An Act relating to Quarantine
Part I—Introductory
1
Short title [see Note 1]
This Act may be cited as the Quarantine
Act 1908.
2
Commencement [see Note 1]
This Act shall commence on a day to be
fixed by proclamation.
2A
Power to supersede Quarantine measures under State Acts
(1) Whenever the Governor‑General is
satisfied that an emergency exists which makes it necessary to do so, he or she
may, by proclamation, declare that any or all measures of quarantine prescribed
by or under any State Act shall, for such period as is specified in the proclamation,
cease to have effect, and such measure shall thereupon cease to have effect
accordingly.
(2) The Governor‑General may at any time
revoke or vary any such proclamation.
2B
Proclamation in event of epidemic
(1) Where the Governor‑General is satisfied
that an epidemic caused by a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest or
danger of such an epidemic exists in a part of the Commonwealth, the Governor‑General
may, by proclamation, declare the existence in that part of the Commonwealth of
that epidemic or of the danger of that epidemic.
(2) Upon the issue of a proclamation under subsection (1)
the Minister may, during the period the proclamation remains in force, give
such directions and take such action as he or she thinks necessary to control
and eradicate the epidemic, or to remove the danger of the epidemic, by
quarantine measures or measures incidental to quarantine.
Note: Under section 149.1 of the Criminal
Code, it is an offence to obstruct a person who is taking any action that
the person is authorised to take under this subsection.
(2A) If the Governor‑General is satisfied that
the epidemic or danger of an epidemic to which a proclamation issued under subsection (1)
relates has the potential so to affect an industry of national significance
that it calls for the exercise of coordinated response powers in accordance
with section 3, the Governor‑General may, in the proclamation issued under
subsection (1), declare it to be a proclamation to which section 3
applies.
(2B) A direction may be given, or an action
taken, by the Minister under subsection (2) despite the provisions of any
other Commonwealth law, or of any law of a State or Territory.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (2); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(4) In paragraph (3)(a), strict
liability applies to the physical element of circumstance, that the direction
given to the person was under subsection (2).
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of
the Criminal Code.
3
Coordinated response powers
(1) If a proclamation under subsection 2B(1)
is declared to be a proclamation to which this section applies, the Minister
may, during the period the proclamation remains in force, by instrument in
writing:
(a) authorise persons who are the
executive heads of national response agencies:
(i) to give such
directions; and
(ii) to take such action;
as the persons think necessary,
subject to any conditions or limitations specified under subsection (4):
(iii) to control and
eradicate the epidemic; or
(iv) to remove the danger of
the epidemic;
by quarantine measures or
measures incidental to quarantine; or
(b) revoke any authorisation so given.
(2) If the Minister, under subsection (1),
authorises the executive head of a national response agency to give directions,
and to take action, in accordance with that subsection, the executive head of
that agency may, while that authorisation remains in force, by instrument in
writing:
(a) authorise a person performing
duties in that agency:
(i) to give such
directions of a kind that the executive head of the agency could give and that
are specified in the instrument; or
(ii) to take such action of
a kind that the executive head of the agency could take and that is specified
in the instrument;
as the person considers
necessary, subject to any conditions or limitations specified under subsection (4):
(iii) to control and
eradicate the epidemic; or
(iv) to remove the danger of
the epidemic;
by quarantine measures or
measures incidental to quarantine; or
(b) revoke any authorisation so given.
(3) If an authorisation is given under subsection (1)
or (2) to the holder of a specified office or position, the authorisation is to
be taken to be an authorisation of any person from time to time holding,
occupying, or performing the duties of, that office or position.
(4) An authorisation given to a person under subsection (1)
or (2) may be expressed to be subject to such conditions or other limitations
(if any) as are specified in the authorisation.
(5) If a person ceases to be the executive
head of a national response agency, any authorisation of other persons in force
under subsection (2) immediately before the cessation:
(a) is taken, on and after that
cessation, to have been given by the person’s successor and, subject to paragraph (b),
continues to have effect according to its tenor; and
(b) may, by writing, be varied or
revoked by that successor.
(6) An authorisation given to a person under subsection (1)
or (2) does not affect any power that the person may be authorised to exercise
apart from this section.
(7) An authorisation given under subsection (1)
or (2) in respect of a particular epidemic or danger of an epidemic is taken to
be revoked when the proclamation issued under subsection 2B(1) in respect of
that epidemic or danger of an epidemic is revoked.
(8) A direction may be given, or an action
taken, by a person under this section despite the provisions of any other
Commonwealth law, or of any law of a State or Territory.
(9) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under this section; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(10) In paragraph (9)(a), strict liability
applies to the physical element of circumstance, that the giving of the
direction was under this section.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of
the Criminal Code.
(11) For the avoidance of doubt, a person
(including the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine, a Chief Quarantine
Officer (Animals), a Chief Quarantine Officer (Plants) or a quarantine officer)
is not to be taken, when acting under this Act by virtue of:
(a) an authorisation given by the
Minister under subsection 3(1); or
(b) an authorisation given by the
executive head of a national response agency under subsection 3(2);
to be acting as, exercising the powers of, or performing
the functions of, a quarantine officer.
(12) In this section, a reference to a person
performing duties in an agency includes, but is not limited to:
(a) a person performing duties in the
agency under a contract; and
(b) a person performing duties in the
agency as a result of an arrangement for the temporary provision to that agency
of the services of persons ordinarily performing other duties in the same or in
another jurisdiction; and
(c) a person performing duties in the
agency on a voluntary basis.
Note: Under section 149.1 of the Criminal
Code, it is an offence to obstruct a person who is taking any action that
the person is authorised to take under this section.
4
Scope of quarantine
(1) In this Act, quarantine
includes, but is not limited to, measures:
(a) for, or in relation to:
(i) the examination,
exclusion, detention, observation, segregation, isolation, protection,
treatment and regulation of vessels, installations, human beings, animals,
plants or other goods or things; or
(ii) the seizure and
destruction of animals, plants, or other goods or things; or
(iii) the destruction of
premises comprising buildings or other structures when treatment of these
premises is not practicable; and
(b) having as their object the
prevention or control of the introduction, establishment or spread of diseases
or pests that will or could cause significant damage to human beings, animals,
plants, other aspects of the environment or economic activities.
(2) Without otherwise limiting the nature of
any quarantine measure, or measure incidental to quarantine:
(a) by way of a direction that a
person may be authorised to give; or
(b) by way of an action that a person
may be authorised to take;
either as a result of a Ministerial authorisation under
subsection 3(1) or as a result of an authorisation by the executive head of a
national response agency under subsection 3(2), that direction or action must
be no more than is reasonably appropriate and adapted:
(c) to the control and eradication of
the epidemic; or
(d) to the removal of the danger of
the epidemic;
in respect of which the authorisation was given.
5
Interpretation
(1) In this
Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
Adjacent area means an adjacent area in
respect of a State, of the Northern Territory, of the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands, of the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands or of the Territory of Christmas Island, as determined in accordance with section 5 of the Sea
Installations Act.
aircraft means any machine or craft that can
derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air or from buoyancy
but does not include an air cushion vehicle.
analyst means a person appointed under
section 86DA.
Animal includes a dead animal and any part of
an animal.
animals, plants or goods or animals,
plants or other goods includes, to avoid doubt, any goods as defined by
this subsection.
Area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone
means an area in respect of which a notice is in force under subsection (8).
area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone
means an area adjacent to the Protected Zone that is declared by the Minister
under subsection (8) to be an area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone.
Australia, when used in a geographical sense,
includes the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
Australian installation means:
(a) an Australian resources
installation; or
(b) an Australian sea installation.
Australian resources installation means an
installation that is deemed to be part of Australia because of the operation of
section 16AA.
Australian seabed means so much of the seabed
adjacent to Australia (other than the seabed within the Joint Petroleum
Development Area) as is:
(a) within the area comprising:
(i) the areas described in
Schedule 1 to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act
2006; and
(ii) the Coral Sea area;
and
(b) part of:
(i) the continental shelf
of Australia;
(ii) the seabed beneath the
territorial sea of Australia (including the territorial sea adjacent to any
island forming part of Australia); or
(iii) the seabed beneath
waters of the sea that are on the landward side of the territorial sea of Australia and are not within the limits of a State or Territory.
Australian sea installation means a sea
installation that is deemed to be part of Australia because of the operation of
section 16AAA.
Australian vessel means a vessel which does
not voyage or ply to or from any place outside Australia.
Australian waters means:
(a) in relation to a resources
installation—waters above the Australian seabed; and
(b) in relation to a sea
installation—waters comprising all of the adjacent areas and the coastal area.
Authorized person means a person authorized
by this Act or the regulations, or by the Minister or a quarantine officer, to
do the act in relation to which the expression is used.
ballast water means water (including sediment
that is or has been contained in water) used as ballast.
Brought into physical contact has the same
meaning as in the Sea Installations Act.
By authority means by the authority of the
Minister, or of a quarantine officer, or of an officer under this Act doing
duty in the matter in relation to which the expression is used.
Chief Quarantine
Officer means:
(a) where the expression is used in a
context that relates only to human quarantine—a Chief Quarantine Officer (Human
Quarantine);
(b) where the expression is used in a
context that relates only to animals—a Chief Quarantine Officer (Animals);
(c) where the expression is used in a
context that relates only to plants—a Chief Quarantine Officer (Plants); or
(d) in any other case—a Chief
Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine), a Chief Quarantine Officer (Animals) or
a Chief Quarantine Officer (Plants).
Christmas Island means the Territory of Christmas Island.
Christmas Island vessel means a
vessel which does not voyage or ply to or from any place outside Christmas Island.
Coastal area has the same meaning as in the
Customs Act 1901.
Cocos Islands means the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands.
Cocos Islands vessel means a
vessel which does not voyage or ply to or from any place outside the Cocos Islands.
commander, in relation to an aircraft, means
the person in charge or command of the aircraft.
Commissioner means a person appointed under
section 66AY.
Commission of inquiry means the inquiry
conducted, or to be conducted, by a person appointed under section 66AY.
Commonwealth, when used in a geographical
sense, includes the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
compliance with this Act has the meaning
given by subsection 5(1A).
compliance agreement has the meaning given by
section 66B.
contravention of this Act has the meaning
given by subsection 5(1A).
Coral Sea area has the same
meaning as in section 7 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas
Storage Act 2006.
declared place has the meaning given by
section 12.
Director of Quarantine
means:
(a) where the expression is used in a
context that relates only to human quarantine—the Director of Human Quarantine;
(b) where the expression is used in a
context that relates only to animals or plants or both—the Director of Animal
and Plant Quarantine; or
(c) in any other case—the Director of
Human Quarantine or the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine.
discharge, in relation to a vessel or
installation, includes any escape, spilling, leaking, pumping, emptying or
other release, however caused, from the vessel or installation.
disease includes a micro‑organism, a disease
agent, an infectious agent and a parasite.
document includes a book and any record.
engage in conduct has the same meaning as in
the Criminal Code.
enter:
(a) in relation to a port that is a
place at which aircraft can land, includes land at; and
(b) in relation to a vessel or
vehicle, includes go on board.
environment includes all aspects of the
surroundings of human beings, whether natural surroundings or surroundings
created by human beings themselves, and whether affecting them as individuals
or in social groupings.
Environment related activity has the same
meaning as in the Sea Installations Act.
evidential material means any of the
following things, including such a thing in electronic form:
(a) a thing with respect to which an
offence against this Act has been committed or is suspected, on reasonable
grounds, to have been committed;
(b) a thing that there are reasonable
grounds for suspecting will afford evidence as to the commission of an offence
against this Act;
(c) a thing that there are reasonable
grounds for suspecting is intended to be used for the purpose of committing an
offence against this Act.
Examine
includes:
(a) in relation to an animal—carry out
tests on, take samples from, or carry out a veterinary procedure on, the
animal;
(b) in relation to a plant—carry out
tests on, take samples from, establish, cultivate, or undertake procedures for
the diagnosis of a disease of, the plant; and
(c) in relation to any other
goods—carry out tests on, or take samples from, the goods; and
(d) in relation to a vessel,
installation or premises—carry out tests on, or take samples from, the vessel,
installation or premises.
executing officer, for a warrant, means the
person named in the warrant as being responsible for executing the warrant.
exposed has the meaning given by section 5B.
first Christmas Island port of entry, in
relation to a vessel, means a first port of entry in Christmas Island for that
vessel.
First port of entry in relation to a vessel
means a first port of entry for that vessel.
First Cocos Islands port of entry, in
relation to a vessel, means a first port of entry in the Cocos Islands for that
vessel.
give includes grant.
goods includes:
(a) an animal; and
(b) a plant (whether moveable or not);
and
(c) any other article, substance or
thing (including, but not limited to, any kind of moveable property);
and, to avoid doubt, includes mail of any kind and ballast
water.
grant includes give.
Imported, in relation to an animal, a plant
or other goods, means imported into Australia, into the Cocos Islands or into Christmas Island.
industry of national significance means any
primary industry the disruption of which would be a matter of national
significance, whether or not the industry is involved in the export trade.
in quarantine, in relation to a vessel or
installation, has a meaning affected by section 37.
Installation means:
(a) a resources installation; or
(b) a sea installation.
International Health Regulations means the
International Health Regulations 2005, done at Geneva on 23 May 2005, as in force for Australia from time to time.
Note: In 2008, the text of the International Health
Regulations was accessible through the Australian Treaties Library on the
AustLII website (www.austlii.edu.au).
Joint Petroleum Development Area has the same
meaning as in the Petroleum (Timor Sea Treaty) Act 2003.
Landing place means any place declared by
proclamation to be a landing place for aircraft.
level of quarantine risk has the meaning
given by section 5D.
magistrate means any magistrate, whether
remunerated by salary or not.
Master means:
(a) in relation to a vessel other than
an aircraft—the person (other than a ship’s pilot) in charge or command of the
vessel; and
(aa) in relation to an aircraft—the
commander of the aircraft; and
(b) in relation to an installation—the
person (other than a ship’s pilot) in charge or command of the installation.
Medical Officer in relation to a vessel means
any person on the vessel acting as the medical officer, doctor, or surgeon of
the vessel.
national response agency means:
(a) the Australian Federal Police and
the police force of each of the States and the Northern Territory; and
(b) if it is declared by the Minister,
by notice published in the Gazette, to be a national response agency for
the purposes of subsection 3(1):
(i) any arm or unit of the
Australian Defence Force; or
(ii) any department, or
part of a department, of the Commonwealth, or of a State or Territory; or
(iii) any other agency or
authority, whether incorporated or not, that is established for a public
purpose by or under a law of the Commonwealth, or of a State or Territory.
Natural resources means the mineral and other
non‑living resources of the seabed and its subsoil.
occupier of premises:
(a) means the person in charge of the
premises; and
(b) in Part VIA, includes the
person apparently in charge of the premises.
offence against this Act includes:
(a) an offence against the regulations;
and
(b) an offence against section 6
of the Crimes Act 1914 or section 11.1, 11.4 or 11.5 of the Criminal
Code in relation to an offence against this Act or the regulations.
Officer means a quarantine officer or other
officer appointed under this Act.
officer assisting,
in relation to a warrant, means:
(a) a quarantine officer who is
assisting in executing the warrant; or
(b) a person who is not a quarantine
officer but has been authorised by the relevant executing officer to assist in
executing the warrant.
officer of Customs has the same meaning as in
the Customs Act 1901.
on, in relation to premises, includes in.
operator means:
(a) in relation to a vessel (other
than an aircraft) or installation that is in the course of, or has completed, a
voyage:
(i) if a person is or was
responsible for the operation of the vessel or installation during the voyage
under a charter party or similar agreement—that person; or
(ii) otherwise—the owner of
the vessel or installation; or
(b) in relation to an aircraft that is
in the course of, or has completed, a flight:
(i) if a person is or was
responsible for the operation of the aircraft during the flight under an
agreement entered into with the owner of the aircraft for the hire or charter
of the aircraft—that person; or
(ii) otherwise—the owner of
the aircraft.
overseas aircraft means an overseas vessel
that is an aircraft.
Overseas installation means:
(a) an overseas resources
installation; or
(b) an overseas sea installation.
Overseas resources installation means a
resources installation that:
(a) is in Australian waters; and
(b) has been brought into Australian
waters from a place (including a place at sea) outside the outer limits of
Australian waters for the purpose of becoming attached to the Australian
seabed;
but does not include an Australian resources installation.
Overseas sea installation means a sea
installation that:
(a) is in an adjacent area or a
coastal area;
(b) has been brought into the adjacent
area or coastal area, as the case may be, from a place outside the outer limits
of Australian waters;
but does not include an Australian sea installation.
overseas vessel means a vessel other than:
(a) an Australian vessel; or
(b) a Cocos Islands vessel; or
(c) a Christmas Island vessel;
and includes a vessel:
(d) that is on a voyage from Australia to the Cocos Islands or from the Cocos Islands to Australia; or
(e) that is on a voyage from Australia to Christmas Island or from Christmas Island to Australia; or
(f) that is on a voyage from the Cocos Islands to Christmas Island or from Christmas Island to the Cocos Islands.
Package includes every means by which plants
are cased, covered, enclosed, contained, or packed for carriage.
permanent residence has the meaning given by
subsection 64B(3).
pest includes any animal, or any plant, that
is a pest.
Plant includes a dead plant and any part of a
plant.
police officer means:
(a) a member or special member of the
Australian Federal Police; or
(b) a member of the police force or
police service of a State or Territory.
port includes:
(a) in relation to aircraft—any place
at which an aircraft can land, whether a landing place or not; and
(b) in relation to a vessel in respect
of which a permission is in force under subsection 20AA(1)—the place to which
the vessel may be brought under the permission.
Port of departure in relation to a vessel
means the port at which the vessel commenced its current voyage.
PPSA security interest means a security
interest within the meaning of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009
and to which that Act applies, other than a transitional security interest
within the meaning of that Act.
Note 1: The Personal Property Securities Act 2009
applies to certain security interests in personal property. See the following
provisions of that Act:
(a) section 8
(interests to which the Act does not apply);
(b) section 12
(meaning of security interest);
(c) Chapter 9
(transitional provisions).
Note 2: For the meaning of transitional security
interest, see section 308 of the Personal Property Securities
Act 2009.
