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This is a Bill, not an Act. For current law, see the Acts databases.
PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
Act No.
TABLE OF PROVISIONS
Clause Page
1. Purpose 1
2. Commencement 1
3. Definitions 2
4. Correction of reference 2
5. Repeal of section 74E 2
6. Insertion of new heading in Part X 2
7. Amendment of definition of "interfere" 2
8. Alteration of certain references in section 76 2
9. Grant of permits 3
10. Alteration of reference in section 79 3
11. Alteration of reference in section 80 3
12. Alteration of reference in section 81 3
13. Alteration of references in section 81A 3
14. Alteration and correction of references in section 81B 4
15. Alteration of reference in section 81C 4
16. Alteration and repeal of references in section 81D 4
17. Alteration and repeal of references in section 82 4
18. Insertion of new Division in Part X 5
Division 2--Further Offences and Tour Operator Permits 5
83. Offence to approach a whale at a certain distance 5
83A. Power of Secretary to grant whale sightseeing permit 5
83B. Offence to conduct whale swim tour 6
83C. Power of Secretary to grant whale swim tour permit 6
83D. Prohibition on Secretary granting more permits than
specified in the Order 7
83E. Applications for whale sightseeing permits 7
83F. Power to make Orders for the granting of whale swim
tour permits in whale swim tour areas 7
83G. Requirement to pay fee on grant of permit 8
83H. Conditions of whale sightseeing permits and whale swim
tour permits 9
83I. Breach of condition an offence 9
83J. Power of authorised officer to give directions 9
83K. Variation of permits under this Division 10
83L. Suspension of permits under this Division 10
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Clause Page
83M. Making submissions on suspension 10
83N. Power of Secretary to cancel permit 11
Division 3--Regulations and miscellaneous matters 12
19. Insertion of new section 12
90. Transitional provision, dolphin swim tour permits--
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001 13
91. Transitional provision, dolphin sightseeing permits--
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001 13
ENDNOTES 15
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541243B.I1-9/11/2001 BILL LA CIRCULATION 9/11/2001
PARLIAMENT OF VICTORIA
Initiated in Assembly 7 November 2001
A BILL
to amend the Wildlife Act 1975 to make further provision for the
conduct of whale tours and for other purposes.
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:
1. Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to amend the Wildlife
Act 1975 to make further provision for the
conduct of whale tours and to make other minor
5 amendments to that Act.
2. Commencement
(1) Subject to sub-section (2), this Act comes into
operation on a day or days to be proclaimed.
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
s. 3
Act No.
(2) If a provision of this Act does not come into
operation before 1 February 2003, it comes into
operation on that day.
3. Definitions
5 In section 3(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975 insert the
following definitions--
' "whale sightseeing permit" means a permit
issued by the Secretary under section 83A;
"whale swim tour permit" means a permit
10 issued by the Secretary under section 83C;".
4. Correction of reference
In section 20(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
"Part I" substitute "Part IIIA".
5. Repeal of section 74E
15 Section 74E of the Wildlife Act 1975 is repealed.
6. Insertion of new heading in Part X
In Part X of the Wildlife Act 1975, after the
heading to the Part insert--
"Division 1--General".
20 7. Amendment of definition of "interfere"
In the definition of "interfere" in section 75(1) of
the Wildlife Act 1975, omit "or approach a whale
at a distance that is less than the prescribed
minimum distance".
25 8. Alteration of certain references in section 76
(1) In the penalty at the foot of section 76(2A) of the
Wildlife Act 1975, for "$100 000" substitute
"1000 penalty units".
(2) In section 76(3) of the Wildlife Act 1975, after
30 "permit" insert "granted under section 78(1)".
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
s. 9
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(3) In section 76(4)(a) of the Wildlife Act 1975, after
"permit" insert "granted under section 78(1)".
9. Grant of permits
(1) In section 78(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975,
5 paragraph (g) is repealed.
(2) In section 78 of the Wildlife Act 1975, sub-
sections (3A) and (3C) are repealed.
