Australian Emergency Law, published by Michael Eburn, PhD, focuses on legal issues related to emergency services and responses in Australia. The blog covers topics such as employment disputes and disciplinary actions within fire and rescue services, legal implications of safety alerts issued by rural fire services, and the legal aftermath of emergency incidents including terrorism and public safety events. It also addresses industrial relations and ministerial powers affecting emergency service organizations, as well as procedural challenges faced by emergency service personnel in legal claims. The blog discusses statutory interpretation, negligence, liability, and regulatory compliance in the context of emergency management and public safety law.
Today I’m asked to comment on the Advance Health Directive (Queensland) and its application to paramedic practice. My correspondent says:
I am wondering what utility the QLD Advance Health Directive has in paramedic practice, specifically section 4 Directions About Life-Sustaining…
I have previously reported on issues that arise for emergency services personnel when taking photos (see https://australianemergencylaw.com/?s=photo) and in particular the risk for health professionals such as paramedics – see:
…
Today’s correspondent says:
I understand in WA that during an emergency:
“Traffic Controllers in attendance at a road closure do not have the authority to prevent access, but may take details of the registration plate number of any road user…
Today’s question comes from a person who works:
… for a Hospital in the Home (HITH)/virtual care service in NSW, where patients remain admitted as inpatients under the hospital but receive care in the community/home environment.
I’ve been told that…
In my post ‘What a difference a day [or three days] makes…’ (June 3, 2025) I reported on the case of State of Tasmania (Department of Health) Ambulance Tasmania v SGC [2025] TASCAT 111. The issue was on what date was the ambulance…
Today’s question relates to the confidentiality of medical records held by a health facility established by an employer or Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (a PCBU). The context is a:
… mine site and commercially employed paramedics and nurses.
…
That’s the heading of an article in The Conversation (14 May 2026) written by Erin Smith and Cameron Anderson (and I note here that I too have co-authored with Erin see A new publication (November 14, 2016)).
In this article…
Following a seminar I presented for the Australasian College of Paramedicine I received these follow up questions:
Scenario #1: Commercial flight
If I were on a commercial flight and a passenger went into anaphylactic shock, but there was no EpiPen…
This is the title of a report published by Natural Hazards Research Australia. It is available to download here – https://www.naturalhazards.com.au/resources/publications/report/landholder-legal-responsibility-bushfire-mitigation-queensland
The report is written by Fia Hamid-Walker, a PhD student at Melbourne University. The abstract says:
This report examines…
Today’s question is about how long undertakings, given to resolve a matter under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) (‘OHS Act’) apply. The context relates to the prosecution of Victoria SES following the death of a volunteer in 2007 and…
