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Amendment Bill 1996
Explanatory note
This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.
(a)
to require zoological parks established, maintained or controlled by the
Zoological Parks Board (such as Taronga Zoo and Western Plains Zoo)
to be licensed as animal display establishments, and
(b)
to enable the Director-General of the Department of Agriculture to
appoint any member of the advisory committee constituted by the Act
to be Chairperson of the committee.
Clause 2 provides that the proposed Act will commence on a day or days to
be appointed by proclamation.
Clause 3 is a formal provision that gives effect to the Schedule of
amendments to the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 described in the
overview of this Bill.
Schedule 1
Amendments
Licensing of zoos
Section 12 of the Act provides that occupiers of certain premises used as
animal display establishments are guilty of an offence if the premises are not
licensed. At present section 12 (2) exempts from the licensing requirement
zoological parks established, maintained or controlled by the Board.
Schedule 1 [1] removes the exemption so that occupiers of premises that are
zoological parks established, maintained or controlled by the Board will be
required to obtain a licence. The Director-General will only be able to issue a
licence for a zoological park if satisfied that it conforms to and will be
conducted in accordance with any standards prescribed for such an animal
display establishment.
Schedule 1 [2] contains a consequential amendment to omit a power to
make regulations to apply standards prescribed under section 14 of the Act
to such zoological parks. Such regulations will be unnecessary in view of the
proposed amendment to section 12.
Chairperson of advisory committee
Schedule 1 [4] provides for a member of the advisory committee appointed
by the Director-General to be Chairperson of the advisory committee.
Schedule 1 [3] and [5] provide for the member currently holding office as
Chairperson to cease to hold that office on the commencement of
Schedule 1 [4].
Explanatory note page 2