(3) In section 78(3B) of the Wildlife Act 1975--
(a) for "Subject to sub-section (3A), the
10 Secretary" substitute "The Secretary";
(b) for "permit under this Part" substitute
"permit granted under sub-section (1)".
10. Alteration of reference in section 79
In section 79(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
15 "permit under this Part" substitute "permit
granted under section 78(1)".
11. Alteration of reference in section 80
In section 80 of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
"permit under this Part" substitute "permit
20 granted under section 78(1)".
12. Alteration of reference in section 81
In section 81(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
"permit under this Part" substitute "permit
granted under section 78(1)".
25 13. Alteration of references in section 81A
In section 81A of the Wildlife Act 1975--
(a) in sub-section (1) omit "or (g)";
(b) in sub-section (2) omit "or (g)".
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
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Act No.
14. Alteration and correction of references in section 81B
(1) In section 81B(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
"permit" substitute "permit granted under
section 78(1)".
5 (2) In section 81B(2)(b) of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
"80D" substitute "81C".
15. Alteration of reference in section 81C
In section 81C(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975, for
"permit" substitute "permit granted under
10 section 78(1)".
16. Alteration and repeal of references in section 81D
In section 81D of the Wildlife Act 1975--
(a) in sub-section (1), for "permit under this
Part" substitute "permit granted under
15 section 78(1)";
(b) in sub-section (2) omit "or (g)";
(c) in sub-section (4) omit "or (g)";
(d) in sub-section (5) omit "or (g)".
17. Alteration and repeal of references in section 82
20 In section 82(1) of the Wildlife Act 1975--
(a) in paragraph (b)--
(i) for "permit granted under this Part"
substitute "permit granted under
section 78(1)";
25 (ii) omit "or (g)";
(b) in paragraph (c)--
(i) for "permit granted under this Part"
substitute "permit granted under
section 78(1)";
30 (ii) omit "or (g)".
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
s. 18
Act No.
18. Insertion of new Division in Part X
After section 82 of the Wildlife Act 1975
insert--
"Division 2--Further Offences and Tour
5 Operator Permits
83. Offence to approach a whale at a certain
distance
(1) A person must not approach a whale at a
distance that is less than the prescribed
10 minimum distance.
Penalty: 20 penalty units.
(2) Sub-section (1) does not apply to a person
who is acting in accordance with--
(a) a permit granted under section 83A; or
15 (b) a permit granted under section 78(1)
or 83C; or
(c) a written authorisation given under
section 28A.
83A. Power of Secretary to grant whale
20 sightseeing permit
(1) The Secretary may grant a permit to a natural
person authorising the person to cause the
vessel named in the permit to be operated so
as to approach a whale at a distance that is
25 less than the prescribed minimum distance.
(2) A permit granted under sub-section (1)--
(a) has effect for the period specified in the
permit, which must not exceed 2 years;
and
30 (b) may specify the times and places at
which the vessel may be operated under
the permit.
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
s. 18
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(3) The Secretary may renew a whale
sightseeing permit, on application from the
holder of the permit, unless the Secretary is
satisfied that--
5 (a) the holder has been found guilty of an
offence against this Act or the
regulations; or
(b) the holder has failed to comply with
this Act or the regulations or the
10 conditions of the permit.
83B. Offence to conduct whale swim tour
A person must not, for profit, conduct an
activity which involves persons being in the
water to observe or swim with a whale,
15 unless that person does so in accordance
with a permit granted under section 83C.
Penalty: 100 penalty units or 6 months
imprisonment or both the fine and
imprisonment.
20 83C. Power of Secretary to grant whale swim
tour permit
(1) The Secretary may grant a permit to a natural
person authorising that person to conduct an
activity for profit that involves persons being
25 in the water to observe or swim with a whale
from the vessel named in the permit.
(2) The Secretary must not grant a permit under
sub-section (1) unless the Secretary is
satisfied that the applicant satisfies the
30 criteria specified in the Order made under
section 83F relating to the area in respect of
which the permit is to be granted.