Pratique means:
(a) in relation to a vessel, other
than an overseas aircraft to which subsection 32B(1) applies—pratique granted
by a quarantine officer since the last arrival of the vessel from:
(i) in the case of a
vessel in, or about to arrive in, Australia—places outside Australia; or
(ii) in the case of a
vessel in, or about to arrive in, the Cocos Islands—places outside the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) in the case of a
vessel in, or about to arrive in, Christmas Island—places outside Christmas Island;
and having effect at the port
where the vessel is for the time being or is about to arrive; and
(aa) in relation to an overseas
aircraft to which subsection 32B(1) applies—pratique taken to have been granted
under subsection 32B(1) since the last arrival of the aircraft from:
(i) in the case of an
aircraft in Australia—places outside Australia; or
(ii) in the case of an
aircraft in the Cocos Islands—places outside the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) in the case of an
aircraft in Christmas Island—places outside Christmas Island;
and having effect at the port
where the aircraft is for the time being; and
(b) in relation to an overseas
installation—pratique granted by a quarantine officer since the last arrival of
the installation from a place (including a place at sea) outside the outer
limits of Australian waters and having effect in the place (including a place
at sea) where the installation is for the time being or is about to be taken.
premises includes any place (whether enclosed
or built on, or not) and, in particular, includes:
(a) a building, wharf or other
structure; and
(b) a vessel; and
(c) an Australian installation; and
(d) a vehicle; and
(e) a part of premises (including a
part of any of the above).
prescribed health measure has the meaning
given by section 64A.
Protected Zone means the zone established
under Article 10 of the Torres Strait Treaty, being the area bounded by the
line described in Annex 9 to that treaty.
Protected Zone vessel means a vessel of a kind
used in navigation by sea that is owned or operated by a traditional
inhabitant.
protective service officer means a protective
service officer within the meaning of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.
Quarantinable disease means any disease
declared by the Governor‑General, by proclamation, to be a quarantinable
disease.
quarantinable pest means any pest declared by
the Governor‑General, by Proclamation, to be a quarantinable pest.
Quarantine area means any part of Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island which, in pursuance of this Act, is
declared to be a quarantine area.
quarantine officer means a person appointed
under subsection 9(2), 9AA(3) or 9A(1) and, to the extent that the Director of
Quarantine has determined under section 66AZC that a person (or a person
included in a specified class of persons) has functions and/or powers of a
quarantine officer under this Act, includes such a person.
Resources installation
means:
(a) a resources industry fixed
structure within the meaning of subsection (3); or
(b) a resources industry mobile unit
within the meaning of subsection (4).
Royal Commission has the meaning given by the
Royal Commissions Act 1902.
Sea installation has the same meaning as in
the Sea Installations Act.
Sea Installations Act means the Sea
Installations Act 1987.
Secretary means the Secretary of the
Department.
Special Quarantine Zone means:
(a) in respect of Australia—an area
declared by the Minister under section 5A to be a Special Quarantine Zone
in respect of Australia; and
(b) in respect of Christmas Island—an
area declared by the Minister under section 5A to be a Special Quarantine
Zone in respect of Christmas Island; and
(c) in respect of the Cocos Islands—an
area declared by the Minister under section 5A to be a Special Quarantine
Zone in respect of the Cocos Islands.
State officer
means:
(a) an employee of a State or
Territory, or an employee of an authority of a State or Territory (including a
member of the police force or police service of a State or Territory); or
(b) a State or Territory office
holder;
who is covered by an arrangement made under:
(c) section 11; or
(d) section 71 of the Public
Service Act 1999 in respect of quarantine officer powers and functions.
temporary residence has the meaning given by subsection
64B(3).
thing includes any goods.
Torres Strait Treaty means the Treaty between
Australia and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea that was signed at Sydney on 18 December 1978.
Traditional activities has the same meaning
as in the Torres Strait Treaty.
Traditional inhabitants has the same meaning
as in the Torres Strait Fisheries Act 1984.
traveller has the meaning given by
section 64B.
treatment
means any process for controlling or eliminating a disease or pest and:
(a) in relation to a vessel,
installation or premises, includes examination, spraying, fumigation,
disinfection, denaturing and cleaning; and
(b) in relation to a person, includes
examination, spraying, fumigation, disinfection and cleaning; and
(c) in relation to an animal, includes
examination, disinfection, denaturing, vaccination, testing and veterinary
treatment; and
(d) in relation to a plant or other
goods, includes examination, spraying, fumigation, disinfection, denaturing,
sorting, cleaning and repacking.
Unauthorized person means a person not
authorized by this Act or the Regulations, or by the Minister or a quarantine
officer, to do the act in relation to which the expression is used.
under this Act has the meaning given by
subsection 5(1A).
vector means anything capable of carrying or
transmitting pests, diseases or infections.
vessel means:
(a) a ship, boat or other description
of vessel used in navigation by sea; or
(b) an aircraft; or
(c) an air cushion vehicle; or
(d) an off‑shore industry mobile unit
(being an overseas installation) that is bound for, or is at, a port;
and includes a part of any of the above.
voyage, in relation to a vessel that is an
aircraft, means flight.
(1AA) Before declaring any arm or unit of the
Australian Defence Force to be a national response agency for the purposes of
subsection 3(1), the Minister must consult with the Minister having
responsibility for the Defence Force.
(1AB) Before declaring any department or part of a
department of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory, or any other agency or
authority established by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a
Territory, to be a national response agency for the purposes of subsection
3(1), the Minister must consult with the Minister of the Commonwealth, that
State or that Territory having responsibility for the department, agency or
other authority concerned.
(1A) In this Act, unless the contrary intention
appears, references to under this Act, contravention
of this Act and compliance with this Act are taken to be references
to under, contravention of, or compliance with, as the case may be:
(a) this Act, the regulations, a
Proclamation under this Act or a term of a compliance agreement; or
(b) an order, determination or
declaration made, or an approval, direction, authorisation, permission or
permit given, under this Act, the regulations, such a Proclamation or a term of
such an agreement; or
(c) a condition, restriction or
requirement imposed under any of the above.
(2) Where 2 or more persons are, or behave as
if they are, in charge of a vessel or installation, each of those persons
shall, for the purposes of this Act, be taken to be in charge, and to be the
master, of the vessel or installation, but, where a notice or other document is
required by this Act to be served on the master of the vessel or installation,
it is sufficient compliance with that requirement if the document is served on
one of those persons.
(3) A reference in this Act to a resources
industry fixed structure shall be read as a reference to a structure (including
a pipeline) that:
(a) is not able to move or be moved as
an entity from one place to another; and
(b) is used or is to be used off‑shore
in or in any operations or activities associated with, or incidental to,
exploring or exploiting natural resources.
(4) A reference in this Act to a resources
industry mobile unit shall be read as a reference to:
(a) a vessel that is used or is to be
used wholly or principally in:
(i) exploring or
exploiting natural resources by drilling the seabed or its subsoil with
equipment on or forming part of the vessel or by obtaining substantial
quantities of material from the seabed or its subsoil with equipment of that
kind; or
(ii) operations or
activities associated with, or incidental to, activities of the kind referred
to in subparagraph (i); or
(b) a structure (not being a vessel)
that:
(i) is able to float or be
floated;
(ii) is able to move or be
moved as an entity from one place to another; and
(iii) is used or is to be
used off‑shore wholly or principally in:
(A) exploring
or exploiting natural resources by drilling the seabed or its subsoil with
equipment on or forming part of the structure or by obtaining substantial
quantities of material from the seabed or its subsoil with equipment of that
kind; or
(B) operations
or activities associated with, or incidental to, activities of the kind
referred to in sub-subparagraph (A).
(5) A vessel of a kind referred to in paragraph (4)(a)
or a structure of a kind referred to in paragraph (4)(b) shall not be
taken not to be a resources industry mobile unit by reason only that the vessel
or structure is also used or to be used in, or in any operations or activities
associated with, or incidental to, exploring or exploiting resources other than
natural resources.
(6) The
reference in subparagraph (4)(a)(ii) to a vessel that is used or is to be
used wholly or principally in operations or activities associated with, or
incidental to, activities of the kind referred to in subparagraph (4)(a)(i)
shall be read as not including a reference to a vessel that is used or is to be
used wholly or principally in:
(a) transporting persons or goods to
or from a resources installation; or
(b) manoeuvring a resources
installation, or in operations relating to the attachment of a resources
installation to the Australian seabed.
(7) A resources installation shall be taken
to be attached to the Australian seabed if:
(a) the installation:
(i) is in physical contact
with, or is brought into physical contact with, a part of the Australian
seabed; and
(ii) is used or is to be
used, at that part of the Australian seabed, wholly or principally in or in any
operations or activities associated with, or incidental to, exploring or
exploiting natural resources; or
(b) the installation:
(i) is in physical contact
with, or is brought into physical contact with, another resources installation
that is taken to be attached to the Australian seabed by virtue of the
operation of paragraph (a); and
(ii) is used or is to be
used, at the place where it is brought into physical contact with the other
installation, wholly or principally in or in any operations or activities
associated with, or incidental to, exploring or exploiting natural resources.
(7A) Subject to subsection (7C),
for the purposes of this Act, a sea installation shall be taken to be installed
in an adjacent area if:
(a) the installation is in, or is
brought into, physical contact with a part of the seabed in the adjacent area;
or
(b) the installation is in, or is
brought into, physical contact with another sea installation that is to be
taken to be installed in the adjacent area because of paragraph (a).
(7B) For the
purposes of this Act, a sea installation shall be taken to be installed in an
adjacent area at a particular time if the whole or part of the installation:
(a) is in that adjacent area at that
time; and
(b) has been in a particular locality:
(i) that is circular and
has a radius of 20 nautical miles; and
(ii) the
whole or part of which is in that adjacent area;
for:
(iii) a continuous period,
of at least 30 days, that immediately precedes that time; or
(iv) one or more periods,
during the 60 days that immediately precede that time, that in sum amount to at
least 40 days.
(7C) Where a sea installation, being a ship or
an aircraft:
(a) is brought into physical contact
with a part of the seabed in an adjacent area; or
(b) is
in, or is brought into, physical contact with another sea installation that is
to be taken to be installed in an adjacent area;
for less than:
(c) in the case of a ship, or an
aircraft, registered under the law of a foreign country—30 days; or
(d) in
any other case—5 days;
it shall not be taken to be installed in that adjacent
area under subsection (7A).
(7D) A sea installation shall not be taken to be
installed in an adjacent area for the purposes of this Act unless it is to be
taken to be so installed under this section.
(7E) Subject to subsection (7G),
for the purposes of this Act, a sea installation shall be taken to be installed
in a coastal area if:
(a) the installation is in, or is
brought into, physical contact with a part of the seabed in the coastal area;
or
(b) the installation is in, or is
brought into, physical contact with another sea installation that is to be taken
to be installed in the coastal area because of paragraph (a).
(7F) For the
purposes of this Act, a sea installation (other than an installation installed
in an adjacent area) shall be taken to be installed in a coastal area at a
particular time if the whole or part of the installation:
(a) is in that coastal area at that
time; and
(b) has been in a particular locality:
(i) that is circular and
has a radius of 20 nautical miles; and
(ii) the whole or part of
which is in that coastal area;
for:
(iii) a continuous period,
of at least 30 days, that immediately precedes that time; or
(iv) one or more periods,
during the 60 days that immediately precede that time, that in sum amount to at
least 40 days.
(7G) Where a sea installation, being a ship or
an aircraft:
(a) is brought into physical contact
with a part of the seabed in a coastal area; or
(b) is in or is brought into, physical
contact with another sea installation that is to be taken to be installed in a
coastal area;
for less than:
(c) in the case of a ship, or an
aircraft, registered under the law of a foreign country—30 days; or
(d) in
any other case—5 days;
it shall not be taken to be installed in that adjacent
area under subsection (7E).
(7H) A sea installation shall not be taken to be
installed in a coastal area for the purposes of this Act unless it is to be
taken to be so installed under this section.
(8) The Minister may, by notice published in
the Gazette, declare an area adjacent to the Protected Zone to be an
area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone for the purposes of this Act.
(9) A vessel that enters a part of Australia
that is in the Protected Zone or in an area in the vicinity of the Protected
Zone shall not be taken to be a Protected Zone vessel if the vessel had, at any
time during the period of 3 months ending on the day on which the vessel so
entered Australia, voyaged to or from a place (other than a place in Australia)
that is outside:
(a) the Protected Zone; and
(b) any area in the vicinity of the
Protected Zone.
5AA
References to quarantine officer
(1) A reference to a quarantine officer
in a context that relates only to human quarantine is a reference to a
quarantine officer (human quarantine).
(2) A reference to a quarantine officer
in a context that relates only to animals is a reference to a
quarantine officer (animals).
(3) A reference to a quarantine officer
in a context that relates only to plants is a reference to a quarantine officer
(plants).
(4) A reference to a quarantine officer
in any other case is a reference to a quarantine officer (human
quarantine), a quarantine officer (animals) or a quarantine officer (plants).
5A
Special Quarantine Zones
The Minister may, by notice published in
the Gazette, declare an area described in the notice:
(a) to be a Special Quarantine Zone in
respect of Australia; or
(b) to be a Special Quarantine Zone in
respect of the Cocos Islands; or
(c) to be a Special Quarantine Zone in
respect of Christmas Island;
for the purposes of this Act.
5B
When person or thing is taken to have been exposed to another person or thing
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person or
thing is taken to have been exposed to another person or to a
thing if the first‑mentioned person or thing has been, or is likely to have
been:
(a) in physical contact with; or
(b) in close proximity to; or
(c) exposed to contamination,
infestation or infection from;
the other person or thing or a person or thing to which
the other person or thing is taken by this subsection to have been exposed.
(2) In this section:
thing includes any vessel, installation,
premises, vehicle or goods.
5C
Power or requirement to do or cause a thing to be done
(1) To avoid
doubt:
(a) subject to subsection (2), a
person (the first person) who has power, or is required, under
this Act to do a thing has power to cause another person to do the thing on
behalf of the first person or can comply with the requirement by causing
another person to do the thing on behalf of the first person, as the case may
be; and
(b) a person who has power, or is
required, under this Act to cause or direct a thing to be done has power to do
the thing himself or herself or can comply with the requirement by doing the
thing himself or herself, as the case may be.
(2) The reference in paragraph (1)(a) to
a power or requirement to do a thing does not include a reference to a power or
requirement to give a direction.
5D
Level of quarantine risk
A reference in this Act to a level
of quarantine risk is a reference to:
(a) the probability of:
(i) a disease or pest
being introduced, established or spread in Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island; and
(ii) the disease or pest
causing harm to human beings, animals, plants, other aspects of the
environment, or economic activities; and
(b) the probable extent of the harm.
5E
References to aircraft and commander of an aircraft
The express references in this Act to
aircraft and the commander of an aircraft do not imply that references in this
Act to vessels and the master of a vessel do not also include references to
aircraft and the commander of an aircraft, respectively.
6
Extension of Act to Cocos Islands and Christmas Island
(1) This Act extends to the Cocos Islands and
to Christmas Island.
(2) Any references in provisions of this Act
to the Cocos Islands do not imply that references to Australia or to the
Commonwealth in other provisions of this Act do not also include references to
the Cocos Islands.
(3) Any references in provisions of this Act
to Christmas Island do not imply that references to Australia or to the
Commonwealth in other provisions of this Act do not also include references to Christmas Island.
Note: Under section 2B of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901, in any Act Australia and Commonwealth
include the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island unless the contrary intention
appears.
6AB
Extension of Act to Ashmore and Cartier Islands
This Act extends to the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
6A
Special provision regarding resources installations in the Joint Petroleum Development
Area
The regulations may provide that this
Act, or a specified provision of this Act, has effect in relation to:
(a) all resources installations
attached to the seabed in the Joint Petroleum Development Area; or
(b) a
specified resources installation attached to the seabed in the Joint Petroleum
Development Area;
and so has effect:
(c) to the extent specified in the
regulations; or
(d) subject to such modifications as
are specified in the regulations.
6B
Power to make, vary, suspend or revoke various instruments etc.
(1) If:
(a) a provision of this Act refers to
a Proclamation, order, determination or declaration made, an approval,
direction, authorisation, permission or permit given, or any other act done, by
the Governor‑General, the Minister or the Secretary or by a Director of
Quarantine, Chief Quarantine Officer, quarantine officer or another person; and
(b) there is no other provision of
this Act expressly conferring power on the Governor‑General, Minister,
Secretary, Director of Quarantine, Chief Quarantine Officer, quarantine officer
or other person to make such a Proclamation, order, determination or
declaration, give such an approval, direction, authorisation, permission or
permit or do such an act;
the Governor‑General, Minister, Secretary, Director of
Quarantine, Chief Quarantine Officer, quarantine officer or other person has
power by this subsection to make such a Proclamation, order, determination or
declaration, give such an approval, direction, authorisation, permission or
permit or do such an act, as the case requires.
(2) If the Governor‑General, the Minister or
the Secretary or a Director of Quarantine, Chief Quarantine Officer, quarantine
officer or other person has power under a provision of this Act (including
power under subsection (1)) to make a Proclamation, order, determination
or declaration, give an approval, direction, authorisation, permission or
permit or do any other act, the power may, unless the contrary intention
appears, be exercised subject to conditions, restrictions or requirements.
(3) Unless the contrary intention appears,
any power conferred by this Act, by a Proclamation under this Act, by the
regulations or by a compliance agreement, to make a Proclamation, order,
determination or declaration or give an approval, direction, authorisation,
permission or permit includes:
(a) the power to suspend (for a period
of not more than one year or until the happening of an event occurring within
such a period) a Proclamation, order, determination or declaration so made or
an approval, direction, authorisation, permission or permit so given and to
revoke such a suspension; and
(b) the power to vary or revoke a
Proclamation, order, determination or declaration so made or an approval,
direction, authorisation, permission or permit so given (including the power to
vary or revoke at a time when the relevant instrument is suspended under paragraph (a)).
(4) However, if a provision conferring a
power to make a Proclamation, order, determination or declaration, or give an
approval, direction, authorisation, permission or permit, allows a suspension,
variation or revocation only in particular circumstances, on particular
grounds, subject to particular conditions or after taking particular matters
into account, subsection (3) only permits a suspension, variation or
revocation under the power in those circumstances, on those grounds, subject to
those conditions or after taking those matters into account.
