Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Forced evacuation during bushfire is illegal

Anyone Wanting To Defend Their Home From a Bushfire Threat Needs To Know This:
THE LAW SPECIFICALLY ALLOWS YOU TO STAY.

Neither police nor fire officers (at least in Victoria) have a legal right to order anyone 
to leave a threatened or burning premises if they have any monetary interest in it. 
This, of course, includes renters who own anything within the property.  
Such persons cannot legally be forced to evacuate.

Kinglake, Victoria, Black Saturday, 2009. (Picture (c) Katherine E. Seppings)

 The Emergency Services Legislation 2012 and The Country Fire Authority Act 
that give police & fire officers power to order 
‘withdrawal’ from ‘land, building or premises 
that is burning or threatened by fire’
 expressly excludes  
‘any person having any pecuniary interest therein or in any goods or valuables 
whatsoever thereon.’