(3) A permit granted under sub-section (1)--
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(a) has effect for the period specified in the
permit, which must not exceed 2 years;
and
(b) may specify the times and places at
5 which an activity may be conducted
under the permit.
83D. Prohibition on Secretary granting more
permits than specified in the Order
The Secretary must not grant more whale
10 swim tour permits than the maximum
number that may be granted under the Order
made under section 83F for the area to which
the Order relates.
83E. Applications for whale sightseeing permits
15 A person seeking a whale sightseeing permit
must apply to the Secretary for the permit
and must lodge the fee prescribed for such a
permit with the application.
83F. Power to make Orders for the granting of
20 whale swim tour permits in whale swim
tour areas
(1) The Secretary may, by Order published in
the Government Gazette proclaim an area to
be a whale swim tour area.
25 (2) An Order under sub-section (1) may--
(a) invite applications for whale swim tour
permits in the area; and
(b) specify whether the fee to be paid for a
whale swim tour permit in the area is to
30 be determined by tender or is to be a
fee prescribed by the regulations; and
(c) specify the maximum number of
permits that may be granted in the area
and the maximum number of activities
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
s. 18
Act No.
that may be conducted each day under
each permit and any other matters
related to the conduct of activities
under permits in the area; and
5 (d) specify the procedures to be followed
and the information that must be given
in making an application for a permit;
and
(e) specify the date by which applications
10 for such permits must be lodged with
the Secretary; and
(f) specify the criteria which will be used
to assess applications; and
(g) specify whether or not the holders of
15 existing whale swim tour permits in the
area may apply for permits specified in
the Order.
(3) The Secretary, in making a specification
under sub-section (2)(c) as to the number of
20 permits that may be granted in an area, must
not fix a number of permits that is greater
than the number the Secretary has
determined to be ecologically sustainable for
that area.
25 (4) In making any specification under sub-
section (2)(c), the Secretary must have
regard to the best available information as to
the effect that the conduct of activities has or
is likely to have on individual whales or
30 groups of whales in the area.
83G. Requirement to pay fee on grant of permit
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A person who is granted a whale swim tour
permit must, on the grant of the permit, pay
the fee determined by tender or prescribed
by regulations (as the case requires) for the
5 permit.
83H. Conditions of whale sightseeing permits
and whale swim tour permits
A permit granted under this Division is
subject to--
10 (a) any conditions, determined by the
Secretary, that are specified or referred
to in the permit; and
(b) any conditions that are prescribed by
regulations made under section 85A for
15 permits of the category to which the
permit belongs.
83I. Breach of condition an offence
The holder of a permit granted under this
Division must comply with the conditions of
20 the permit.
Penalty: 100 penalty units or 6 months
imprisonment or both the fine and
imprisonment.
83J. Power of authorised officer to give
25 directions
(1) An authorised officer may direct a person to
cease immediately any activity being carried
out under a permit granted under this
Division, if the authorised officer reasonably
30 believes that the activity is detrimental to the
welfare of any whale.
(2) A person must comply with a direction given
under sub-section (1).
Penalty: 50 penalty units.
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83K. Variation of permits under this Division
(1) Upon application made in writing and upon
payment of any prescribed fee, the Secretary
may vary any permit granted under this
5 Division in any respect, and a variation
under this sub-section has effect on the
Secretary making the variation.
(2) If the Secretary is of the opinion that a
permit under this Division should be varied,
10 the Secretary may, of his or her own motion,
vary the permit, and a variation under this
sub-section has effect on the Secretary
giving notice of the variation to the holder of
the permit.
15 (3) The Secretary must not vary a permit under
this section unless the Secretary is satisfied
that the holder of the permit continues to
satisfy the criteria specified in the Order
made under section 83F relating to the area
20 in respect of which the permit is granted.
83L. Suspension of permits under this Division
(1) If the Secretary is satisfied that there are
reasonable grounds to do so, the Secretary
may suspend a permit granted under this
25 Division by notice in writing given to the
holder of the permit.