6C
Provisions relating to conditions, restrictions or requirements
If a provision of this Act, the
regulations or a Proclamation under this Act allows, or authorises a person to
allow, the importation of any thing, or provides for the making of a
Proclamation, order, determination or declaration, the giving of an approval,
direction, authorisation, permission or permit, or the doing of any other act,
subject to a condition, restriction or requirement, then, unless the contrary
intention appears:
(a) the provision extends to the
imposition of such a condition, restriction or requirement either before or
after the importation of the thing, or at or after the time of the making of
the Proclamation, order, determination or declaration, the giving of the
approval, direction, authorisation, permission or permit or the doing of the
other act, as the case may be; and
(b) any reference in the provision to
compliance with such a condition, restriction or requirement is a reference to
compliance either before or after the importation of the thing, or at or after
the time of the making of the Proclamation, order, determination or
declaration, the giving of the approval, direction, authorisation, permission
or permit or the doing of the other act, as the case may be.
7 No
appropriation
Nothing in this Act shall be taken to be
an appropriation of any public moneys.
Part II—Administration
8A
Officers responsible for human quarantine
(1) There shall be a Director of Human
Quarantine, who shall, under the Minister, be charged with the execution of
this Act, and any regulations and proclamations in force under this Act, in
relation to human quarantine.
(2) The Minister may, by writing, determine
that there are to be one or more Chief Quarantine Officers (Human Quarantine).
(3) Each Chief Quarantine Officer (Human
Quarantine) is to perform his or her functions and exercise his or her powers
under, and subject to the directions of, the Director of Human Quarantine.
(4) The Director of Human Quarantine has all
the functions and powers of a Chief Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine) or of
a quarantine officer (human quarantine) under this Act and the regulations and
proclamations referred to in subsection (1).
(5) A Chief Quarantine Officer (Human
Quarantine) has all the functions and powers of a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) under this Act and the regulations and proclamations referred to in
subsection (1).
(6) Each quarantine officer (human
quarantine) is to perform functions and may exercise powers under, and subject
to the directions of, a Chief Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine) or the
Director of Human Quarantine.
8B
Officers responsible for animal and plant quarantine
(1) There shall be a Director of Animal and
Plant Quarantine, who shall, under the Minister, be charged with the execution
of this Act, and any regulations and proclamations in force under this Act, in
relation to animal and plant quarantine.
(2) The Minister may, by writing, determine
that there are to be Chief Quarantine Officers (Animals) or Chief Quarantine
Officers (Plants) for a division or divisions of animal quarantine or plant
quarantine, as the case may be, specified in the determination.
(3) Any Chief Quarantine Officers (Animals)
and Chief Quarantine Officers (Plants) shall perform their functions and
exercise their powers under, and subject to the directions of, the Director of
Animal and Plant Quarantine.
(4) The Director of Animal and Plant
Quarantine has all the functions and powers of a Chief Quarantine Officer
(Animals), of a Chief Quarantine Officer (Plants), of a quarantine officer
(animals) and of a quarantine officer (plants) under this Act and the
regulations and proclamations referred to in subsection (1).
(5) A Chief Quarantine Officer (Animals) has
all the functions and powers of a quarantine officer (animals) under this Act
and the regulations and proclamations referred to in subsection (1) and a
Chief Quarantine Officer (Plants) has all the functions and powers of a
quarantine officer (plants) under this Act and the regulations and
proclamations referred to in subsection (1).
(6) Each quarantine officer (animals) or
quarantine officer (plants) is to perform functions and may exercise powers,
for a division of quarantine for which he or she is appointed, under, and
subject to the directions of:
(a) the Chief Quarantine Officer for
the division; or
(b) if there is no such Chief
Quarantine Officer—the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine.
(7) For the purposes of this section, any
branch or subject in relation to animals or plants and a territorial division
or locality shall be a division of quarantine.
9
Appointment of officers responsible for human quarantine
(1) The Director of Human Quarantine and any
Chief Quarantine Officers (Human Quarantine) shall be appointed by the Minister
by writing.
(2) The Director of Human Quarantine may, by
writing, appoint to be a quarantine officer (human quarantine):
(a) an APS employee; or
(b) a State officer; or
(c) a police officer; or
(d) a protective service officer; or
(e) an employee of a body corporate
established or continued in existence for a public purpose by or under a
Commonwealth law, if the body corporate is prescribed for the purposes of this
paragraph.
(4) A State officer may be appointed to be a
Chief Quarantine Officer under this section.
9AA
Appointment of officers responsible for animal and plant quarantine
(1) The person for the time being holding, or
performing the duties of, the office of Secretary of the Department that deals
with animal and plant quarantine shall be the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine.
(2) The Minister may, by writing, appoint
Chief Quarantine Officers (Animals) or Chief Quarantine Officers (Plants).
(3) The Director of Animal and Plant
Quarantine may, by writing, appoint:
(a) an APS employee; or
(b) a State officer; or
(c) a police officer; or
(ca) a protective service officer; or
(cb) an employee of a body corporate
established or continued in existence for a public purpose by or under a
Commonwealth law, if the body corporate is prescribed for the purposes of this
paragraph;
to be either or both of the following:
(d) a quarantine officer (animals);
(e) a quarantine officer (plants).
(4) A person appointed under subsection (3)
must be appointed to a division or divisions of animal quarantine, plant
quarantine or both, as the case may be, specified in the instrument of
appointment.
(5) A State officer may be appointed to be a
Chief Quarantine Officer under this section.
9A
Temporary quarantine officers
(1) A Director of Quarantine may, by writing
signed by him or her, appoint:
(a) an APS employee; or
(b) a State officer; or
(c) a police officer; or
(d) a protective service officer; or
(e) an employee of a body corporate
established or continued in existence for a public purpose by or under a
Commonwealth law, if the body corporate is prescribed for the purposes of this
paragraph;
to be a temporary quarantine officer for such period as he
or she thinks necessary.
(1A) Where the Governor‑General has, in
pursuance of section 2B, declared the existence of an epidemic or the
danger of an epidemic in any part of the Commonwealth, any person thereto
authorized in writing by a Director of Quarantine may, either orally or in
writing, authorize any person to act during any specified period as a temporary
quarantine officer in that part of the Commonwealth.
(1B) A person appointed as a temporary
quarantine officer under subsection (1) or authorised to act as a
temporary quarantine officer under subsection (1A) is, in the performance
of his or her functions and in the exercise of his or her powers, subject to
the directions of a Chief Quarantine Officer or the relevant Director of
Quarantine.
(2) Temporary quarantine officers shall, for
the period of their appointment or authority to act, have all the powers of a
quarantine officer appointed under section 9.
(3) Any appointment made or authority given
in pursuance of this section shall not confer on the person appointed or
authorized any claim to be permanently appointed in any capacity.
10
Delegation by Minister
The Minister may, by signed writing,
delegate to the Secretary, a Director of Quarantine or an officer all or any of
his or her powers under this Act.
10A
Delegation by Secretary
The Secretary may, by signed writing,
delegate to a Director of Quarantine or an officer all or any of his or her
powers under this Act.
10B
Delegation by Director of Quarantine
A Director of Quarantine may, by signed
writing, delegate to an officer all or any of his or her powers under this Act.
11
Arrangements with State and Territory Governments to aid in carrying out this
Act
(1) The Governor‑General may enter into an
arrangement with the Governor of any State or the Administrator of the Northern Territory with respect to all or any of the following matters:
(a) the use of any State or Territory
quarantine station or other place in the State or Territory as a quarantine
station under this Act, and the control and management of any such quarantine
station;
(aa) the exercise of functions and
powers by State officers who are appointed as quarantine officers or Chief
Quarantine Officers;
(b) any matters necessary or
convenient to be arranged in order to enable the Commonwealth quarantine
authorities and the State or Territory health or other authorities to act in
aid of each other in preventing the introduction, establishment or spread of
diseases or pests;
(c) if the Commonwealth is a party to
any international agreement requiring the certification of export products—any
matters necessary or convenient to be arranged to assist authorities of that
State or Territory in the implementation and monitoring, in that State or
Territory, of arrangements to enable that certification, and in providing
reports to the Commonwealth concerning such arrangements.
(2) The Prime Minister may enter into an
arrangement with the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory with
respect to all or any of the following matters:
(a) the use of any Australian Capital
Territory quarantine station or other place in the Australian Capital
Territory as a quarantine station under this Act, and the control and
management of any such quarantine station;
(b) any matters necessary or
convenient to be arranged in order to enable the Commonwealth quarantine
authorities and the Australian Capital Territory health or other authorities to
act in aid of each other in preventing the introduction, establishment or
spread of diseases or pests;
(c) if the Commonwealth is a party to
any international agreement requiring the certification of export products—any
matters necessary or convenient to be arranged to assist authorities of the
Australian Capital Territory in the implementation and monitoring, in the
Australian Capital Territory, of arrangements to enable that certification, and
in providing reports to the Commonwealth concerning such arrangements.
Note: Section 71 of the Public Service Act
1999 also provides for the making of arrangements with a State or Territory
for State or Territory officers to perform Commonwealth functions.
Part IIA—Proposed decisions affecting the environment
11A
Definitions
In this Part:
Environment Minister means the Minister
administering the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
1999.
11B
Decisions under this Act not to be regarded as actions for the purposes of the
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act
To avoid doubt, a decision to do, or not
to do, anything under this Act is taken to be a decision to grant a
governmental authorisation for the purposes of subsection 524(2) of the Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
11C
Requirement to seek from Environment Minister advice about proposed decision
involving significant risk of environmental harm
(1) Before making a decision under this Act,
the implementation of which is likely to result in a significant risk of harm
to the environment, a Director of Quarantine must comply with the requirements
of this section.
(2) The Director of Quarantine must give
written notice to the Environment Minister:
(a) stating that consideration is to
be given to the making of such a decision; and
(b) requesting the Environment
Minister to give advice to the Director as to the adequacy of the risk
assessment process that is proposed to be followed in assessing the risk of
harm to the environment.
(3) After
preliminary findings have been made as a result of the risk assessment process,
the Director of Quarantine must give written notice to the Environment Minister
requesting the Environment Minister to give advice to the Director as to the
adequacy of the preliminary findings in relation to the protection of the
environment.
11D
Provision of advice by Environment Minister
(1) If a Director of Quarantine gives to the
Environment Minister a notice in accordance with section 11C requesting advice
as to a matter, the Environment Minister may give written advice to the
Director about that matter.
(2) Any such advice is to be given within 28
days after the notice was given.
11E
Director of Quarantine to take advice into account
If the Director of Quarantine receives
any advice from the Environment Minister within 28 days after the notice
requesting the advice was given to the Environment Minister in accordance with
section 11C, the Director must:
(a) ensure that the advice is taken
into account in making the relevant decision; and
(b) inform the Environment Minister in
writing as to how the advice was taken into account.
Part III—General provisions
12
Declared places
(1) The Minister may, by notice published in
the Gazette, declare that a place beyond or in Australia is infected with a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest, or that a
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest may be brought or carried from or
through that place.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a place is
a declared place while the declaration remains in force.
12A
Minister may take quarantine measures in an emergency
(1) If, in the opinion of the Minister, an
emergency has arisen that requires the taking of action not otherwise
authorised under this Act, the Minister may take such quarantine measures, or
measures incidental to quarantine, and give such directions, as he or she
thinks necessary or desirable for the diagnosis, for the prevention or control
of the introduction, establishment or spread, for the eradication, or for the
treatment, of any disease or pest.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
12B
Laboratories etc.
The Minister may establish and use
laboratories and facilities for the diagnosis of disease for purposes of, or
incidental to, quarantine and may:
(a) lease, rent, purchase or erect
premises; or
(b) enter
into an agreement with any State or with any hospital authority for the use of
buildings;
for the purpose of any such diagnosis.
13
Proclamation of ports of entry etc.
(1) The Governor‑General may, by
proclamation:
(a) declare any ports in Australia to be first ports of entry for overseas vessels; or
(aaa) declare any ports in the Cocos
Islands to be first Cocos Islands ports of entry for overseas vessels; or
(aab) declare any ports in Christmas
Island to be first Christmas Island ports of entry for overseas vessels; or
(aa) declare any place or area in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island to be a landing place for aircraft; or
(b) declare any ports in Australia,
the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island to be ports where imported animals,
plants or other goods, or imported animals, plants or other goods of a
particular kind or description or having a particular use, may be landed; or
(c) appoint places on land or sea to
be quarantine stations for the performance of quarantine by vessels, persons,
goods, animals, or plants; or
(ca) declare a disease or pest to be a
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest, as the case may be; or
(d) prohibit the introduction or
importation into Australia, into the Cocos Islands, or into Christmas Island,
of any disease or pest or any substance, article or thing containing, or likely
to contain, any disease or pest; or
(e) prohibit the importation into
Australia, into the Cocos Islands, or into Christmas Island, of any articles or
things likely, in his or her opinion, to introduce, establish or spread any
disease or pest; or
(f) prohibit the importation into
Australia, into the Cocos Islands, or into Christmas Island, of any animals,
plants or other goods, or any parts of animals or plants; or
(fa) prohibit the bringing into any
port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or into Christmas Island of
any animals, plants or other goods, or any parts of animals of plants; or
(g) prohibit the removal of any
animals, plants or other goods, or any parts of animals or plants:
(i) from any part of the
Commonwealth to any other part of the Commonwealth; or
(ii) from any part of the Cocos Islands to any other part of the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) from any part of Christmas Island to any other part of Christmas Island; or
(ga) prohibit the removal of any
animals, plants or other goods, or any parts of animals or plants:
(i) from Australia or a part of Australia to the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands; or
(ii) from the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands to Australia or a part of Australia; or
(gb) prohibit the removal of any
animals, plants or other goods or any parts of animals or plants:
(i) from Australia or a part of Australia to Christmas Island or a part of Christmas Island; or
(ii) from Christmas Island
or a part of Christmas Island to Australia or a part of Australia; or
(gc) prohibit the removal of any
animals, plants or other goods, or parts of animals or plants:
(i) from the Cocos Islands
or a part of the Cocos Islands to Christmas Island or a part of Christmas
Island; or
(ii) from Christmas Island
or a part of Christmas Island to the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands; or
(h) declare any part of the
Commonwealth, of the Cocos Islands, or of Christmas Island in which any disease
or pest exists, or is suspected to exist, to be a quarantine area; or
(i) declare that any vessel, people,
animals, plants or other goods in any quarantine area, or in any part of the
Commonwealth, of the Cocos Islands or of Christmas Island in which a disease or
pest exists, or is suspected to exist, are to be subject to quarantine.
(1A) The power to declare first ports of entry
shall extend to authorize the declaration of a port to be a first port of entry
for all overseas vessels, or for overseas vessels from any particular place, or
for any class of overseas vessels.
(1B) The power to declare first Cocos Islands ports of entry shall extend to authorize the declaration of a port to be a
first Cocos Islands port of entry for all overseas vessels, or for overseas
vessels from any particular place, or for any class of overseas vessels.
(1C) The power to declare first Christmas Island ports of entry extends to authorize the declaration of a port to be a
first Christmas Island port of entry for all overseas vessels, or for overseas
vessels from any particular place, or for any class of overseas vessels.
(2) The power of prohibition under this
section shall extend to authorize prohibition generally or as otherwise
provided by the instrument authorising the prohibition, including prohibition
either absolutely or subject to any specified conditions or restrictions.
(2A) A Proclamation under subsection (1):
(a) prohibiting the introduction into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island of any thing; or
(b) prohibiting the importation into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island of any thing; or
(c) prohibiting the bringing into a
port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island of any
thing; or
(d) prohibiting the removal of any
thing:
(i) from a part of Australia to another part of Australia; or
(ii) from a part of the Cocos Islands to another part of the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) from Australia or a
part of Australia to the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands or from
the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands to Australia or a part of
Australia; or
(iv) from a part of Christmas Island to another part of Christmas Island; or
(v) from Australia or a
part of Australia to Christmas Island or a part of Christmas Island or from
Christmas Island or a part of Christmas Island to Australia or a part of
Australia; or
(vi) from Christmas Island
or a part of Christmas Island to the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos
Islands or from the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands to Christmas
Island or a part of Christmas Island;
may provide that the introduction, importation, bringing
or removal of the thing is prohibited unless a permit to introduce, import,
bring or remove the thing is granted by a Director of Quarantine.
(2AA) A Director of Quarantine may, for the
purposes of subsection (2A), grant a permit that relates to a specified
act, or a specified class of acts, in relation to a specified thing or a
specified class of things.
(2B) A permit granted pursuant to a proclamation
made in accordance with subsection (2A) may be granted subject to
compliance with conditions or requirements, either before or after the
introduction, importation, bringing or removal of the thing to which the permit
relates, by the holder of the permit, being conditions or requirements set out
in the permit.
(2C) If, after the grant of a permit under a
Proclamation made in accordance with subsection (2A), a Director of
Quarantine is satisfied:
(a) that the level of quarantine risk
in respect of the introduction, importation, bringing or removal of the thing
or class of things to which the permit relates has altered; or
(b) that the person to whom the permit
was granted has breached a condition of the permit;
that Director of Quarantine may, by notice in writing
given to the person to whom the permit was issued, revoke the permit.
(3) The powers conferred on the Governor‑General
by this section, in relation to the matters specified in paragraphs (1)(g),
(ga), (gb), (gc), (h) and (i), so far as they relate to vessels, people,
animals, plants or other goods, or any disease or pest, are exercisable in
relation to the Commonwealth, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island only if the
Governor‑General is satisfied that the exercise of the powers is necessary for
the purpose of preventing the introduction, establishment or spread of a
disease or pest.
(4) Where there is in force a Proclamation
(in this subsection referred to as the relevant Proclamation)
under subsection (1) (whether made before or after the commencement of
this subsection) prohibiting the importation into Australia of any animals,
plants or other goods, the Governor‑General may, by Proclamation (in this
subsection referred to as the exempting Proclamation), either
generally or subject to such conditions or restrictions as are specified in the
exempting Proclamation, exempt from the operation of the relevant Proclamation
animals, plants or other goods of a kind specified in the exempting
Proclamation, being animals, plants or other goods that:
(a) are brought into a part of
Australia that is in the Protected Zone or in an area in the vicinity of the
Protected Zone on board a Protected Zone vessel; and
(b) are owned by, or are under the
control of, a traditional inhabitant who is on board that vessel and have been
used, are being used or are intended to be used by him or her in connection
with the performance of traditional activities in the Protected Zone or in an
area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone.
