Member for Kiama Gareth Ward has introduced the "Automated External Defibrillators (Public Access) Bill 2023" in New South Wales, aiming to make defibrillators a requirement in public buildings and transport modes by 2026. 

The proposed bill also calls for a mandatory register of all defibrillators in the state, to be maintained by Service NSW, with real-time accessibility for the public. Ward's bill seeks to increase survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, which currently stand at just 10 per cent, by making defibrillators compulsory in schools, libraries, sporting facilities, and various modes of public transport. In addition, defibrillators will need annual testing and clear signage, while training schemes for certain individuals will be developed. 

The initiative, already in place in countries like Canada, the US, South Korea, and several European nations, aims to save lives and provide immediate assistance during cardiac emergencies.