(2) A suspension under this section has effect--
(a) from the time specified in the notice
under sub-section (1), which must be
30 after the day on which the notice is
given; and
(b) subject to section 83M, for the period
(not exceeding 90 days) specified in the
notice.
35 83M. Making submissions on suspension
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(1) Immediately upon suspending a permit
granted under this Division, the Secretary
must allow the holder of the permit an
opportunity to make written submissions.
5 (2) Submissions must be made within the period
specified in the notice of suspension.
(3) On receiving any submissions under sub-
section (2), the Secretary must review the
decision to suspend the permit.
10 (4) In carrying out a review under sub-
section (3), the Secretary--
(a) must have regard to the submissions;
and
(b) may decide to continue, revoke or
15 amend the suspension.
(5) The Secretary must notify the holder of the
permit of the outcome of the review.
83N. Power of Secretary to cancel permit
(1) The Secretary may cancel a permit granted
20 under this Division if the Secretary is
satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that--
(a) the holder of the permit has been found
guilty of an offence against this Act; or
(b) the holder of the permit has breached a
25 condition of the permit; or
(c) the act or acts authorised by the permit
adversely affects a population of a
particular taxon of whale; or
(d) the holder of the permit has been
30 convicted of an offence against a law of
the Commonwealth or of a State or a
Territory of the Commonwealth
relating to fauna, to the preservation,
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conservation and protection of whales
or to the living natural resources of the
continental shelf of Australia.
(2) Before cancelling a permit, the Secretary
5 must--
(a) notify the holder that he or she
proposes to cancel the permit; and
(b) allow the holder of the permit an
opportunity to make either oral or
10 written submissions.
(3) Submissions under sub-section (2) must be
made within the period specified in the
notice.
(4) In making a decision as to whether or not to
15 cancel a permit, the Secretary must--
(a) have regard to any submissions made
under sub-section (2) within the period
specified in the notice; and
(b) must notify the holder of his or her
20 decision.
(5) The cancellation of a permit has effect from
the time specified in the notice of the
Secretary's decision under sub-section (4),
which must be after the day on which the
25 notice is given.
Division 3--Regulations and miscellaneous
matters".
19. Insertion of new section
After section 89 of the Wildlife Act 1975
30 insert--
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
s. 19
Act No.
'90 Transitional provision, dolphin swim tour
permits--Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
(1) On and from the commencement of section 9
of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001, a
5 dolphin swim tour permit in force
immediately before that commencement is--
(a) deemed to be a whale swim tour permit,
and, except as otherwise provided for in
this section, Part X applies accordingly;
10 and
(b) deemed to continue in force, unless
sooner suspended or cancelled in
accordance with Part X, until the date
on which the permit would have
15 expired if section 9 of the Wildlife
(Amendment) Act 2001 had not been
enacted.
(2) In this section "dolphin swim tour permit"
means a permit--
20 (a) that is issued under section 78(1)(g) as
in force immediately before the
commencement of section 9 of the
Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001; and
(b) that authorised the conduct of activities
25 involving persons being in the water for
the purpose of observing or swimming
with dolphins.
91. Transitional provision, dolphin sightseeing
permits--Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
30 (1) On and from the commencement of section 9
of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001, a
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dolphin sightseeing permit in force
immediately before that commencement is--
(a) deemed to be a whale sightseeing
permit, and, except as otherwise
5 provided for in this section, Part X
applies accordingly; and
(b) deemed to continue in force, unless
sooner suspended or cancelled in
accordance with Part X, until the date
10 on which the permit would have
expired if section 9 of the Wildlife
(Amendment) Act 2001 had not been
enacted.
(2) In this section "dolphin sightseeing
15 permit" means a permit issued under section
78(1)(g) as in force immediately before the
commencement of section 9 of the Wildlife
(Amendment) Act 2001 that--
(a) authorised the conduct of activities
20 involving persons being on vessels for
the purpose of observing dolphins; and
(b) did not authorise the conduct of
activities involving persons being in the
water for the purpose of observing or
25 swimming with dolphins.'.
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Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2001
Endnotes
Act No.
ENDNOTES
By Authority. Government Printer for the State of Victoria.
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