Circulated with the authority of
Mr Jon Stanhope MLA,
Minister for the Environment

This Explanatory Statement relates to the Pest Plants and Animals Bill 2005 (the Bill) as introduced into the Legislative Assembly.

Pest plants and animals harm the natural environment and have a significant economic impact on natural resource management and agricultural activities. The extent of pest plant and animal infestation in the ACT, and the potential for the introduction of new invasive species is of growing concern.

The purpose of the Bill is to protect the ACT’s land and aquatic resources from threats from pest plants and pest animals and to promote a strategic and sustainable approach to pest management.

The Bill establishes a system for declarations of pest plants and pest animals. These declarations may indicate the approach to the management of the pest. For example, a declaration that a plant is a pest plant may state whether that pest plant should be suppressed or contained. A pest plant or pest animal declaration may also declare the pest to be notifiable in which case an occupier of premises must notify the Chief Executive of its presence.

The Bill provides for the development of management plans for declared pest plants and pest animals that set out how the threat will be managed. Directions may be issued to the occupier of premises to eradicate or control pest plants or pest animals consistent with the management plan. Contravention of a pest management direction is established as an offence and where a person has not undertaken something required by a direction, an authorised person may do so at the reasonable cost of the occupier.

The Bill also prohibits the supply of certain pest plants or pest animals, or material contaminated with certain declared pest plants or pest animals. These pest plants or pest animals are declared as prohibited. Furthermore the Bill establishes offences for activities, such as the use of vehicles and machinery contaminated with a prohibited pest plant or animal or the disposal of prohibited pest plants or animals or things contaminated with prohibited pest plants or animals, which would result, or be likely to result, in the spread of prohibited pest plants or pest animals.

This Bill proposes to repeal and replace Part 6, Division 3 of the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991.

The Bill includes a number of offences where strict liability applies to a specific element of the offence or to the offence. Section 23 of the Criminal Code provides that if a law that creates an offence provides for strict liability, there are no fault elements for the physical elements of the offence. Essentially, this means that conduct alone is sufficient to make the defendant culpable. However, if strict liability applies, the defence of mistake of fact is available where the person considered whether or not facts existed and was under a mistaken but reasonable belief about the facts.

Offences incorporating strict liability elements are carefully considered when developing legislation and generally arise in a regulatory context where for reasons such as public safety or protection of the public revenue, the public interest in ensuring that regulatory schemes are observed requires the sanction of criminal penalties. In particular, where a defendant can reasonably be expected, because of his or her professional involvement, to know what the requirements of the law are, the mental, or fault, element can justifiably be excluded. The rationale is that people engaged in the conduct of for example a business of supplying plants, as opposed to members of the general public who purchase plants from a commercial supplier, can be expected to be aware of their duties and obligations. The provisions are drafted so that, if a particular set of circumstances exists, a specified person is guilty of an offence. Unless some knowledge or intention ought be required to commit a particular offence (in which case a specific defence is provided), the defendant's frame of mind at the time is irrelevant.

The legislation will be implemented within existing financial resources.

Provides that this Act is the Pest Plants and Animals Act 2005.

Provides that this Act commences on a day fixed by the Minister by written notice.

Provides the objects of the Act. The primary objects stated in this clause are: to protect the ACT’s land and aquatic resources from threats from pest plants and animals; to promote a strategic and sustainable approach to pest management; to identify pest plants and animals; and to manage pest plants and animals.

Provides that there is a dictionary at the end of the Act that is part of the Act.

Provides that the notes included within the Bill are explanatory and do not form part of the Act.

Provides that this Bill is subject to other legislation, including the Criminal Code and Legislation Act.

Empowers the Minister to declare a plant to be a pest plant. A declaration may also declare a pest plant to be a notifiable and/or prohibited pest plant, and whether the pest plant must be suppressed or contained. A declaration is a disallowable instrument.

Provides for the preparation of a pest plant management plan. A pest plant management plan is a notifiable instrument.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person does not notify the chief executive, within 2 working days, about the presence of a notifiable pest plant on their premises. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units.

Provides that a person commits an offence, if in the conduct of a business supplying plants, supplies a prohibited pest plant to someone else. This is a strict liability offence with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units. This section does not apply if the supply is to an entity prescribed by regulation or under a permit.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person supplies a prohibited pest plant or something contaminated with a prohibited pest plant, which would result or be likely to result in the spread of prohibited pest plants of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person uses a vehicle or machinery which has on or in it, a prohibited pest plant or something contaminated by a prohibited pest plant, where it would result, or be likely to result, in the spread of the prohibited pest plants of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum of 50 penalty units.

Provides for the chief executive to issue a written permit for the supply of a prohibited pest plant, if the supply will not result in the spread of prohibited pest plants of that kind in a way that would endanger the environment or agriculture. Clause 48 states that issuing or refusing to issue a permit is a reviewable decision.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person disposes a prohibited pest plant or something contaminated by a prohibited pest plant, where it would result, or be likely to result, in the spread of prohibited pest plants of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

Empowers the Minister to declare an animal to be a pest animal. A declaration may also declare a pest animal to be a notifiable and/or prohibited pest animal. A declaration is a disallowable instrument.

Provides for the preparation of a pest animal management plan. A pest animal management plan is a notifiable instrument.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person does not notify the chief executive, within 2 working days, about the presence of a notifiable pest animal on their premises. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 20 penalty units.