(5) A Proclamation made under subsection (1)
may, either generally or subject to such conditions or restrictions as are
specified in the Proclamation, exempt from the operation of the Proclamation
any animals, plants or other goods specified in the Proclamation, being animals,
plants or other goods in respect of which an exemption may be granted under subsection (4).
(6) If there is in force a Proclamation (the relevant
Proclamation) under subsection (1) (whether made before or after
the commencement of this subsection) prohibiting:
(a) the bringing into a port or other
place in Australia of any animals, plants or other goods; or
(b) the removal of any animals, plants
or other goods:
(i) from a part of Australia to another part of Australia; or
(ii) from a part of the Cocos Islands to another part of the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) from Australia or a part of Australia to the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands; or
(iv) from the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands to Australia or a part of Australia; or
(v) from a part of Christmas Island to another part of Christmas Island; or
(vi) from Australia or a part of Australia to Christmas Island or a part of Christmas Island; or
(vii) from Christmas Island
or a part of Christmas Island to Australia or a part of Australia; or
(viii) from Christmas Island
or a part of Christmas Island to the Cocos Islands or a part of the Cocos Islands; or
(ix) from the Cocos Islands
or a part of the Cocos Islands to Christmas Island or a part of Christmas
Island;
the Governor‑General may, by Proclamation (the exempting
Proclamation), either generally or subject to such conditions or
restrictions as are specified in the exempting Proclamation, exempt from the
operation of the relevant Proclamation animals, plants or other goods of a kind
specified in the exempting Proclamation, being animals, plants or other goods
that:
(c) are brought or removed, on board a
Protected Zone vessel, from a part of Australia that:
(i) is in the Protected
Zone; or
(ii) is in an area in the
vicinity of the Protected Zone; or
(iii) is in a Special
Quarantine Zone; and
(d) are owned by, or are under the
control of, a traditional inhabitant who is on board that vessel.
(7) A Proclamation made under subsection (1)
may, either generally or subject to such conditions or restrictions as are
specified in the Proclamation, exempt from the operation of the Proclamation
any animals, plants or other goods specified in the Proclamation, being
animals, plants or other goods in respect of which an exemption may be granted
under subsection (6).
13A
Emergency quarantine grounds
The Minister may appoint any place to be
a temporary quarantine station for such period as he or she thinks necessary,
for the performance of quarantine by any vessel, installation, persons, goods,
animals, or plants, and the place so appointed shall be deemed to be a
quarantine station accordingly.
14
Exemption of certain vessels and goods
The Governor‑General may exempt, for
such time and subject to such conditions as he or she thinks fit, from all or
any of the provisions of this Act:
(a) any ship of war; and
(b) any vessels trading exclusively:
(i) between Australian
ports; or
(ia) between Australian
ports and Australian installations; or
(ii) between ports in the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) between Australia and New Zealand; or
(iv) between Australia and Fiji; or
(v) between Australia and the Cocos Islands; or
(va) between ports in Christmas Island; or
(vb) between Australia and Christmas Island; or
(vc) between the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island; or
(vi) between Australia and another place adjacent to Australia;
(c) any particular vessel or class of
vessels; and
(d) any persons, animals, plants or
goods or any classes of persons, animals, plants or other goods.
14A Exemptions
pursuant to Torres Strait Treaty
(1) Without limiting the power of the
Governor‑General to grant exemptions under section 14, the Minister may,
by notice published in the Gazette, exempt, subject to such conditions
(if any) as are specified in the notice, from all of the provisions of this
Act, the regulations or a Proclamation under this Act or from so many of those
provisions as are specified in the notice:
(a) any Protected Zone vessel that
enters a part of Australia that is in the Protected Zone or in an area in the
vicinity of the Protected Zone, being a vessel:
(i) on board which there
is at least one traditional inhabitant who is entering that part of Australia
in connection with the performance of traditional activities in the Protected Zone
or in an area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone; and
(ii) no person on board
which is a person other than:
(A) a person
referred to in subparagraph (i); or
(B) an
employee of the Commonwealth, of Queensland or of Papua New Guinea or of an
authority of the Commonwealth, of Queensland or of Papua New Guinea who is
entering that part of Australia in connection with the performance of his or
her duties;
(b) persons on board a vessel of the
kind referred to in paragraph (a); or
(c) goods on board a vessel of the
kind referred to in paragraph (a), being goods that:
(i) are owned by, or are
under the control of, a traditional inhabitant who is on board that vessel and
have been used, are being used or are intended to be used by him or her in
connection with the performance of traditional activities in the Protected Zone
or in an area in the vicinity of the Protected Zone; or
(ii) are the personal
belongings of a person referred to in subparagraph (a)(ii).
(2) An exemption granted under subsection (1)
has effect only while the vessels, persons or goods in respect of which the
exemption was granted remain in the Protected Zone or in an area in the
vicinity of the Protected Zone.
15
Vessels may be directed to carry disinfecting equipment
(1) A Director of Quarantine may give to the
operator or master of:
(a) a vessel going from one State or
part of the Commonwealth to another State or part of the Commonwealth; or
(b) a vessel carrying passengers and
trading regularly with the Commonwealth; or
(c) a vessel coming from, or which has
called at, a declared place;
a direction to cause to be carried on the vessel, for a
period specified in the direction, such prophylactic agents, efficient
disinfecting apparatus or appliances, and disinfectants, as are so specified.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a Director of Quarantine gives a
direction to the person under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3) An offence against subsection (2) is
an offence of strict liability.
16AA
Certain resources installations to be part of Australia
(1) For the purposes of this Act, where:
(a) an overseas resources installation
has been attached to the Australian seabed; and
(b) pratique
has been granted to the installation or the installation has been released from
quarantine;
the installation shall, subject to subsection (3), be
deemed to be part of Australia.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, a resources
installation that:
(a) not being an overseas resources
installation, becomes attached to the Australian seabed after the commencement
of this subsection; or
(b) is
attached to the Australian seabed at the commencement of this subsection;
shall, subject to subsection (3), be deemed to be part
of Australia.
(3) A
resources installation that is deemed to be part of Australia by virtue of the
operation of this section shall, for the purposes for this Act, cease to be
part of Australia if:
(a) the installation is detached from
the Australian seabed, or from another resources installation that is attached
to the Australian seabed, for the purpose of being taken to a place outside the
outer limits of Australian waters (whether or not the installation is to be
taken to a place in Australia before being taken outside those outer limits);
or
(b) after having been detached from
the Australian seabed otherwise than for the purpose referred to in paragraph (a),
the installation is moved for the purpose of being taken to a place outside the
outer limits of Australian waters (whether or not the installation is to be
taken to a place in Australia before being taken outside those outer limits).
16AAA
Certain sea installations to be part of Australia
(1) For the purposes of this Act, where:
(a) an overseas sea installation has
been installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area; and
(b) pratique
has been granted to the installation or the installation has been released from
quarantine;
the installation shall, subject to subsection (3), be
deemed to be part of Australia.
(2) For the
purposes of this Act, a sea installation that:
(a) not being an overseas sea
installation, becomes installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area after
the commencement of this subsection; or
(b) is
installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area at the commencement of this
subsection;
shall, subject to subsection (3), be deemed to be
part of Australia.
(3) A sea installation that is deemed to be
part of Australia because of the operation of this section, shall, for the
purposes of this Act, cease to be part of Australia if:
(a) the installation is detached from
its location for the purpose of being taken to a place outside the outer limits
of Australian waters; or
(b) after having been detached from
its location otherwise than for the purpose referred to in paragraph (a),
the installation is moved for the purpose of being taken to a place outside the
outer limits of Australian waters.
16AB
Certain goods deemed to be imported into Australia
(1) For the purposes of this Act, where an
overseas resources installation becomes attached to the Australian seabed, any
goods, animals or plants that are on board the installation at the time when it
becomes so attached, not being goods, animals or plants that have been brought
to the installation from a place in Australia, shall be deemed to be imported
into Australia at that time.
(1A) For the purposes of this Act, where an
overseas sea installation is installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal
area, any goods, animals or plants that are on board the installation at the
time when it becomes so installed, not being goods, animals or plants that have
been brought to the installation from a place in Australia, shall be deemed to
be imported into Australia at that time.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, where
goods, animals or plants are taken from a place other than a place in Australia
on to an Australian installation, the goods, animals or plants shall be deemed
to have been imported into Australia at the time when they are taken on to the
installation.
16AC
Notice of proposed importation of goods
(1) If a person proposes to import goods into
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, the person, or an agent of
the person, may give notice of the proposed importation in accordance with this
section.
(2) If:
(a) a person imports goods into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; and
(b) notice of the proposed importation
of the goods was not given under subsection (1);
the person must, within the period applicable under subsection (2A),
cause notice of the importation to be given in accordance with this section.
(2A) The period within which notice of the
importation of goods is to be given by a person under subsection (2) is 35
days after:
(a) the day on which the person or an
agent of the person receives notice of the landing of the goods; or
(b) if the person or an agent of the
person does not receive notice of the landing of the goods before the person or
agent receives the goods—the day on which the goods are so received.
(2B) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is required by subsection (2)
to cause a notice of the importation of goods to be given in accordance with
this section; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to
goods imported in circumstances prescribed by the regulations if any conditions
prescribed by the regulations are complied with.
(4) A notice under subsection (1) or (2)
must be given in the manner, and must contain the information relating to the
goods, that is prescribed by the regulations.
(5) The
regulations:
(a) may
provide for a notice under subsection (1) to be given to:
(i) an officer; or
(ii) an officer of Customs;
and
(b) may provide that the lodging of an
entry, by electronic means or otherwise, under the Customs Act 1901 in
relation to goods is to constitute:
(i) if the goods have not
been imported—the giving of a notice of the proposed importation of the goods
under subsection (1); or
(ii) if the goods have been
imported—the giving of a notice of the importation of the goods under subsection (2);
and
(c) may provide for a notice under
this section to be given by electronic means.
(5A) Without limiting subsection (5), the
regulations may provide that the doing of something specified in the
regulations is, or is in circumstances or subject to conditions so specified,
taken to constitute the giving of a notice under subsection (1) or (2).
(6) If a notice under this section:
(a) is given to an officer of Customs;
or
(b) is given by the lodging of an
entry under the Customs Act 1901 as mentioned in paragraph (5)(b);
or
(c) is taken to be given by the doing
of something specified in regulations under subsection (5A);
a person to whom section 16 of the Customs
Administration Act 1985 applies may, despite that section, give the notice,
particulars of the entry, or particulars of the thing the doing of which is
taken to constitute the giving of the notice, as the case may be, to a
quarantine officer.
16AD
Quarantine officer may require additional information about goods
(1) A quarantine officer may, by written
notice given to a person who has imported, or proposes to import, goods into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island or to an agent of such a person, require
the person to whom the notice is given to give any information about the goods
that is stated in the notice.
(2) A notice under subsection (1), and
any information given in response to such a notice, may be given by electronic
means.
(3) If a notice under subsection (1) is
given by electronic means, the notice is taken to have been given by the
principal quarantine officer in the State or Territory in which the notice was
sent.
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a notice is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the notice.
Maximum penalty: 120 penalty units.
Note: This section is subject to the privilege
against self incrimination (see subsection 79A(3)).
16AE
False or misleading information
A person must not include any
information in a notice given under subsection 16AC(1) or (2), or give any
information in response to a notice given under subsection 16AD(1), that the
person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
16AF
Manner of communicating decisions by quarantine officers
(1) If a quarantine officer decides to order
goods into quarantine, or to authorise goods to be brought into Australia, the
Cocos Islands or Christmas Island (whether by releasing the goods from
quarantine, granting a permit, giving an authorisation, or otherwise), the
decision may be recorded, and notice of the decision may be given to a person
affected by it, by electronic means.
(2) A notice given to a person under subsection (1)
may require the person to do a specified thing for the purpose of giving effect
to the decision.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a notice given to the person under
subsection (1) requires the person to do a specified thing; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
16AG
Evidence of giving of notices by electronic means
The regulations may provide for the manner in which
evidence may be given in a proceeding for the purpose of proving:
(a) that a notice of the proposed
importation of goods has, or has not, been given under subsection 16AC(1); or
(b) that a notice of the importation
of goods has, or has not, been given under subsection 16AC(2); or
(c) that a notice has been given under
section 16AD requiring a person to give information to a quarantine
officer; or
(d) that information has, or has not,
been given as required by a notice under section 16AD; or
(e) the nature of any information
given in response to a notice under section 16AD; or
(f) that a quarantine officer has
authorised goods to be brought into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas
Island by releasing the goods from quarantine, granting a permit, giving an
authorisation, or otherwise.
16AH
Vessel arriving illegally at a place other than a port
If a vessel that is at a place in
Australia other than a port arrived at the place (whether before or after the
commencement of this section) in contravention of this Act, an officer may
perform any functions or exercise any powers under this Act in relation to the
vessel, its operator, master, crew or passengers, or any goods on it, that he
or she could have performed or exercised if the vessel were at a port.
Part IV—Quarantine of vessels, persons and goods
Division 1A—Application
16A
Part applies to animals and plants
Notwithstanding Part V, this Part
applies in relation to animals and plants as well as in relation to other goods.
Division 1—Liability to quarantine
17
Vessels or installation subject to quarantine
(1) The following vessels shall be subject to
quarantine:
(a) every overseas vessel until
pratique has been granted or until it has been released from quarantine;
(b) every vessel (whether an
Australian vessel, a Cocos Islands vessel, a Christmas Island vessel or an
overseas vessel) on board which any quarantinable disease or quarantinable
pest, or disease or pest that there is reason to believe or suspect to be a quarantinable
disease or a quarantinable pest, has broken out or been discovered
(notwithstanding that pratique has been granted or that it has been released
from quarantine);
(c) every vessel which is ordered into
quarantine by a quarantine officer.
(2) The following installations shall be
subject to quarantine:
(a) any overseas installation;
(b) any Australian installation and
any installation that is in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming
attached to the Australian seabed, being an installation on board which any
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest, or disease or pest that there is
reason to believe or suspect to be a quarantinable disease or a quarantinable
pest, has broken out or been discovered;
(c) any installation which is ordered
into quarantine by a quarantine officer.
18
Persons and goods subject to quarantine
(1) The following persons shall be subject to
quarantine:
(a) every person who is on board a
vessel subject to quarantine, or who has been on board the vessel (being an
overseas vessel) since:
(i) in the case of a
vessel that has arrived in Australia from a place outside Australia—its arrival in Australia; or
(ii) in the case of a
vessel that has arrived in the Cocos Islands from a place outside the Cocos Islands—its arrival in the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) in the case of a
vessel that has arrived in Christmas Island from a place outside Christmas Island—its arrival in Christmas Island;
(aa) every person who is on board an
Australian vessel, a Cocos Islands vessel, or a Christmas Island vessel,
subject to quarantine, or who has been on board the vessel since its arrival at
the port (if any) at which it is subject to quarantine;
(ab) every person who is on board an
installation subject to quarantine;
(b) every person infected with a
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest;
(ba) every person who a quarantine
officer reasonably suspects is infected with a quarantinable disease or
quarantinable pest;
(c) every person who has been in
contact with or exposed to, infection from any person or goods subject to
quarantine;
(d) every person who is, or has been
within a period of 21 days, in an area which is a quarantine area;
(e) every person who enters Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island unlawfully;
(f) every person who is ordered into
quarantine by a quarantine officer.
(2) The following goods shall be subject to
quarantine:
(a) all goods which are on board an
overseas vessel, or which have been on board the vessel since:
(i) in the case of a
vessel that has arrived in Australia from a place outside Australia—its arrival in Australia; or
(ii) in the case of a
vessel that has arrived in the Cocos Islands from a place outside the Cocos Islands—its arrival in the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) in the case of a vessel
that has arrived in Christmas Island from a place outside Christmas Island—its
arrival in Christmas Island;
(aa) all goods which are on board an
Australian vessel, a Cocos Islands vessel, or a Christmas Island vessel,
subject to quarantine, or which have been on board the vessel since its arrival
at the port (if any) at which it is subject to quarantine;
(ab) all goods which are on board an
installation subject to quarantine;
(b) all goods infected with a
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest;
(ba) all quarantinable pests and
quarantinable diseases;
(c) all goods which have been in
contact with or exposed to infection from a quarantinable disease or
quarantinable pest or from any person or goods subject to quarantine;
(d) all animals which are on board an
Australian resources installation or a resources installation that is in
Australian waters for the purpose of being attached to the Australian seabed,
being animals which arrived at the installation otherwise than on board a
vessel;
(e) all animals which are on board an
Australian sea installation or a sea installation that is in Australian waters
for the purpose of being installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area,
being animals which arrived at the installation otherwise than on board a
vessel;
(f) any goods that are ordered into
quarantine by a quarantine officer.
19
Revival of Quarantine (Cocos Islands)
(1) Where a vessel that ceased to be subject
to quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, the Cocos Islands is about to
arrive in Australia or Christmas Island, the vessel again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(2) Where a person who ceased to be subject
to quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, the Cocos Islands is about to
arrive in Australia or Christmas Island, the person again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(3) Where goods that ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, the Cocos Islands are about to
arrive in Australia or Christmas Island, the goods again become subject to
quarantine.
(4) Where a vessel that ceased to be subject
to quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Australia or Christmas Island is
about to arrive in the Cocos Islands, the vessel again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(5) Where a person who ceased to be subject
to quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Australia or Christmas Island is
about to arrive in the Cocos Islands, the person again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(6) Where goods that ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Australia or Christmas Island are
about to arrive in the Cocos Islands, the goods again become subject to
quarantine.
19AA
Revival of quarantine (Christmas Island)
(1) If a vessel that ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Christmas Island is about to arrive
in Australia or the Cocos Islands, the vessel again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(2) If a person who ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Christmas Island is about to arrive
in Australia or the Cocos Islands, the person again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(3) If goods that ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Christmas Island are about to arrive
in Australia or the Cocos Islands, the goods again become subject to quarantine.
(4) If a vessel that ceased to be the subject
to quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Australia or the Cocos Islands is
about to arrive in Christmas Island, the vessel again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(5) If a person who ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Australia or the Cocos Islands is
about to arrive in Christmas Island, the person again becomes subject to
quarantine.
