Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT - SECT 52

(1) If an ethics committee believes on reasonable grounds that it is desirable in the interests of animal welfare to cancel or suspend a permit, it may do so in accordance with this section.

(2) The reasonable grounds on which a permit may be cancelled or suspended include the following:

(a) that the permit holder has been found guilty of an offence under this Act;

(b) that the ethics committee believes on reasonable grounds that the permit holder -

(i) obtained the permit improperly;

(ii) has failed to comply with a condition of the permit; or

(iii) is not a fit and proper person to continue holding the permit.

(3) The ethics committee must give the permit holder a written notice stating -

(a) that the ethics committee proposes to cancel or suspend the permit;

(b) in the case of a proposed cancellation - the date on which the cancellation will come into effect;

(c) in the case of a proposed suspension - the period of the suspension and the conditions the permit holder must comply with to avoid cancellation of the permit;

(d) the interests of animal welfare to be protected by the cancellation or suspension;

(e) the facts and circumstances on which the ethics committee's reasonable grounds of belief are based; and

(f) that the permit holder may show cause in writing, within the period specified in the notice, why the permit should not be cancelled or suspended.

(4) If, after the expiry of the period specified in the notice and consideration of the permit holder's representations, the ethics committee is of the opinion that in the interests of animal welfare it is desirable to do so, it may -

(a) in the case of a proposed cancellation - cancel the permit or suspend the permit for the period and on the conditions it considers appropriate; or

(b) in the case of a proposed suspension - suspend the permit for the period and on the conditions it considers appropriate.

(5) The ethics committee must give the permit holder a written notice of a cancellation or suspension.