Victorian Consolidated Legislation

Summary Offences Act 1966 - SECT 30

Possession of skin or carcass of stolen cattle

30. Possession of skin or carcass of stolen cattle



(1) If the skin or carcass or any part of the skin or carcass of any cattle
stolen from any person is found in the possession of any other person or on
the premises of any other person with his knowledge and that other person
being taken or summoned before the Magistrates' Court does not satisfy the
court that he came lawfully by such skin carcass or part thereof respectively
shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: 50 penalty units or imprisonment for one year.

(2) If the skin or carcass or any part of the skin or carcass of any cattle is
found in the possession of any person or on the premises of any person with
his knowledge and such person being summoned before the Magistrates' Court
does not satisfy the court that he came lawfully by that skin or carcass or
part thereof he shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: 25 penalty units or imprisonment for six months.

(3) An inspector may demand the skins of any cattle whatsoever that have been
or that appear from the record book required to be kept by or under the
Health Act 1958 at a meat processing facility licensed under the
Meat Industry Act 1993 to have been slaughtered within one month previously to
the date of such demand or a full and satisfactory account showing to whom any
such skin has been sold or in what manner disposed of, and every person who
upon such demand refuses or neglects to produce such skin or in the case the
skin cannot be produced to give a full and satisfactory account of how and in
what manner the skin has been disposed of shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

(4) Any person who destroys the skin of any cattle or cuts out burns or
otherwise destroys or defaces a brand which has been upon such skin and any
person who is in possession of any skin from which a brand has been cut or
burnt or otherwise destroyed or defaced without being able to give a
satisfactory account thereof shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

(5) Any person purchasing a raw hide or skin from which a brand has been cut
or burnt out or destroyed or otherwise defaced shall be guilty of an offence.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

(6) Any inspector or member of the police force may at any time of the day or
night enter any meat processing facility licensed under the
Meat Industry Act 1993 or any other place or premises whatsoever at which
there is good cause to suspect that stolen cattle have been slaughtered or are
intended to be slaughtered and may make such search and inquiry therein as is
necessary for the discovery of the offence and of the offender.

(7) Any person who obstructs or hinders any inspector or member of the police
force so as to prevent him from or delay him in entering a meat processing
facility licensed under the Meat Industry Act 1993 or any other house place or
premises for the purpose of examining any cattle or skins of cattle shall be
guilty of an offence.

Penalty: 5 penalty units.

(8) If any person convicted under this section holds a licence or registration
under any Act or any local law or regulation the licence or registration may,
if the Magistrates' Court thinks fit, be cancelled or suspended and thereupon
such person or premises shall be deemed to be unlicensed or unregistered (as
the case may be).

(9) Every fine penalty or forfeiture accruing under this section within a
municipal council shall be paid to the council of that district for the public
uses thereof:





Provided that all moneys arising from fines penalties and forfeitures imposed
under this section and recovered by an employee or inspector in the Department
of Human Services shall form part of the Consolidated Fund.



(10) In this section inspector includes any inspector or acting or assistant
inspector of the Department of Human Services or any environmental health
officer of a council.