(6) If goods that ceased to be subject to
quarantine when in, or about to arrive in, Australia or the Cocos Islands are
about to arrive in Christmas Island, the goods again become subject to
quarantine.
19A
Continuance of liability to quarantine
(1) Subject to this section, persons who, or
vessels, installations or goods that, become subject to quarantine continue to
be so subject until they are released from quarantine.
(2) Where pratique is granted to a vessel,
the vessel ceases to be subject to quarantine in the port in which the pratique
has effect, but:
(a) if the pratique has effect only
from a particular period, the vessel ceases to be subject to quarantine for
that period only; and
(b) the obligation to comply with
measures of quarantine to which the pratique does not relate (if any) is not
affected by the vessel ceasing to be subject to quarantine.
(2A) Where pratique is granted to an
installation, the installation ceases to be subject to quarantine at the place
at which the pratique has effect, but:
(a) if the pratique has effect only
for a particular period, the installation ceases to be subject to quarantine
for that period only; and
(b) the obligation to comply with
measures of quarantine (if any) to which the pratique does not relate is not
affected by the installation ceasing to be subject to quarantine.
(3) Where pratique is granted to a vessel,
persons on the vessel cease to be subject to quarantine.
(4) Where pratique is granted to an
installation, persons on the installation cease to be subject to quarantine.
20
Vessels to enter only first ports of entry unless permission given
(1) The master of an overseas vessel arriving
in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island is guilty of an offence if
the master permits the vessel to enter a place in Australia, the Cocos Islands
or Christmas Island other than a port declared to be a first port of entry, a
first Cocos Islands port of entry or a first Christmas Island port of entry, as
the case may be.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
entry is made with the permission of the Minister given under section 20AA.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
entry is made with the permission of the Minister given under section 20AA.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(2) The master of an overseas vessel arriving
in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island is guilty of an offence if
the master permits the vessel to be:
(a) beached in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(b) moored, anchored or otherwise
secured in waters on the landward side of the baseline of the territorial sea
of Australia, of the Cocos Islands or of Christmas Island;
otherwise than at a port.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Note: The master will not be guilty of an offence if
the prohibited conduct was due to sudden or extraordinary emergency (see
section 10.3 of the Criminal Code).
20A
Overseas aircraft to land only at landing places unless permission given
(1) The commander of an overseas aircraft is
guilty of an offence if the commander permits the aircraft to land in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island at a place other than a landing place.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Note: The commander will not be guilty of an offence
if the landing was due to sudden or extraordinary emergency (see section 10.3
of the Criminal Code).
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
landing is made with the permission of the Minister given under section 20AA.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (2) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
20AA
Permission to enter place other than first port of entry
(1) The Minister administering the Department
that deals with human quarantine may, upon application being made in writing by
the master, owner or agent of an overseas vessel, by notice in writing given to
the person who made the application, give permission, subject to such
conditions (if any) as are specified in the notice, for the vessel to be
brought to:
(a) a place in Australia; or
(b) a place in the Cocos Islands; or
(c) a place in Christmas Island;
being a place other than a first port of entry, a first Cocos Island port of entry, a first Christmas Island port in entry or a landing place.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is, under subsection (1),
given a permission that is subject to a condition; and
(b) the condition is contravened; and
(c) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
20B
Prohibition of entry by air from proclaimed places
Proclamation of place
(1) If the Governor‑General is of the opinion
that there is danger of the introduction into Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island by aircraft of disease from any place outside Australia, the
Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be, the Governor‑General
may, by Proclamation, declare the place to be a place in relation to which this
section applies in respect of Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island,
as the case may be.
Offence by commander of aircraft
(2) The commander of any aircraft entering
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island is guilty of an offence if the
commander permits the aircraft to enter from or through a place declared under subsection (1)
to be a place in relation to which this section applies in respect of
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Offence by operator of aircraft
(2A) The operator of any aircraft entering
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island is guilty of an offence if the
operator permits the aircraft to enter from or through a place declared under subsection (1)
to be a place in relation to which this section applies in respect of
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Offence by operator of aircraft
(2A) The operator of any aircraft entering Australia or the Cocos Islands is guilty of an offence if the operator permits the aircraft
to enter from or through a place declared under subsection (1) to be a
place in relation to which this section applies in respect of Australia or the Cocos Islands, as the case may be.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Proclamation of conditions of entry
(3) The Governor‑General may, by
Proclamation, declare that a person must not, so long as the Proclamation
remains in force, enter Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island by
an aircraft from any place outside Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas
Island, as the case may be, specified in the Proclamation unless the
person has complied with the conditions stated in the Proclamation.
Conditions that may be proclaimed
(4) The conditions stated in a Proclamation
under subsection (3) are such conditions as the Governor‑General thinks
necessary or desirable for avoiding the possibility of the entry into
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island of people suffering from, or
capable of communicating, any disease.
Offence by person entering in reckless contravention of
condition
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person enters Australia, the
Cocos Islands or Christmas Island in contravention of a condition stated in a
Proclamation made under subsection (3); and
(b) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Meaning of entry from place outside Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island
(6) For the purpose of this section, and of
any Proclamation under this section, a person is taken to enter Australia, the
Cocos Islands or Christmas Island from a place outside Australia, the Cocos
Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be, if he or she has been in that
place within 21 days before his or her arrival in Australia, the Cocos Islands
or Christmas Island, as the case may be.
20C
Aircraft landing at places other than landing places
Aircraft etc. may be ordered into quarantine
(1) If an aircraft that is subject to
quarantine makes a landing at any place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island that is not a landing place, the aircraft and any
person, animal, plant or other goods on board are taken, for the purposes of
this Act, to be ordered into quarantine.
Direction for dealing with aircraft etc.
(2) A Director of Quarantine may give
directions as to how an aircraft, a person, an animal, a plant or other goods
referred to in subsection (1) are to be dealt with.
To whom directions may be given
(3) A direction under subsection (2) may
be given, as appropriate, to:
(a) the operator or commander of the
aircraft; or
(b) any person who is on board the
aircraft or was on board it when it landed; or
(c) the importer of, or any person in
control of, the animal, plant or other goods.
Exception for aircraft landing with permission
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply in
relation to an aircraft that lands at a place other than a landing place in
accordance with the permission of the Minister given under section 20AA.
Exception not to apply if condition of permission is
contravened
(5) However, subsection (1) is not
precluded by subsection (4) from applying in relation to the aircraft if:
(a) the permission is subject to a
condition; and
(b) the condition is contravened.
Offence for failing to comply with direction
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (2); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
20D
Animals, plants or other goods to be landed at declared port
Goods may only be landed at declared port
(1) Except as provided by subsection (2),
imported animals, plants or other goods must not be landed at a place in
Australia or, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island other than a port declared
by Proclamation to be a port at which they may be landed.
Exception for goods landed with permission
(2) Imported animals, plants or other goods
may be landed at a place in Australia or, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island that is not a port declared by Proclamation to be a port at which they may
be landed if:
(a) they are landed from an overseas
vessel; and
(b) a Director of Quarantine has, upon
application made by the master, owner or agent of the vessel, given the
applicant written permission for them to be landed at the place; and
(c) where the permission is subject to
a condition—the condition is complied with.
Offence for landing goods without permission
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person lands any imported
animals, plants or other goods in a place in Australia or, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island that is not a port declared by Proclamation to be a port at
which they may be landed; and
(b) no permission is in force under subsection (2)
for them to be landed at the place
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Offence for contravening condition of permission
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person lands any imported
animals, plants or other goods at a place in Australia or, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island that is not a port declared by Proclamation to be a port at
which they may be landed; and
(b) a permission is in force under subsection (2)
for them to be landed at the place; and
(c) the permission is subject to a
condition that is to be complied with after they are landed; and
(d) the condition is contravened; and
(e) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
21
Quarantine signals on vessels and installations
(1) The master of a vessel (other than an
aircraft) subject to quarantine is guilty of an offence if he or she:
(a) fails to display the quarantine
signal on the vessel before it comes within 3 nautical miles of any port or
within 500 metres of an Australian installation; and
(b) fails to keep the quarantine
signal displayed on the vessel while it enters, or is in, any port or
quarantine station or is at an Australian installation.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(1A) The commander of an aircraft subject to
quarantine is guilty of an offence if he or she:
(b) on arrival at the first landing
place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, or on arrival at an
Australian installation and at each landing place afterwards called at, fails
to cause the aircraft to come to a stop as near as possible to a spot marked by
the prescribed signal on the landing place.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2) The master of an installation subject to
quarantine shall:
(a) display the quarantine signal on
the installation; and
(b) keep
the quarantine signal displayed on the installation until pratique is granted
or until the installation is released from quarantine.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3) An offence against this section is an
offence of strict liability.
22
Notification of outbreak of a disease
(1) Subsection (2) applies if:
(a) a prescribed symptom presents
itself, or a prescribed disease or an infectious disease breaks out, on board a
vessel; or
(b) the master of a vessel believes or
suspects, or has reason to believe or suspect, that a quarantinable disease has
broken out, or a quarantinable pest is, on board the vessel.
(2) The master of the vessel:
(a) if the vessel is not actually
performing quarantine under the supervision of a quarantine officer—must
immediately notify a quarantine officer of the presence of the symptom, the
breaking out of the disease or the existence of the pest; and
(b) if the vessel is not an overseas
aircraft—must immediately display the quarantine signal on the vessel and must
keep it displayed until he or she is authorised by a quarantine officer to
remove it or until the vessel is released from quarantine.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(4) In this
section:
vessel includes:
(a) an Australian resources
installation, or another resources installation that is in Australian waters
for the purpose of becoming attached to the Australian seabed; and
(b) an Australian sea installation, or
another sea installation that is in Australian waters for the purpose of
becoming installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area.
23
Signal
The quarantine signal shall be as prescribed and shall be
displayed in the prescribed manner.
24
Unauthorised person not to board or approach vessel or installation
(1) An unauthorised person must not:
(a) go on board or alongside any
vessel subject to quarantine or on which the quarantine signal is displayed; or
(b) approach within 30 metres of any
prescribed signal on a landing place.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
person does the things mentioned in that subsection as the master or a member
of the crew of a tug that is carrying out operations as a tug.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matters in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(2) An
unauthorised person must not go on board or alongside any installation subject
to quarantine or on which the quarantine signal is displayed.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if the
person goes on board or alongside the installation as the master or a member of
the crew of a tug that is carrying out operations as a tug.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matters in subsection (2A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(3) An offence against this section is an
offence of strict liability.
25
When required vessel to be brought to
The
master of a vessel shall, on being so required by a quarantine officer, bring
the vessel to, and shall by all reasonable means facilitate the boarding of the
vessel by the quarantine officer.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 1 year.
25A
Boarding of installations
(1) The master of an Australian resources
installation or a resources installation that is in Australian waters to
achieve the result of becoming attached to the Australian seabed shall, upon
being so required by a quarantine officer, permit the quarantine officer to go
on board the installation and shall, by all reasonable means, facilitate the
boarding of the installation by the quarantine officer.
(2) The master
of an Australian sea installation or a sea installation that is in Australian
waters to achieve the result of becoming installed in an adjacent area or in a
coastal area shall, upon being so required by a quarantine officer, permit the
quarantine officer to go on board the installation and shall, by all reasonable
means, facilitate the boarding of the installation by the quarantine officer.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
26
Limit in port for vessels subject to quarantine
(1) The master of a vessel subject to
quarantine shall not allow the vessel to be brought into any part of the port
within the quarantine line.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
master’s intention in allowing the vessel to be brought into the port is to
comply with section 26A.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(2) The Governor‑General may by proclamation
fix the position of the quarantine line for any port.
26A
Vessels to be brought to mooring grounds
The
master of a vessel (other than an aircraft) that is subject to quarantine
shall, forthwith on arrival at or near a port, bring the vessel:
(a) to a place appointed by the
Governor‑General by proclamation to be a mooring ground in relation to the port
for vessels subject to quarantine; or
(b) with
the approval of a quarantine officer and on payment of any fee that is payable
in respect of the approval, to such place as is specified in the approval.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
27A
Pre‑arrival and pre‑departure reports by certain vessels (other than aircraft)
and installations
Vessels from which reports are required
(1) This section applies to the master of:
(a) an overseas vessel (other than an
aircraft) that is intended to arrive at a place in Australia, the Cocos Islands
or Christmas Island; or
(b) an overseas installation that:
(i) is intended to arrive
at a place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island from a place
outside Australia, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island; or
(ii) is intended to arrive
at a place in the Cocos Islands from a place in Australia or in Christmas Island; or
(iii) is intended to arrive
at a place in Christmas Island from a place in Australia or in the Cocos Islands; or
(c) a vessel (other than a overseas
vessel or an aircraft), or an installation (other than an overseas
installation) that is intended to arrive:
(i) at a place in Australia from a place in the Cocos Islands or in Christmas Island; or
(ii) at a place in the Cocos Islands from a place in Australia or Christmas Island; or
(iii) at a place in Christmas Island from a place in Australia or the Cocos Islands; or
(d) a vessel (other than an overseas
vessel, an aircraft or a prescribed vessel) that is intended to arrive:
(i) at a place in Australia (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone declared in respect of Australia or the Protected Zone) from a place in any of those zones; or
(ii) at a place in the
Cocos Islands (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone declared in
respect of the Cocos Islands) from a place in such a zone; or
(iii) at a place in Christmas Island (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone declared in respect of Christmas Island) from a place in such a zone.
Quarantine officer to whom pre‑arrival report to be
sent
(2) The master of the vessel or installation
must cause the prescribed information to be given, in a form approved by a
Director of Quarantine, in the prescribed manner and during the prescribed
period, to a quarantine officer:
(a) in respect of a vessel or
installation that is intended to arrive at a place in Australia:
(i) if that place is a
first port of entry for overseas vessels—at that port; or
(ii) otherwise—at a port
that is declared by Proclamation to be a first port of entry for overseas
vessels; or
(b) in respect of a vessel or installation
that is intended to arrive at a place in the Cocos Islands—at that place; or
(c) in respect of a vessel or
installation that is intended to arrive at a place in Christmas Island—at that
place.
Action to be taken if report afterwards found to be incomplete
or incorrect
(3) If, after any of the prescribed
information is given to a quarantine officer under subsection (2), the
master or operator of the vessel or installation becomes aware that the
information is incomplete or incorrect, the master or operator, as the case may
be, must cause the additional or correct information to be given to a
quarantine officer as soon as practicable.
Pre‑departure report
(4) If:
(a) after the period within which the
master of the vessel or installation was required to cause the prescribed
information to be given to a quarantine officer under subsection (2); and
(b) before the vessel or installation
departs from its last port in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island
in the course of the relevant voyage;
any people on the vessel or installation are found to be
suffering from a disease prescribed for the purposes of this section, the
master must immediately cause particulars of the disease, and the number of
people suffering from it, to be given to a quarantine officer.
Failure to give information
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a requirement of this section
applies to the person; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Note: Subsection (5) is not subject to the
privilege against self incrimination but a use derivative‑use indemnity applies
(see subsections 79A(1) and (2)).
Knowingly giving false or misleading information
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person gives information, or
causes information to be given, to a quarantine officer under a requirement
made by this section (whether the requirement is made of that person or of
another person); and
(b) the information is false or
misleading in a material particular; and
(c) the person knows that the
information is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for one year.
Negligently giving false or misleading information
(7) A person
is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person gives information, or
causes information to be given, to a quarantine officer under a requirement
made by this section (whether the requirement is made of that person or of
another person); and
(b) the information is false or
misleading in a material particular; and
(c) the person is negligent as to
whether or not the information is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty for an offence against this subsection:
Imprisonment for 6 months.
27B
Pre‑arrival and pre‑departure reports by certain aircraft
Aircraft from which reports are required
(1) This section applies to the commander of
an aircraft (other than a prescribed aircraft) that:
(a) is intended to arrive at a place
in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(b) is intended to arrive at a place
in Australia (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of
Australia or the Protected Zone) from a place in any of those zones; or
(c) is intended to arrive at a place
in the Cocos Islands (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone in
respect of the Cocos Islands) from a place in such a zone; or
(d) is intended to arrive at a place
in Christmas Island (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone in respect
of Christmas Island) from a place in such a zone.
Quarantine officer to whom pre‑arrival report to be
sent
(2) The commander of the aircraft must cause
the prescribed information to be given, in a form approved by a Director of
Quarantine, in the prescribed manner and before the prescribed time, to a
quarantine officer located at the place that is applicable in respect of the
aircraft under regulations made for the purposes of this subsection.
Action to be taken if report afterwards found to be
incomplete or incorrect
(3) If, after any of the prescribed information
is given to a quarantine officer under subsection (2), the commander or
operator of the aircraft becomes aware that the information is incomplete or
incorrect, the commander or operator, as the case may be, must cause the
additional or correct information to be given to a quarantine officer as soon
as practicable.
Failure to give information
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a requirement of this section
applies to the person; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Note: Subsection (4) is not subject to the
privilege against self incrimination but a use derivative‑use indemnity applies
(see subsections 79A(1) and (2)).
Knowingly giving false or misleading information
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person gives information, or
causes information to be given, to a quarantine officer under a requirement
made by this section (whether the requirement is made of that person or of
another person); and
(b) the information is false or
misleading in a material particular; and
(c) the person knows that the
information is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for one year.
Negligently giving false or misleading information
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person gives information, or
causes information to be given, to a quarantine officer under a requirement
made by this section (whether the requirement is made of that person or of
another person); and
(b) the information is false or
misleading in a material particular; and
(c) the person is negligent as to
whether or not the information is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty for an offence against this subsection:
Imprisonment for 6 months.
28 Quarantine
officer may require master and medical officer of vessel or installation to
answer questions
Quarantine officer may require master or medical
officer to answer questions
(1) A quarantine officer may require any of
the following:
(a) the master of an overseas vessel
that has arrived, or is expected to arrive, at a port in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island;
(b) the master of a vessel that has
arrived or is expected to arrive:
(i) at a place in Australia (other than a place in the Protected Zone or in a Special Quarantine Zone
declared in respect of Australia) from a place in any of those zones; or
(ii) at a place in the
Cocos Islands (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone declared in
respect of the Cocos Islands) from a place in such a zone; or
(iii) at a place in Christmas Island (other than a place in a Special Quarantine Zone declared in respect of Christmas Island) from a place in such a zone;
(c) the master of an overseas
installation;
(d) the commander of an overseas
aircraft that has landed, or is expected to land, at a place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island that is not a landing place;
(e) if a vessel, installation or
aircraft referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) carries a medical
officer—that medical officer;
(f) the agent of the operator of a
vessel, installation or aircraft referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or
(d);
to answer questions asked by the quarantine officer about
any prescribed matters that are relevant to the vessel, installation or
aircraft.