Provides that a person commits an offence, if in the conduct of a business supplying animals, supplies a prohibited pest animal to someone else. This is a strict liability offence with a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units. This section does not apply if the supply is to an entity prescribed by regulation or under a permit.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person supplies a prohibited pest animal or something contaminated with a prohibited pest animal, which would result or be likely to result in the spread of prohibited pest animals of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person uses a vehicle or machinery which has on or in it, a prohibited pest animal or something contaminated by a prohibited pest animal, where it would result, or be likely to result, in the spread of the prohibited pest animals of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person keeps a prohibited pest animal where the keeping is likely to result in the spread of prohibited pest animals of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum penalty of 50 penalty units.

Provides for the chief executive to issue a written permit to supply a prohibited pest animal, if the supply would not result in the spread of prohibited pest animals of that kind in a way that would endanger the environment or agriculture. Clause 48 states that issuing or refusing to issue a permit is a reviewable decision.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person disposes a prohibited pest animal or something contaminated by a prohibited pest animal, where it would result, or be likely to result, in the spread of prohibited pest animals of that kind. This offence carries an element of recklessness and a maximum of 50 penalty units.

Provides for the chief executive to give a direction to a person to do or not do something in relation to a pest plant or pest animal at their premises, if satisfied that a pest plant or pest animal is at the premises, and there has not been compliance with the relevant pest management plan. The direction must be consistent with the pest management plan for that pest plant or pest animal. Clause 48 states that giving a direction is a reviewable decision.

Defines how a pest management direction may be given to the occupier of the premises.

Provides that a person commits an offence if the person engages in conduct that contravenes a requirement of a pest management direction. Maximum penalty is 50 penalty units.

This clause provides that if a person does not comply with a pest management direction requiring the occupier to do something an authorised person may, with any reasonable and necessary force, enter premises which the direction relates and do anything the occupier was required to do under the direction that was not done. The Territory may recover reasonable costs from the occupier for undertaking such work. The chief executive must endeavour to give written notice specifying certain information to the occupier at least 2 working days before any work by the authorised person begins. The occupier may waive the right to all or part of the minimum notice period.

Defines the terms connected, occupier and offence for the purpose of Part 5 of the Bill.

Empowers the chief executive to appoint a public servant to be an authorised person for this Act.

Requires authorised persons to have identity cards.

Empowers an authorised officer to enter premises at any reasonable time that are open to the public or at any reasonable time, enter premises if the authorised person suspects, on reasonable grounds, that a notifiable pest plant, prohibited pest plant, something contaminated by a prohibited pest plant, a notifiable pest animal, a prohibited pest animal or something contaminated by a prohibited pest animal may be at the premises. It does not include authorisation to enter part of the premises that are being used only for residential purposes. An authorised officer may also enter premises with the occupier’s consent or with a search warrant.

Clause 32 Production of identity card

Provides that an authorised person may only remain on premises if they produce an identity card when asked to do so.

Establishes the procedure required for an authorised person to obtain consent to entry, and the requirement for giving acknowledgement of that consent.

Defines the general powers of an authorised person who enters premises.

Empowers an authorised person to require a person to state their name and address in relation to suspicion of committing an offence under this Bill.

Empowers an authorised officer to seize anything that is connected to an offence and makes it an offence to interfere with a seized thing.

Empowers an authorised person to apply to a magistrate for a search warrant with regard to an offence under this Bill and establishes the process and requirements for the provision of a warrant.

Empowers an authorised person to apply by phone, fax, radio or other form of communication to a magistrate for a search warrant in urgent or otherwise special circumstances and establishes the process and requirements for the provision of a warrant.

Requires an authorised person to announce that they are entering the premises under a search warrant.

Requires an authorised person to provide the occupier, or someone else representing the occupier, with details of the search warrant.

Entitles the occupier to be present and observe whilst a search is being conducted. However, a person is not entitled to observe if to do so will impede the search or the person is under arrest and allowing the person to observe would interfere with the objectives of the search .

Clause 42 Receipt for things seized

Requires that an authorised person provide a receipt for any things seized and describes what the receipt must include.

Empowers an authorised person to move a thing found under a search warrant to another place for examination.

Entitles who would otherwise be able to inspect a thing seized, to inspect or copy (if a document) of the thing seized.

Requires things seized to be returned to its owner or reasonable compensation paid by the Territory if an infringement notice is not served within 90 days and a prosecution is not begun within 90 days or a prosecution is unsuccessful, an infringement notice is withdrawn and a prosecution has not begun or the offence is not proven. This does not apply to notifiable pest plants or pest animals, prohibited pest plants or pest animals, or things contaminated with prohibited pest plants or pest animals.

Requires that damage or inconvenience incurred by an authorised person in their duties under this Bill be minimised and duly rectified.

Provides for a person to claim compensation for any loss or expense suffered due to the exercise of a function under this Part of the Bill.

Provides that section 13, section 22 and section 24 are reviewable decisions.

Provides for applications to be made to Administrative Appeals Tribunal for the review of reviewable decisions.

Provides that the Minister my in writing determine fees for this Act.

Provides that the Minister may in writing approve forms for the Act. An approved form is a notifiable instrument.

Empowers the Executive to make regulations for this Bill.

Provides that the Act be reviewed after 5 years of operation.

Provides for regulations to prescribe transitional matters necessary or convenient for the enactment of this Act.

Provides that this part expires 2 years after the day it commences.

Provides for this Bill to amend legislation mentioned in schedule 1.

Schedule 1 sets out the legislation to be amended by this Bill. This includes amendments to the Land (Planning and Environment) Act 1991, Land Titles Act 1925, Nature Conservation Act 1980 and Tree Protection Act 2005.

The Dictionary sets out the definitions for this Act.