What Part 7A of the Emergency Management Act 2013 Means for Critical Infrastructure Organisations
Victoria’s Emergency Management Act 2013 (Vic), introduced after major reviews and reforms following significant emergencies and commencing on 1 July 2014, aims to foster a sustainable emergency management system across prevention, response and recovery—not just emergency response. For organisations operating critical infrastructure in Victoria, especially across energy, transport, utilities, fuel and food supply, Part 7A is the key section: it sets up a system to identify, regulate, and strengthen Vital Critical Infrastructure (VCI) so the essential services Victorians depend on continue to operate during major emergencies.
The main goal is to keep supplies flowing—such as electricity, fuel, freight, and food—even during major emergencies.
This guide explains how Part 7A works, who may be affected, what compliance involves through resilience and risk management plans and audit assessments, and how building operational resilience helps meet legal obligations while protecting public safety, the economy and service continuity.
What Is Vital Critical Infrastructure (VCI)?
Under Part 7A, the Victorian Government may designate infrastructure as Vital Critical Infrastructure where its disruption would significantly impact:
Public safety and wellbeing
The state’s economy
Essential goods and services
Other interconnected infrastructure systems
VCI status means some assets are so critical that their failure could disrupt multiple sectors.
The Victorian Critical Infrastructure Register (VCIR)
Part 7A requires that identified infrastructure is listed on the Victorian Critical Infrastructure Register, which is a central place for key information about these assets.
This helps government and emergency agencies support emergency management arrangements and control arrangements by:
Understand infrastructure interdependencies
Prioritising response and recovery actions to protect life and property during a major emergency
Coordinate across sectors during crises.
Maintain situational awareness of essential services.
Resilient Services helps organisations make sure their infrastructure is properly listed and meets thregister’s’s requirements.
The Mandatory Resilience Improvement Cycle
Organisations listed as VCI must follow a Resilience Improvement Cycle, consistent witVictoria’s’s all hazards, all agencies model. This ongoing process is designed to support effective collaboration in practice across agencies and organisations, showing they can handle, respond to, and recover from disruptions.
Key Requirements Include:
Resilience Plan
A practical, operational plan outlining how critical services will continue during disruption, including:
Continuity strategies
Incident response coordination
Recovery timeframes
Stakeholder engagement
Restoration of essential functions
Risk Management Plan
A detailed assessment identifying risks to infrastructure and supply continuity, including:
Hazards and threat analysis across a broad emergency context, including bushfires, floods, and fire
Infrastructure vulnerabilities
Supply chain dependencies
Mitigation strategies and controls
Governance and accountability frameworks with clear role definitions and responsibilities
These documents are not set in stone. They need to be reviewed, tested, and improved regularly.
Industries Commonly Captured Under Part 7A
The government decides which assets are included, but Part 7A usually covers industries that keep Victoria running every day.
Energy & Utilities
Electricity generation, transmission and distribution
Gas supply networks
Energy storage infrastructure
If disrupted, these services can quickly cause failures in all other sectors.
Fuel Supply Chains
Fuel import terminals and storage facilities
Distribution networks supporting transport and emergency services
If disrupted, it limits logistics, emergency response, and economic activity.
Transport, Freight & Logistics
Ports, rail freight and major distribution hubs
Intermodal and large-scale logistics centres
If disrupted, it disrupts supply chains, exports, and supermarket availability.
Food Production & Distribution
Major processors and cold storage operators
Agricultural supply and wholesale distribution networks
If disrupted, it threatens food security and the stability of communities.
Water & Essential Services
Water treatment and distribution systems
Wastewater and sanitation infrastructure
If disrupted, there are direct consequences for public health.
Enabling Infrastructure & Critical Suppliers
ICT systems supporting infrastructure operations
Specialist service providers embedded in critical supply chains
If disrupted, hidden dependencies can shut down the main infrastructure.
What a “Part 7A Audit” Really Assesses
While these activities are not always called traditional audits, Part 7A checks whether organisations can show real resilience, including:ing:
A compliant and operational Resilience Plan
Integrated Risk Management aligned to infrastructure threats.
Executive-level oversight and governance
Understanding of interdependencies and critical functions
Tested response and recovery arrangements
Evidence of continuous improvement
It is about proving resilience is embedded—not theoretical.
Moving From Compliance to Capability
Part 7A reflects a broader shift in emergency management: the Emergency Management Act 2013 established broader state-level governance through legislation, not just infrastructure obligations, and within that broader framework, the legislation classifies emergencies into Class 1 and Class 2 categories.
Instead of just reacting to incidents, the focus is now on designing systems that keep working even when problems happen. At the centre of Emergency Management Victoria is the Emergency Management Commissioner (EMC), who leads statewide response and consequence management under the Act’s powers.
The state crisis and resilience council, also referred to as the crisis and resilience council, prAct’ss strategic advice to government and develops strategic action plans for ongoing emergency management reform, while the inspector general monitors performance. At the same time, ss the emergency management sector.
Organisations that see Part 7A as a way to build resilience, not just a compliance task, benefit by gaining:
Stronger operational continuity
Reduced downtime and disruption risk
Clearer executive visibility of infrastructure risk
Alignment with national critical infrastructure expectations
Greater stakeholder and regulatory confidence
How Resilient Services Supports Part 7A Compliance
Resilient Services works with infrastructure owners and operators across Victoria to turn legal requirements into practical results within the broader recovery context used after major emergencies, where organisations may also require practical and financial assistance.
We assist with:
Determining whether assets fall within the VCI scope
Preparing submissions aligned to the Victorian Critical Infrastructure Register
Developing Resilience and Risk Management Plans
Mapping dependencies and critical functions
Facilitating resilience workshops and scenarios
Validating plans through testing and Reviews
Embedding continuous improvement across operations
Recovery responsibilities can also include relief programs, psychosocial support, emergency accommodation, and assistance delivered through government departments, with needs varying for everyone affected.
We focus on making sure organisations are not only compliant, but also ready to operate during disruptions. If you need access to support after a major emergency, visit relevant Victorian recovery resources.
Strengthen Your Infrastructure Resilience
If your organisation works in energy, transport, logistics, utilities, fuel, or food supply, Part 7A will likely affect your regulations now or soon.
Resilient Services helps critical infrastructure organisations meet Part 7A obligations with clarity, confidence and practical resilience outcomes.
Speak with our team to ensure your organisation is prepared, compliant, and able to maintain essential services in the event of disruption.