How questions to be asked and answers to be given
(2) Any questions asked by a quarantine
officer under subsection (1) may be oral or in writing and the quarantine
officer may:
(a) require the answers to be given
orally; or
(b) require the answers to be given in
writing.
Requirement to verify answer by written declaration
(3) A quarantine officer may require a person
who answers a question to verify the answer by making a written declaration.
Action to be taken if answer found to be incorrect
(4) If, after a person answers a question
asked under subsection (1), the person becomes aware that the answer is
incorrect, the person must cause the correct answer to be sent to a quarantine
officer as soon as possible.
Failure to answer orally
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is asked a question
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person is required to answer
the question orally; and
(c) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
Failure to answer in writing
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is asked a question
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person is required to answer
the question in writing; and
(c) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
Failure to make written declaration
(7) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is required to verify
an answer to a question by making a written declaration; and
(b) the person fails to comply with the
requirement.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
False or misleading answer
(8) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is asked a question
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person gives an answer that
the person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
False or misleading declaration
(9) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is asked to verify an
answer to a question by making a written declaration; and
(b) the person makes a statement in
the declaration that the person knows to be false or misleading in a material
particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment
for 5 years.
Failure to send correct answer
(10) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) subsection (4) applies to the
person; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
that subsection.
Maximum penalty: 50
penalty units.
Definition
(11) In this section:
making a written declaration, in relation to
an answer to a question, means signing before an officer a written declaration
as to the truth of the answer.
Note: The privilege against self incrimination does
not apply in respect of requirements made under this section but a use
derivative‑use indemnity applies (see subsections 79A(1) and (2)).
29
People not to leave, or to remove goods from, vessel or installation that is
subject to quarantine
Master leaving vessel or installation without
permission
(1) The master of a vessel or installation
that is subject to quarantine is guilty of an offence if he or she leaves the
vessel or installation.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Exception
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
master leaves the vessel or installation with the written permission of a
quarantine officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
Master knowingly allowing person to leave or remove
goods
(2) The master of a vessel or installation
that is subject to quarantine is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the master allows a person to
leave, or allows a person to remove goods from, the vessel or installation; and
(b) the master knows that he or she
does not have the written permission of a quarantine officer to allow the
person to leave, or to allow the person to remove goods from, as the case may
be, the vessel or installation.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Master negligently allowing person to leave or remove
goods
(3) The master of a vessel or installation
that is subject to quarantine is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the master allows a person to
leave, or allows a person to remove goods from, the vessel or installation; and
(b) a quarantine officer has not given
written permission to the master to allow the person to leave, or to allow the
person to remove the goods from, as the case may be, the vessel or
installation; and
(c) the master is negligent as to
whether or not the written permission has been given.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Power to give permissions
(4) A quarantine officer has power to give to
a specified person, or to persons included in a specified class of persons,
written permission to do a specified act, or a specified class of acts, during
a specified period for the purposes of this section.
Contravention of condition of permission
(5) The master of a vessel or installation is
guilty of an offence if:
(a) a permission that is given by a
quarantine officer to the master for the purposes of this section is subject to
a condition; and
(b) the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Power of master to detain person or goods
(6) For the purpose of complying with this
section, the master of a vessel or installation may detain any person or goods
on the vessel or installation and may use any means reasonably necessary for
that purpose.
29A
Animal or thing that has been exposed to an animal that has been killed or has
died not to be removed from an overseas vessel or an overseas installation
without permission
Animal or thing exposed to dead animal not to be
removed
(1) Except as provided by subsection (2),
none of the following may be removed from an overseas vessel or an overseas
installation that is at a port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island:
(a) an animal that has been killed, or
has died, on the vessel or installation;
(b) any thing that has been exposed to
an animal that has been so killed or has so died.
Note: As to the circumstances in which a thing is
taken to have been exposed to an animal or a carcase of an animal, see section 5B.
Animal or thing may be removed with permission
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if a
quarantine officer has given permission under subsection (3) for the
removal.
Quarantine officer may give permission
(3) A quarantine officer has power to give a
written permission for a specified act, or a specified class of acts, to be
done during a specified period for the purposes of this section.
Offences
(4) The master of an overseas vessel or
overseas installation that is at a port or other place in Australia, the Cocos
Islands or Christmas Island is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the master causes or permits
another person to remove any animal or thing referred to in paragraph (1)(a)
or (b) from the vessel or installation; or
(b) if a permission mentioned in subsection (4A)
has been given by a quarantine officer for the removal of any animal or thing
from the vessel or installation and the permission is subject to a condition:
(i) the condition has not
been complied with; and
(ii) the master is
negligent as to whether or not the condition has been complied with.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Exception
(4A) Paragraph (4)(a) does not apply if the
removal is made with the written permission of a quarantine officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (4A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
Definition
(5) In this
section:
overseas vessel
includes:
(a) in relation to Australia:
(i) a vessel that travels
to or from a place in Australia that is in the Protected Zone; and
(ii) a vessel that travels
from or through a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of Australia; and
(b) in relation to the Cocos Islands—a vessel that travels from or through a Special Quarantine Zone in relation
to the Cocos Islands; and
(c) in relation to Christmas Island—a
vessel that travels from or through a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of Christmas Island.
29B
Directions about animals on vessels or installations
Directions about animals
(1) A Director of Quarantine may give to the
master of a vessel or installation referred to in subsection (2) that is
at a port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island a
direction about:
(a) the confinement, isolation or
control of an animal that is on board the vessel or installation; and
(b) the people (if any) who may be
granted access to such an animal and the nature and extent of that access; and
(c) the disposal of an animal that has
been killed, or has died, since it was brought on board the vessel or
installation.
Vessels or installations at a port or other place in Australia that may be subject to directions
(2) The vessels or installations at a port or
other place in Australia in respect of which directions may be given under subsection (1)
are:
(a) an overseas vessel or an overseas
installation; or
(b) a vessel that travels to or from a
place in Australia that is in the Protected Zone; or
(c) a vessel that travels from or
through a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of Australia; or
(d) another vessel or installation on
which there are animals subject to quarantine.
Vessels or installations at a port or place in the Cocos Islands that may be subject to directions
(2A) The vessels or installations at a port or
place in the Cocos Islands in respect of which directions may be given under subsection (1)
are:
(a) an overseas vessel or an overseas
installation; or
(b) a vessel that travels from or
through a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of the Cocos Islands; or
(c) another vessel or installation on
which there are animals subject to quarantine.
Vessels or installations at a port or place in Christmas Island that may be subject to directions
(2B) The vessels or installations at a port or
place in Christmas Island in respect of which directions may be given under subsection (1)
are:
(a) an overseas vessel or an overseas
installation; or
(b) a vessel that travels from or
through a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of Christmas Island; or
(c) another vessel or installation on
which there are animals subject to quarantine.
Offences
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
30
Persons prohibited from quitting vessels, installations and quarantine areas
(1) A person (not being a quarantine officer)
who is on board a vessel subject to quarantine, or who is in a quarantine area,
must not leave the vessel or quarantine area.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
person leaves the vessel or quarantine area with the authorisation of a
quarantine officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(2) A reference in subsection (1) to a
vessel subject to quarantine shall be read as including a reference to an
installation subject to quarantine.
31 Apprehension
of persons liable to quarantine
(1) Any police officer or authorized person
may, without warrant, apprehend:
(a) any person who has, in
contravention of this Act or the regulations, quitted any vessel subject to
quarantine or any quarantine station; or
(b) any person subject to quarantine
(not being a person who is so subject by reason only of being or having been in
a quarantine area or under quarantine surveillance) who is found in any place
not being in or part of a quarantine station.
(1A) Any police officer or authorized person
may, without warrant, apprehend any person who is subject to quarantine by
reason of having been in a quarantine area and whom he or she believes to have
left that area in contravention of this Act.
(2) Any person apprehended under this section
shall be brought before a magistrate or quarantine officer, who may, on proof
to his or her satisfaction that the person so brought before him or her is
subject to quarantine, order him or her to be taken to the vessel from which he
or she has landed or to a quarantine station to perform quarantine, or to be
taken to the quarantine area from which he or she came, and may by warrant
authorize any police officer or other person to take him or her accordingly, or
may order him or her to be dealt with in accordance with the regulations.
(4) A reference in this section to a vessel
subject to quarantine shall be read as including a reference to an installation
subject to quarantine.
32
Mooring of vessels from declared places
(1) A vessel which has arrived at any port
from a declared place and which has not been granted pratique having effect in
that port shall be moored or berthed in the port in accordance with the
directions of a quarantine officer (human quarantine) or as prescribed.
(2) The master
of a vessel shall not suffer or permit it to be moored or berthed in any port
in contravention of this section.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
32A
Vessel coming from declared place may be directed not to enter a port
(1) A Director of Quarantine may direct the
master of a vessel that:
(a) is bound for a port in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; and
(b) comes from, or calls or lands at,
a declared place;
not to enter any port, or not to enter a specified port,
in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island.
(2) The master of a vessel is guilty of an
offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the master
under subsection (1); and
(b) the master fails to comply with
the direction.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
32B
Pratique in relation to certain overseas aircraft
(1) An overseas aircraft that arrives at a
port in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, is taken to have been
granted pratique at the time of its arrival.
(2) However, subsection (1) does not
apply, and is taken never to have applied, if:
(a) the commander of the aircraft has,
in accordance with section 22, notified a quarantine officer of the
presence of a prescribed symptom, or the breaking out of a prescribed disease
or an infectious disease, on board the aircraft; or
(b) the commander of the aircraft has
given prescribed information, required by section 27B, to a quarantine
officer; or
(c) the Director of Human Quarantine
has given a direction, before the aircraft arrives, that pratique is not taken
to have been granted under this section; or
(d) a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) advises the commander of the aircraft, before or after the aircraft
arrives, that he or she is not satisfied that the aircraft is free from
infection.
(3) For the purpose of paragraph (2)(c),
regulations may prescribe:
(a) the circumstances in which the
Director of Human Quarantine may give a direction; and
(b) considerations the Director must
take into account in giving a direction; and
(c) if paragraph (b)
applies—whether the Director may take other considerations into account in
giving the direction.
(4) Pratique has effect at the
port where the overseas aircraft lands, for as long as the aircraft remains at
the port.
33
Pratique in relation to other overseas vessels
(1AA) This section does not apply to an overseas
aircraft to which subsection 32B(1) applies.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), where a
quarantine officer (human quarantine) is satisfied that an overseas vessel at,
or about to arrive at, a port in relation to which the vessel has not been
granted pratique is free from infection, the quarantine officer (human
quarantine) shall grant the vessel pratique having effect in that port and such
other ports as he or she considers appropriate.
(1A) Subject to subsection (2), where:
(a) an overseas vessel is:
(i) in accordance with the
permission of the Minister given under section 20AA; or
(ii) by
reason of stress of weather or other reasonable cause;
at, or about to arrive at, a
place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island other than a port
declared to be a first port of entry, a first Cocos Islands port of entry or a
first Christmas Island port of entry, as the case may be; and
(b) a
quarantine officer (human quarantine) is satisfied that the vessel is free from
infection;
the quarantine officer (human quarantine) shall grant the
vessel pratique having effect in that place and at such ports as he or she
considers appropriate.
(2) A quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may refuse to grant a vessel pratique if the quarantine officer (human
quarantine) has reasonable grounds to believe that section 75A applies to
the vessel.
(3) Pratique shall be granted to a vessel by
giving the master of the vessel a certificate of pratique in a form approved by
the Director of Human Quarantine or by giving the master particulars of the
pratique by radio message or otherwise, but, where pratique is granted
otherwise than by the giving of a certificate of pratique, a quarantine officer
(human quarantine) shall give the master a certificate of pratique in a form
approved by the Director of Human Quarantine as soon as practicable after the
vessel arrives at the first port or place in which the pratique has effect.
(4) Pratique may be pratique having effect
in:
(a) all places in Australia, or in the Cocos Islands, or in Christmas Island; or
(b) all ports in Australia, or in the Cocos Islands, or in Christmas Island, other than landing places; or
(c) all landing places in Australia, or in the Cocos Islands, or in Christmas Island; or
(d) all places in a part of Australia,
a part of the Cocos Islands, or a part of Christmas Island, that is specified
by the quarantine officer (human quarantine) granting the pratique; or
(e) all ports in a part of Australia,
a part of the Cocos Islands, or a part of Christmas Island, that is specified
by the quarantine officer (human quarantine) granting the pratique, other than
landing places; or
(f) all landing places in a part of
Australia, a part of the Cocos Islands, or a part of Christmas Island, that is
specified by the quarantine officer (human quarantine) granting the pratique;
or
(g) a particular port, or particular
ports, in Australia, in the Cocos Islands, or in Christmas Island, that are specified
by the quarantine officer (human quarantine) granting the pratique; or
(h) all Australian installations, or
Australian installations specified by the quarantine officer (human quarantine)
granting the pratique.
(5) Pratique may be pratique having effect
for a period specified by the quarantine officer (human quarantine) granting
it.
(6) Pratique may relate to all measures of
quarantine or to measures of quarantine specified by the quarantine officer
(human quarantine) granting the pratique.
33A
Grant of pratique to installations
(1) Where a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) is satisfied that an overseas installation is free from infection,
the quarantine officer (human quarantine) shall grant the installation pratique
having effect in a place at which the installation is, or is to be, attached or
installed, as the case requires, and in such other places (including ports) as
he or she considers appropriate.
(2) Pratique shall be granted to an overseas
installation by giving the master of the installation a certificate of pratique
in a form approved by the Director of Human Quarantine or by giving the master
particulars of the pratique by radio message or otherwise, but, where pratique
is granted to an installation otherwise than by the giving of a certificate of
pratique, the quarantine officer (human quarantine) shall give the master of
the installation a certificate of pratique in a form approved by the Director
of Human Quarantine as soon as practicable after the installation is:
(a) if the installation is an overseas
resources installation—attached to the Australian seabed; or
(b) if the installation is an overseas
sea installation—installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area.
(3) Pratique granted under this section may
be pratique having effect for a period specified by the quarantine officer
(human quarantine) granting it.
(4) Pratique granted under this section may
relate to all measures of quarantine or to measures of quarantine specified by
the officer granting the pratique.
34
Quarantine surveillance
(1) Where a vessel has arrived at any port
from a declared place, or is subject to quarantine, and the quarantine officer
(human quarantine) is satisfied that no person on board is actually suffering
from a quarantinable disease, but is not satisfied that the vessel is free from
infection, he or she may, subject to this section:
(a) refrain from granting pratique;
(b) permit the vessel to proceed on
its voyage without performing quarantine at a quarantine station;
(c) permit any passengers for that
port and their effects to be landed;
(ca) permit any members of the crew and
their effects to leave the vessel; or
(d) permit any cargo on the vessel for
that port to be landed.
(2) The vessel shall continue to be subject
to quarantine until pratique is granted.
(3) All
persons landed in pursuance of this section shall continue subject to
quarantine until such period as is prescribed, and, while so subject, shall be
under quarantine surveillance and shall comply with the regulations relating to
quarantine surveillance.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) Any cargo or passengers’ effects that are
landed under this section are to be treated in such manner as a quarantine
officer directs.
(5) A person who is the importer, or has
control, of any cargo or passengers’ effects that are landed under this section
is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (4) in relation to the cargo or effects; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(6) An offence against this section is an
offence of strict liability.
Division 2—Performance of quarantine
35
Order to perform quarantine
(1) A quarantine officer may, by order in
writing, order into quarantine any vessel, Australian installation, resources
installation that is in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming attached
to the Australian seabed, sea installation that is in Australian waters for the
purpose of being installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area, person, or
goods (whether subject to quarantine or not), being or likely to be, in his or
her opinion, infected with a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest or a
source of infection with a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest.
(1AAAA) In deciding whether a person is, or is likely to
be, infected with a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest or a source of
infection with a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest, the quarantine
officer may seek an opinion from a medical practitioner.
(1AAA) A quarantine officer may, by order in writing,
order into quarantine any goods that, in his or her opinion, are or are likely
to be quarantinable pests or quarantinable diseases.
(1AA) A quarantine officer may, by order in writing,
order into quarantine any goods (whether subject to quarantine or not) in the
Cocos Islands that, in his or her opinion, are, or are likely to be, infected
with, or a source of infection with, a disease or pest.
(1AB) A quarantine officer may, by order in
writing, order into quarantine any goods (whether subject to quarantine or not)
in Christmas Island that, in his or her opinion, are, or are likely to be,
infected with, or a source of infection with, a disease or pest.
(1A) A quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may, by order in writing, order into quarantine any person, being a person who
is or has been on board an overseas vessel or overseas installation, who fails
to satisfy the quarantine officer (human quarantine) that he or she has, within
the prescribed period, been successfully vaccinated or inoculated against any
prescribed disease.
(1B) In deciding whether a person has been
successfully vaccinated or inoculated against any prescribed disease, the
quarantine officer (human quarantine) may seek an opinion from a medical
practitioner.
(1C) If a quarantine officer (human quarantine)
orders a person into quarantine under subsection (1A), the officer must
also:
(a) inform the person of his or her
right to request an independent medical assessment as allowed by section 35C;
and
(b) notify the Director of Human
Quarantine, in writing, of the order as soon as practicable.
(2) If a vessel has arrived in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island from a declared place the quarantine
officer shall (except as prescribed) order it into quarantine.
(2A) After an overseas installation has arrived
in Australian waters from a declared place, the quarantine officer shall
(except as prescribed) order the installation into quarantine.
(3) The order may:
(a) in the case of any vessel or
installation, and all persons and goods on board the vessel or installation, be
served on the master of the vessel or installation; or
(b) in the case of any person, be
served on the person; or
(c) in the case of any goods, be
served on the importer, owner, consignee or any person having possession or
custody of the goods.
(4) When the order has been served in
accordance with this section, the vessel or installation, and all persons and
goods on board the vessel or installation, or the person or goods, as the case
may be, shall be deemed to be ordered into quarantine.
