NATURE CONSERVATION ACT 2014 - SECT 143 Offence—take native plant—special protection status

NATURE CONSERVATION ACT 2014 - SECT 143

    (1)     A person commits an offence if—

        (a)     the person takes a plant; and

        (b)     the plant—

              (i)     is a native plant; and

              (ii)     has special protection status.

Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units, imprisonment for 2 years or both.

Note     Special protection status"—see  s 109.

"Take —see  s 126.

    (2)     This section does not apply to a person if the person is—

        (a)     a public servant exercising a function as a public servant; or

        (b)     authorised to take the plant under a development approval under the Planning Act 2023

, chapter 7.

Note     The defendant has an evidential burden in relation to the matters mentioned in s (2) (see Criminal Code

, s 58).

    (3)     A person has the benefit of the chapter 6 exceptions for an offence against this section.

Note     The chapter 6 exceptions are set out in s 153.