in Victorian waters)VFA
Deceased person identificationVicPol
WorkSafeVictorian WorkCover Authority
Insurance and risk adviceVMIA
Reticulated water and wastewater (sewerage)Water corporations

 

Footnotes

  1. For the purposes of the SEMP, an ‘aerodrome’ is defined as an area of land or water (including buildings, installations, and equipment) being such an area intended for use wholly or partly for the arrival, departure, or movement of aircraft, whilst an ‘airport’ includes an aerodrome, but also includes extended facilities, commercial buildings and infrastructure, not necessarily connected with aviation.