(5) In this section:
medical practitioner means a person who is
registered as a medical practitioner in a State or Territory.
35AA
Medical examination for possible pulmonary tuberculosis
(1) Where a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) is not satisfied that a person, being a non‑citizen, is not
suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis, the quarantine officer (human
quarantine) may, by order in writing served on the person, require him or her
to undergo, within a time and at a place specified in the order, a medical
examination in accordance with subsection (2).
(2) The medical examination referred to in subsection (1)
shall:
(a) be carried out by, or under the
supervision of, a person registered as a medical practitioner in a State or
Territory, being a person approved by the Minister for the purposes of this
section; and
(b) be such examination as that person
considers necessary to ascertain whether or not the person to be examined is
suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis.
(3) If a person fails to comply with an order
under subsection (1), a quarantine officer (human quarantine) may, by
order in writing served on the person, order him or her into quarantine.
(4) Where a quarantine officer is of the
opinion that a person, being a non‑citizen, is, or is likely to be, suffering
from active pulmonary tuberculosis, the quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may, by order in writing served on the person, order the person into
quarantine.
(4A) If a quarantine officer (human quarantine)
orders a person into quarantine under subsection (3) or (4), the officer
must also:
(a) inform the person of his or her
right to request an independent medical assessment as allowed by section 35C;
and
(b) notify the Director of Human
Quarantine, in writing, of the order as soon as practicable.
(5) A quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may release under quarantine surveillance a person ordered into quarantine under
this section.
(6) The regulations may provide that this
section does not apply to a person included in a prescribed class of persons.
(7) In this section, non‑citizen
has the same meaning as in the Migration Act 1958.
35A
Vessel or installation having a communicable disease on board
Circumstances in which section applies
(1) This section applies if:
(a) a vessel or installation has on
board any case of communicable disease (the disease); and
(b) a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) certifies that measures of quarantine are necessary to prevent the
disease from spreading.
Direction as to measures of quarantine to be taken
(2) The Chief Quarantine Officer (Human
Quarantine) or a quarantine officer (human quarantine) may direct:
(a) the measures to be taken for the
treatment of the vessel or installation; and
(b) any other measures of quarantine
to be taken:
(i) in relation to the
vessel or installation or any goods on it; or
(ii) in relation to any
people who are or have been on board the vessel or installation or any of their
clothing or personal effects;
and may give directions as to the persons who are to take
the measures.
People may be ordered into quarantine
(3) A quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may order into quarantine any people who are or have been on board the vessel
or installation and are suffering or suspected to be suffering, or have been
exposed to infection, from the disease.
Medical opinion may be sought
(3A) In deciding whether a person is suffering
or suspected to be suffering from the disease, a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) may seek an opinion from a medical practitioner.
Director of Human Quarantine to be notified
(3B) If a quarantine officer (human quarantine)
orders a person into quarantine under subsection (3), the officer must
also:
(a) inform the person of his or her
right to request an independent medical assessment as allowed by section 35C;
and
(b) notify the Director of Human
Quarantine, in writing, of the order as soon as practicable.
People ordered into quarantine may be removed to
quarantine station
(4) A quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may cause any people so ordered into quarantine to be removed to a quarantine
station.
People subject to quarantine
(5) People suffering, or suspected to be
suffering, from the disease are taken to be subject to quarantine even if the
disease has not been proclaimed to be a quarantinable disease.
Offences for failure to take measures
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (2) to take specified measures; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Master knowingly or recklessly permitting person
suffering from disease to leave vessel or installation
(7) The master of the vessel or installation
is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a person is suffering from the
disease or has been exposed to infection from the disease; and
(b) the master permits the person to
leave the vessel or installation; and
(c) the master knows that, or is
reckless as to whether or not, the person is suffering from the disease or has
been exposed to infection from the disease.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Master negligently permitting person suffering from
disease to leave vessel or installation
(8) The master of the vessel or installation
is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a person is suffering from the
disease or has been exposed to infection from the disease; and
(b) the master permits the person to
leave the vessel or installation; and
(c) the master is negligent as to
whether or not the person is suffering from the disease or has been exposed to
infection from the disease.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 3 years.
Person suffering from disease leaving vessel or
installation without permission
(9) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is suffering, or
suspects that he or she is suffering, from the disease or from any other
communicable disease; and
(b) the person leaves the vessel or
installation.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Person in charge of another person allowing the other
person to leave the vessel or installation without permission
(10) A person (the first person)
is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the first person is in charge of
another person who is on board the vessel or installation; and
(b) the first person allows the other
person to leave the vessel or installation; and
(c) the first person knows that, or is
reckless as to whether or not, the other person is suffering from the disease
or from any other communicable disease.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Exception
(10A) Subsections (7), (8), (9) and (10) do
not apply if the person leaves the vessel or installation with the permission
of a quarantine officer (human quarantine).
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (10A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
Definition
(11) In this section:
installation means:
(a) an Australian resources installation;
or
(b) a resources installation that is
in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming attached to the Australian
seabed; or
(c) an Australian sea installation; or
(d) a sea installation that is in
Australian waters for the purpose of becoming installed in an adjacent area or
in a coastal area.
medical practitioner means a person who is
registered as a medical practitioner in a State or Territory.
35B
Release from quarantine
(1) A person ordered into quarantine under
section 35, 35AA or 35A must be released from quarantine once the person
receives a certificate of release from a quarantine officer (human quarantine)
authorising his or her release.
(2) In deciding whether to give a person a
certificate of release, a quarantine officer (human quarantine) may seek an
opinion from a medical practitioner.
(3) If a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) gives a person a certificate of release, the officer must also
notify the Director of Human Quarantine, in writing, of the person’s release as
soon as practicable.
(4) In this section:
medical practitioner means a person who is
registered as a medical practitioner in a State or Territory.
35C
Person ordered into quarantine may seek an independent medical assessment
(1) A person ordered into quarantine under
section 35, 35AA or 35A who is, or is likely to be, suffering from a human
quarantinable disease or a communicable disease, may request that a quarantine
officer (human quarantine) arrange for a medical practitioner, nominated by the
person, to provide the person with a written independent medical assessment of
the person’s condition.
(2) The quarantine officer (human quarantine)
must arrange for the independent medical assessment to be provided if:
(a) the person agrees to pay any fee
or other amount required by the medical practitioner for providing the
assessment; and
(b) the medical practitioner agrees to
provide the assessment.
(3) A person may not make a request under subsection (1)
during any period while:
(a) a Proclamation by the Governor‑General
under section 2B declaring the existence of an epidemic is in force; or
(b) the Minister is taking quarantine
measures, or measures incidental to quarantine, under section 12A.
(4) A person who has been provided with a
medical assessment may not make a further request under subsection (1)
unless 72 hours have passed since that assessment was provided.
(5) In this section:
medical practitioner means a person who is
registered as a medical practitioner under a State or Territory law.
35D
Chief Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine) must assess whether a person is to
remain in quarantine
(1) A Chief Quarantine Officer (Human
Quarantine) must assess whether a person is to remain in quarantine if:
(a) an independent medical assessment
is provided to the person in accordance with section 35C; and
(b) the person gives a copy of the
assessment to a quarantine officer (human quarantine).
(2) In making his or her assessment, the
Chief Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine) must take into account the independent
medical assessment.
(3) Subsection (2) does not limit the
matters that the Chief Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine) may take into
account.
36
Master may be directed to take vessel or installation into quarantine
Direction to take vessel or installation to quarantine
station or other place
(1) When a vessel or installation is ordered
into quarantine, a quarantine officer may direct the master of the vessel or
installation to cause it, and all people and goods on board it, to be
immediately taken to such quarantine station or other place or places as are
stated in the direction for the purpose of performing quarantine.
Direction to take vessel or installation to place for
treatment
(2) When a vessel or installation ordered
into quarantine has to be treated in any way, a quarantine officer may direct
the master of the vessel or installation to take it to a place stated in the
direction for the purpose of being treated.
Offence
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under this section; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
37
When vessel or installation deemed to be in quarantine
A vessel or installation ordered into
quarantine, although not actually within a quarantine station, shall be deemed
to be in quarantine.
38
Particulars to be given
(1) When the vessel arrives at the appointed
quarantine station, the master shall, on request, produce and deliver to the
officer in charge of the quarantine station his or her passenger list, log,
manifest, journal, and other ship’s papers.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(1A) When an
installation has been ordered into quarantine the master shall, on request by
the quarantine officer, produce and deliver to the officer such documents in
his or her possession or control as the officer requests.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2) Subsection (1) has effect, in
relation to a vessel in the Cocos Islands, as if:
(a) the reference in that subsection
to the appointed quarantine station included a reference to the appointed place
in the Cocos Islands; and
(b) the reference in that subsection
to the officer in charge of the quarantine station included a reference to a
quarantine officer in the Cocos Islands.
(3) An offence against this section is an
offence of strict liability.
39
Performance of quarantine by vessel or installation
(1) Every vessel in quarantine shall, subject
to this Act, perform quarantine at the appointed quarantine station, and for that
purpose may be there detained by a quarantine officer or any authorized person
until released in accordance with this Act, and whilst so detained shall be
subject to the regulations relating to the performance of quarantine and every
installation in quarantine shall, subject to this Act, perform quarantine at
such place as the quarantine officer directs and whilst performing quarantine,
shall be subject to the regulations relating to the performance of quarantine.
(2) Subsection (1) has effect, in relation
to a vessel in the Cocos Islands, as if the reference in that subsection to the
appointed quarantine station included a reference to the appointed place in the
Cocos Islands.
(3) Subsection (1) has effect, in
relation to a vessel in Christmas Island, as if the reference in that
subsection to the appointed quarantine station included a reference to the
appointed place in Christmas Island.
40
Vessel or installation in quarantine not to be moved without permission
(1) The master of a vessel or installation
that is in quarantine is guilty of an offence if he or she allows the vessel or
installation to be moved.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
vessel or installation is moved with the written permission of a quarantine
officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (1A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(2) A quarantine officer may give permission
for a vessel or installation that is in quarantine to be moved.
(3) The master of a vessel or installation
that is in quarantine is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a permission given by a quarantine
officer for the movement of the vessel or installation is subject to a
condition; and
(b) the condition has not been
complied with; and
(c) the master is negligent as to
whether or not the condition has been complied with.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
41
Removal from vessel to perform quarantine
(1) For the purpose of the performance of
quarantine, any persons on board a vessel subject to quarantine may be removed
from the vessel by a quarantine officer at any port (notwithstanding that the
port is not their port of destination) and conveyed to and detained in a
quarantine station there to perform quarantine.
(2) All persons removed from a vessel in
pursuance of this section shall be entitled to be provided with free passages
to their ports of destination forthwith after being released from quarantine.
42
Power to permit vessel to proceed on voyage
The Minister administering the
Department that deals with human quarantine may, if he or she thinks fit,
permit any vessel in quarantine to proceed on its voyage with its officers,
crew, and passengers, or any of them, without performing quarantine at the
quarantine station at the port or landing place at which it then is; but the
vessel and its officers, crew, and passengers shall not thereby be released
from quarantine, but shall, while in Australia and until released from
quarantine, be deemed to be in quarantine, and shall, except as prescribed or
as ordered by the Minister administering that Department, be subject to this
Act and the regulations to the same extent as if they were performing
quarantine at a quarantine station.
44
Goods not to be removed
(1) When a vessel or installation is in
quarantine then, until the vessel or installation is released from quarantine,
no unauthorized person shall land or unship, or move with intent to land or
unship, any goods from the vessel or installation.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Penalty for receiving quarantinable goods
(2) A person
must not receive or have in his or her possession any goods landed or unshipped
from any vessel or installation in contravention of this section.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(3) If a vessel or installation is displaying
flags, lights or other signals that clearly indicate that the vessel or
installation is in quarantine:
(a) any unauthorised person who lands
or unships goods from the vessel or installation, or moves goods on the vessel
or installation, is presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to
have intended to land or unship the goods, or to have moved the goods in order
to land or unship them, as the case may be; and
(b) any person who receives or has in
his or her possession any goods landed or unshipped from the vessel or
installation is presumed, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to have
known that the goods were landed or unshipped from the vessel or installation.
Note: In a prosecution for an offence against this
section, the defendant bears an evidential burden of proof in respect of
evidence to the contrary.
44A
Removal from vessels or installations of goods in quarantine
(1) In this section, prescribed vessel
means a vessel that is not subject to quarantine.
(2) A person must not remove from a
prescribed vessel any goods on the vessel that are subject to quarantine.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(3) The master of a prescribed vessel must not
permit to be removed from the vessel any goods on the vessel that are subject
to quarantine.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(3A) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply
if the goods:
(a) form part of the cargo of the
vessel that is to be landed in the country, being Australia, the Cocos Islands
or Christmas Island, where the vessel is; or
(b) are removed with the permission of
a quarantine officer or in compliance with this Act or the Regulations.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matters in subsection (3A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(3A) Subsections (2) and (3) do not apply
if the goods:
(a) form part of the cargo of the
vessel that is to be landed in the country, being Australia or the Cocos Islands, where the vessel is; or
(b) are removed with the permission of
a quarantine officer or in compliance with this Act or the regulations.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matters in subsection (3A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(4) If a quarantine officer so directs, a
person shall not land from a prescribed vessel any goods on the vessel that are
subject to quarantine and form part of the cargo of the vessel that is to be
landed in the country, being Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island,
where the vessel is.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(5) If a person lands from a prescribed
vessel any goods that are subject to quarantine and form part of the cargo of
the vessel, he or she shall not land them at a place other than:
(a) a part of the precincts of a wharf
or airport that is a part approved for the purposes of this subsection by a
Director of Quarantine; or
(b) where
the vessel has, in accordance with the permission of the Minister given under
section 20AA, been brought to an Australian installation—a part of the
installation approved for the purposes of this subsection by the Minister.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(6) Subsection (5) does not apply if the
person lands the goods at a place with the permission of a quarantine officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (6) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
44B
Landed cargo in quarantine
Goods to which section applies
(1) This section applies to goods that:
(a) formed part of the cargo of a
vessel; and
(b) are landed in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; and
(c) are subject to quarantine.
Actions to which section applies
(2) The following are relevant acts
in relation to goods:
(a) moving the goods:
(i) from the part of the
precincts of the wharf or airport, or from the Australian installation, where
they were landed; or
(ii) from a place to which
they have been moved with the consent of a quarantine officer;
(b) dealing with the goods;
(c) interfering with the goods.
Offence for doing act without permission
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person does a relevant act in
relation to goods; and
(b) the person does not have the
permission of a quarantine officer under subsection (6) or of a Director
of Quarantine under subsection (7) to do the act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Offence for doing an act recklessly in contravention of
condition of permission
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person does a relevant act in
relation to goods; and
(b) the person has the permission of a
quarantine officer under subsection (6) or of a Director of Quarantine
under subsection (7) to do the act; and
(c) the permission is subject to a
condition; and
(d) the condition is contravened; and
(e) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Defence
(5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an
offence against subsection (3) or (4) if the defendant proves that the
relevant act was done for the purpose of taking the goods, in accordance with
conditions specified by a quarantine officer, from the part of the precincts of
the wharf or airport where the goods were landed in Australia, the Cocos
Islands or Christmas Island to a port at which the goods are permitted to enter
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be.
Note: A defendant bears a legal burden in relation
to a matter mentioned in subsection (5) (see subsection 13.4 of the Criminal
Code).
Permission by quarantine officer
(6) A quarantine officer may give permission
to a person to do a specified relevant act in relation to specified goods.
Permission by Director of Quarantine
(7) A Director of Quarantine may give
permission to a person to do one or more relevant acts in relation to goods
included in a specified class of goods.
No specified criteria for granting permission
(8) In deciding whether to give permission, a
quarantine officer or a Director of Quarantine may have regard to such matters
as he or she thinks relevant.
44C
Examination of goods on importation
(1) A quarantine officer or an authorized
person may examine any imported goods that have not been released from
quarantine.
(2) The quarantine officer must:
(a) if he or she is of the opinion
that there is an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk in respect of the
goods—order the goods into quarantine; or
(b) otherwise—release the goods from
quarantine.
(5) In this section, goods does
not include an animal within the meaning of section 52 or a plant.
44D
Examination of imported goods
(1) A quarantine officer or an authorized
person may examine any imported goods that have been released from quarantine.
(2) If, after the examination of the goods
under subsection (1), a quarantine officer is of the opinion that there is
an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk in respect of the goods, the
officer must order the goods into quarantine.
(3) In this section, goods does
not include an animal within the meaning of section 52 or a plant.
45
Performance of quarantine by persons
(1) All persons ordered into quarantine shall
perform quarantine, and for that purpose may:
(a) be detained on board the vessel or
installation;
(b) be detained upon the premises upon
which they are found;
(c) be removed to and detained in a
quarantine station; or
(d) be
removed to and detained in any suitable place or building approved by a
quarantine officer (which place or building shall, for the purposes of this
Act, be deemed to be a quarantine station);
until released in accordance with this Act or the
regulations; and while so detained shall be subject to the regulations
regulating the performance of quarantine and the government of quarantine
stations.
Penalty for breach of regulations
(2) No person
ordered into quarantine shall commit any breach of the regulations regulating
the performance of quarantine or the government of quarantine stations.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units.
Quarantine surveillance
(3) Where a person ordered into quarantine is
not, in the opinion of a quarantine officer, actually suffering from a
quarantinable disease, the quarantine officer may release the person under
quarantine surveillance.
(3A) A person
released under subsection (3) shall, while he or she is under quarantine
surveillance, report to such person at such times and places as are directed by
a quarantine officer.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(4) Any person
who is under quarantine surveillance must comply with the regulations relating
to quarantine surveillance.
Maximum penalty: 30 penalty units.
(5) An offence against this section is an
offence of strict liability.
46
Release from quarantine
When quarantine has been performed by
any vessel, installation or person in accordance with this Act and the
regulations, the vessel, installation or person, as the case may be, shall
forthwith be released from quarantine.
46A
Approvals for the purpose of goods subject to quarantine
Giving of approvals
(1) A Director of Quarantine may, on
application by the owner or occupier of a place and on payment of the
prescribed fee, by writing:
(a) approve the place as a place where
goods of a specified class that are subject to quarantine may be treated or
otherwise dealt with; and
(b) if a place is so approved—approve
goods of that class being moved, dealt with or interfered with in a way set out
in the approval while they are at that place.
