FISHERIES ACT 1995 - SECT 58 Powers of Victorian Fisheries Authority to cancel or suspend licences

FISHERIES ACT 1995 - SECT 58

S. 58(1) substituted by No. 35/2009 s. 62(2), amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(2)(a).

    (1)     The Victorian Fisheries Authority may require the holder of a fishery licence to show sufficient cause why the licence should not be cancelled if—

S. 58(1)(a) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(2)(b).

        (a)     the Victorian Fisheries Authority considers that the holder of the licence—

              (i)     has ceased to be a fit and proper person to hold the licence; or

              (ii)     has ceased to satisfy any relevant eligibility criteria; or

              (iii)     has ceased to be actively, substantially and regularly engaged in the activities authorised by the licence; or

        (b)     the holder of the licence has not paid any fee, royalty or levy that is due in respect of the licence within 14 days of the date that it was due.

S. 58(2) substituted by No. 35/2009 s. 62(2), amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(3)(a).

    (2)     The Victorian Fisheries Authority may require the holder of a fishery licence to show sufficient cause why the licence should not be suspended if—

S. 58(2)(a) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(3)(b).

        (a)     the Victorian Fisheries Authority considers that the holder of the licence has ceased to satisfy any relevant eligibility criteria; or

        (b)     the holder of the licence has not paid any fee, royalty or levy that is due in respect of the licence within 14 days of the date that it was due; or

        (c)     any other ground prescribed for the purposes of this subsection applies.

S. 58(3) amended by Nos 35/2009 s. 62(3), 68/2016 s. 71(4).

    (3)     The Victorian Fisheries Authority must make the requirement to show sufficient cause under subsection (1) or (2) by serving a written notice on the holder of the licence that specifies—

        (a)     the grounds on which the requirement is being made; and

        (b)     the time within which the requirement must be complied with.

S. 58(4) amended by No. 35/2009 s. 62(4).

    (4)     A copy of any notice served on the holder of a licence in accordance with subsection (3) must, within 7 days of being served, be sent to each holder of a registered financial interest in the licence.

S. 58(5) substituted by No. 35/2009 s. 62(5), amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(5).

    (5)     If the holder of a licence fails to show sufficient cause as required under subsection (1) within the required time, the Victorian Fisheries Authority may cancel the licence.

S. 58(5A) inserted by No. 40/2019 s. 15.

    (5A)     If the Victorian Fisheries Authority has cancelled a fishery licence under subsection (5) on the ground that the holder of the fishery licence has ceased to be a fit and proper person to hold the fishery licence, the Victorian Fisheries Authority may specify a time not exceeding 7 years within which the same person may not apply for the issue or transfer of a fishery licence, or the issue of a permit, under this Act.

S. 58(6) inserted by No. 35/2009 s. 62(5), amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(6).

    (6)     If the holder of a licence fails to show sufficient cause as required under subsection (2) within the required time, the Victorian Fisheries Authority may suspend the licence for the period that the Victorian Fisheries Authority determines.

S. 58(7) inserted by No. 35/2009 s. 62(5), amended by No. 68/2016 s. 71(7).

    (7)     The Victorian Fisheries Authority may cancel or suspend a licence under this section because of the commission of an offence of a type referred to in section 128(1) by the holder of the licence despite a court deciding not to suspend or cancel the licence under section 128 on convicting or finding the holder guilty of that offence.

S. 58(8) inserted by No. 35/2009 s. 62(5).

    (8)     Subsection (1)(a)(i) does not apply to the holder of a recreational fishery licence.

S. 58A (Heading) amended by No. 68/2016 s. 72(1).

S. 58A inserted by No. 35/2009 s. 63.