Applications for approvals
(2) Applications for approvals are to contain
such information, and be accompanied by such documents, as a Director of
Quarantine determines.
Applicant may be required to make declaration
(3) Without limiting subsection (2) but
subject to Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914, a Director of
Quarantine may require a person who applies for an approval to make and sign a
written declaration before an officer stating:
(a) whether the person has been
convicted of:
(i) an offence against
this Act; or
(ii) an offence against the
Customs Act 1901 in relation to the importation or movement of, or an
interference with, goods; or
(iii) an offence against any
other law of the Commonwealth prescribed for the purposes of this section; or
(iv) an offence against any
law of a State or a Territory prescribed for the purposes of this section; and
(b) whether a previous application
under subsection (1) by the person has been granted or refused; and
(c) whether any approval given under
this section or under any other provision of this Act to, or on the application
of, the person has been suspended or revoked.
Criteria for giving approvals
(4) In deciding whether to give an approval,
the Director of Quarantine must take into account:
(a) whether the procedures proposed in
the application to be carried out (the proposed procedures) in
relation to the goods at the place:
(i) can be carried out
without an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk; and
(ii) can be carried out
without any contravention of this Act; and
(iii) will be capable of
being effectively monitored to determine whether this Act is being complied
with; and
(iv) will be of such a
nature as will enable the correctness of any oral or written statements made in
connection with the application for the approval to be determined; and
(b) whether the proposed arrangements
for the management and control of the place and the operational practices
proposed to be carried out at the place are adequate, having regard to the
nature of the goods, the proposed procedures and the level of quarantine risk;
and
(c) whether the location of the place
is appropriate, and whether the construction of the premises, equipment and
other facilities and the services provided at the place are adequate, having
regard to the nature of the goods, the proposed procedures and the level of
quarantine risk; and
(d) whether the place is sufficiently
close to the nearest place where duties are regularly performed by quarantine
officers who could appropriately be called upon to check whether this Act is
being complied with in relation to the place and the goods; and
(e) whether the applicant has the
capacity to comply with the proposed procedures; and
(f) whether
any person who manages or controls, or is an occupier of, the place or would be
carrying out the proposed procedures, has, subject to Part VIIC of the Crimes
Act 1914, been convicted of:
(i) an offence against
this Act; or
(ii) an offence against the
Customs Act 1901 in relation to the importation or movement of, or an
interference with, goods; or
(iii) an offence against any
other law of the Commonwealth prescribed for the purposes of this section; or
(iv) an offence against any
law of a State or a Territory prescribed for the purposes of this section; and
(g) any other matters that the
Director thinks relevant.
Period of approval
(5) An approval has effect for a period (not
exceeding one year) specified in the approval but, subject to subsection (6),
may be renewed on one or more occasions.
When application to be made
(6) An application for the renewal of an
approval is to be made:
(a) within the period of 3 months
immediately before the end of the period of approval; or
(b) if a Director of Quarantine
consents, after the end of the period of approval.
Renewal given after expiry of approval to have
retrospective effect
(7) If an approval is renewed at any time
after the end of the period of approval, the period for which the renewed
approval has effect is taken to have begun at the end of the period of the
previous approval.
Offences for recklessly contravening conditions
(8) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) an approval was given to the
person subject to a condition; and
(b) the condition is contravened; and
(c) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Criteria for suspending or revoking approvals
(9) The grounds on which a Director of
Quarantine may suspend or revoke an approval are:
(a) that any of the procedures (the procedures)
carried out in relation to the goods at the approved place:
(i) cannot be carried out
without an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk; or
(ii) cannot be carried out
without a contravention of this Act; or
(iii) are not capable of
being effectively monitored to determine whether this Act is being complied
with; or
(iv) are of such a nature as
will not enable the correctness of an oral or written statement made in
connection with the application for the approval to be determined; or
(b) that the arrangements for the
management and control of the place or the operational practices carried out at
the place are not adequate, having regard to the nature of the goods, the
procedures and the level of quarantine risk; or
(c) that the location of the place is
not appropriate, or the construction of the premises, equipment or other
facilities or the nature of the services provided at the place is not adequate,
having regard to the nature of the goods, the procedures and the level of
quarantine risk; or
(d) that the place is not sufficiently
close to the nearest place where duties are regularly performed by quarantine
officers who could appropriately be called upon to check whether this Act is
being complied with in relation to the place and the goods; or
(e) that the applicant has not
complied with any one or more of the procedures; or
(f) that a person who manages or
controls, or is an occupier of, the place or is carrying out any of the
procedures, has, subject to Part VIIC of the Crimes Act 1914, been
convicted of:
(i) an offence against
this Act; or
(ii) an offence against the
Customs Act 1901 in relation to the importation or movement of, or an
interference with, goods; or
(iii) an offence against any
other law of the Commonwealth prescribed for the purposes of this section; or
(iv) an offence against any
law of a State or a Territory prescribed for the purposes of this section; or
(g) that a condition to which the
approval of the place is subject has been contravened; or
(h) any other matter that the Director
thinks relevant.
Notice of suspension, variation or revocation
(10) If an approval is suspended, varied or
revoked , written notice of the suspension, variation or revocation, stating
the grounds for it, is to be given as soon as practicable to the person who
applied for the approval.
Action to be taken if approval expires or is suspended
or revoked
(11) If an approval expires, or is suspended or
revoked, a Director of Quarantine:
(a) may, by written notice given to
the person who applied for the approval, require the person to take, within a
period stated in the notice:
(i) if the approval was an
approval of a place—such action with respect to the place or goods at the place
as is so stated; or
(ii) if the approval was an
approval of a class of goods—such action with respect to goods of that class at
the place as is so stated; and
(b) if the action is not taken within
the stated period—may, by written notice given to another person who is able to
take the action, direct the other person to take the action within a period
stated in the notice.
Offence for failing to take action
(12) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a notice is given to the person
under subsection (11); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the notice.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Application of section to renewal of approval
(13) This section applies to an application
for, to the giving of, and to the suspension, variation or revocation of, the
renewal of an approval in the same way as it applies to an application for, to
the giving of, and to the suspension, variation or revocation of, an approval.
Definition
(14) In this section:
goods has the meaning given by subsection
5(1), and includes a vessel.
Interpretation
(15) Subsection (14) does not affect the
meaning of goods in any other provision of this Act.
48
Goods ordered into quarantine
Power to detain goods
(1) A quarantine officer may direct that
goods ordered into quarantine:
(a) are to be detained:
(i) on board the vessel or
installation, or at the premises, where they are located at the time the
direction is given; and
(ii) in such manner, and
for such period, as a quarantine officer determines; or
(b) are to be taken to, and detained
at, a quarantine station or other place in such manner, and for such period, as
a quarantine officer determines; or
(c) are to be exported from Australia in such manner as a quarantine officer determines.
Power to treat goods
(2) A
quarantine officer may:
(a) cause goods ordered into
quarantine to be treated in such manner as he or she determines; or
(b) direct a person to cause the goods
to be treated in a manner specified in the direction.
Direction as to movement etc. of goods
(3) A quarantine officer may give a direction
to a person as to the extent (if any) to which goods that have been ordered
into quarantine may be moved, dealt with or interfered with.
To whom direction may be given
(4) A direction under this section may be
given to:
(a) the importer or owner of the
goods; or
(b) if the goods are on board a vessel
or installation—the master of the vessel or installation; or
(c) a person who is in control of the
goods.
Contravention of direction to be an offence
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under this section; and
(b) the person contravenes the
direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Further detention of goods
(6) If, at the end of the period for which
any goods have been detained at a vessel, installation, quarantine station or
other place under subsection (1) or this subsection, a Director of
Quarantine is of the opinion that the goods cannot be released without an
unacceptably high level of quarantine risk, he or she may direct that the goods
be detained at the vessel, installation, quarantine station or other place in
such manner, and for such further period, as is stated in the direction.
Definition
(7) In this section:
quarantine station, in relation to any goods,
includes a place approved under section 46A in respect of a class of goods
in which the goods are included.
48AA
Treatment and destruction of goods
Application
(1) This section applies to any goods that
are required under this Act to be treated.
Power to destroy goods
(2) Subject to subsection (3), if a
quarantine officer believes on reasonable grounds that the goods cannot be
effectively treated, he or she may cause them to be destroyed.
Ministerial approval for destruction of goods
(3) If the value of any goods to which subsection (2)
applies exceeds:
(a) unless paragraph (b)
applies—$1,000; or
(b) if a higher amount is prescribed
by the regulations—the higher amount;
the goods must not be destroyed without the written
approval of the Minister.
Request to owner or agent to agree to treatment of
goods
(4) If a quarantine officer believes on
reasonable grounds that the goods cannot be effectively treated without
damaging them, the quarantine officer must, by notice in writing given to the
owner of the goods or the agent of the owner, tell the owner or agent that the
treatment is likely to damage the goods and request the owner or agent to agree
to the goods being treated.
Forfeiture of untreated goods
(5) If:
(a) a notice is given to the owner of
goods or the agent of the owner under subsection (4); and
(b) the owner or agent does not,
before the end of 30 days after the day on which the owner or agent receives
the notice, give written notice to a Director of Quarantine stating that the
owner or agent agrees to the goods being treated;
the goods are forfeited to the Commonwealth and a
quarantine officer may seize them and cause them to be sold, destroyed,
exported from Australia or otherwise disposed of.
48AB
Treatment of things that have been exposed to animals that were subject to
quarantine
Direction to treat animals or things exposed to an
animal subject to quarantine
(1) If any animal, plant or other goods have
been exposed to an animal at a time when the animal was subject to quarantine,
a quarantine officer may direct a person referred to in subsection (2) to treat
the animal, plant or other goods in a manner stated in the direction.
Note: For the circumstances in which any animal,
plant or other goods are taken to have been exposed to an animal, see section 5B.
To whom direction may be given
(2) A direction under subsection (1) may
be given to:
(a) the importer of the animal, plant
or other goods; or
(b) a person who is in control of the
animal, plant or other goods; or
(c) if the animal, plant or other
goods have not been removed from the vessel or installation on which they were
brought to Australia—the master of the vessel or installation.
Treatment of vehicle
(3) If a vehicle has been exposed to an
animal at a time when the animal was subject to quarantine, a quarantine
officer may direct:
(a) the owner of the vehicle; or
(b) the person in control of the
vehicle;
to treat the vehicle in a manner stated in the direction.
Note: For the circumstances in which a vehicle is
taken to have been exposed to an animal, see section 5B.
(3A) If a vehicle has been exposed to a
quarantinable pest or a quarantinable disease, a quarantine officer may direct:
(a) the owner of the vehicle; or
(b) the person in control of the
vehicle;
to treat the vehicle in a manner stated in the direction.
Treatment of premises
(4) If any premises (other than a vehicle)
have been exposed to an animal or plant at a time when the animal or plant was
subject to quarantine, a quarantine officer may direct:
(a) the owner of the premises; or
(b) if the owner is not the occupier
of the premises—the occupier of the premises;
to treat the premises in a manner stated in the direction.
Note: For the circumstances in which premises are
taken to have been exposed to an animal or plant, see section 5B.
(4A) If any premises (other than a vehicle) have
been exposed to a quarantinable pest or a quarantinable disease, a quarantine
officer may direct:
(a) the owner of the premises; or
(b) if the owner is not the occupier
of the premises—the occupier of the premises;
to treat the premises in a manner stated in the direction.
Offence
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under this section; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Definition
(6) In this
section:
subject to quarantine includes under
quarantine surveillance.
48AC
Diseased plant grown from another plant
(1) If a quarantinable disease is found in a
plant (the relevant plant) that has been grown from another
plant, or grown from a part of, or seed from, another plant, under this Act, a
Director of Quarantine may cause, or may give a direction to an appropriate
person to cause:
(a) the relevant plant or any part of
that plant; or
(b) the soil in which the relevant
plant was grown; or
(c) the other plant, or any part of,
or seed from, the other plant; or
(d) any plant or part of a plant, or
any seed, imported together with the other plant or a seed from the other
plant;
to be subjected to such treatment as the Director
determines.
Note: See section 48AA, which allows goods that
cannot be effectively treated to be destroyed in certain circumstances.
(2) In subsection (1):
appropriate person means the person in
control of the plant, soil or seed to which the direction relates.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
48AD
Packages, packing material and other waste material
(1) A Director of Quarantine may give to a
person who:
(a) carries on the business of
unloading overseas vessels at a place on a wharf or a place at an airport; or
(b) carries on the business of
unpacking imported cargo at a place in respect of which a licence is in force
under section 77G of the Customs Act 1901 or at a place approved
under section 46A; or
(c) is an occupier of a place referred
to in paragraph (a) or (b);
a direction to treat, or to destroy or otherwise dispose
of, any package, packing material or other waste material that is situated at
that place.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
48A
Abandoned goods may be destroyed
(1) If the owner of goods that are performing
quarantine notifies a Director of Quarantine in writing that he or she does not
wish to take possession of them, the goods are forfeited to the Commonwealth
and a quarantine officer may cause them to be sold, destroyed, exported from Australia or otherwise disposed of.
(2) Where:
(a) a quarantine officer has notified
the owner of goods ordered into quarantine that the goods may be released from
quarantine and collected by the owner; and
(b) the
owner has failed to collect the goods within 30 days after the date on which
the notification was given;
the goods are forfeited to the Commonwealth and a
quarantine officer may cause them to be sold, destroyed, exported from Australia or otherwise disposed of.
(3) If, after making reasonable inquiries, a
quarantine officer has been unable to find out the identity or whereabouts of
the owner of goods that are in quarantine and certifies in writing to that
effect, the goods are forfeited to the Commonwealth and a quarantine officer
may cause them to be sold, destroyed, exported from Australia or otherwise
disposed of.
49
Unlawful damage by officers
(1) An officer must not do an act that
results in the destruction of, or damage to, any goods under his or her charge
in the performance of quarantine.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the
officer is permitted by this Act or any other law to do the act in respect of
the goods.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (2) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
Part V—Quarantine of animals and plants
52
Examination of animals on importation
(1) A person authorised by a Director of Quarantine
may examine an imported animal that has not been released from quarantine.
(2) Subject to
the regulations, where a quarantine officer is of the opinion that there is no
reason to suspect that an animal:
(a) imported into Australia; or
(b) imported
into the Cocos Islands otherwise than for the purpose of performing quarantine
before being imported into Australia; or
(c) imported into Christmas Island
otherwise than for the purpose of performing quarantine before being imported
into Australia;
that has not been released from quarantine is suffering
from any disease or is a source of infection of a disease, the quarantine
officer may permit the animal to be delivered to the importer of the animal.
(3) Where, under subsection (2), a
quarantine officer permits an animal to be delivered to the importer of the
animal, the officer may release the animal from quarantine or release the
animal under quarantine surveillance for such period as the Director of
Quarantine determines.
(4) Where a quarantine officer does not
permit an imported animal to be delivered to the importer of the animal under subsection (2),
the officer shall order the animal into quarantine.
(5) An animal may be released from quarantine
under quarantine surveillance unconditionally or subject to conditions notified
by a quarantine officer to the importer of the animal when it is so released or
at any time while it is under quarantine surveillance.
(5A) If an animal is released from quarantine
under quarantine surveillance, a quarantine officer may give to the person to
whom the animal is delivered directions about any one or more of the following:
(a) where the animal is to be kept;
(b) how it is to be kept;
(c) how it is to be dealt with;
(d) the people who may be given access
to it and the times and manner of the access;
(e) whether it may be moved and, if
so, the manner in which, and the place to which, it may be moved;
(f) examination of it;
(g) how it is to be treated;
(h) tests that may be carried out on
it.
(5B) A direction given under subsection (5A)
may be given when the animal is released or at any time while it is under
quarantine surveillance.
(5C) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a condition is notified to the
person under subsection (5) or a direction is given to the person under subsection (5A);
and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the condition or direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(6) In this section:
animal means:
(a) a live animal; or
(b) viable
animal material;
and includes the ovum, semen and embryo of an animal but
does not include any other biological product.
biological product means goods that are, are
produced from, or the production of which involves the use of, organisms or the
tissue or body fluids of organisms, and includes vaccines and toxoids.
52A
Examination of animals or plants on installations
(1) A person authorised by a Director of
Quarantine may examine any animal or plant that is subject to quarantine and is
on board an installation.
(2) A
quarantine officer must:
(a) if he or she is of the opinion
that there is an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk in respect of the
animal or plant—order the animal or plant into quarantine; or
(b) otherwise—release the animal or
plant from quarantine.
(5) In this section, animal has
the same meaning as in section 52.
53
Examination of plants on importation
(1) A quarantine officer or an authorized
person may examine any imported plant that has not been released from
quarantine.
(2) A quarantine officer must:
(a) if he or she is of the opinion
that there is an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk in respect of the
plant—order the plant into quarantine; or
(b) otherwise—release the plant from
quarantine.
54
Examination of imported animals and plants
(1) A quarantine officer or an authorized
person may examine an imported animal or plant that has been released from
quarantine.
(2) If, after the examination of an animal
under subsection (1), a quarantine officer is of the opinion that the
animal is suffering from a disease or is a source of infection of a disease,
the officer may order the animal into quarantine.
(3) Where, after the examination of a plant
under subsection (1), a quarantine officer is of the opinion that there is
danger of the plant spreading a disease, the officer may order the plant into
quarantine.
(4) In this section, animal has
the same meaning as in section 52.
55A
Power to order goods into quarantine
(1) A quarantine officer may:
(a) examine any goods to which this
section applies; and
(b) order into quarantine any of the
goods that, in the officer’s opinion:
(i) are, or are likely to
be, infected with a disease or pest; or
(ii) contain, or appear to
contain, any disease or pest; or
(iii) have been exposed to
infection from a disease or pest.
(2) This section applies to:
(a) imported animals and plants,
whether subject to quarantine or otherwise;
(aa) other imported goods, whether
subject to quarantine or otherwise; and
(b) any other goods that have been or
are, or that an officer has reasonable cause to believe have been or are, on
board any of the following:
(i) an overseas vessel;
(ia) a vessel that travels
to a place in Australia from or through a place in the Protected Zone;
(ib) a vessel that travels
to a place in Australia from or through a Special Quarantine Zone in respect of
Australia;
(ic) a vessel that travels
to a place in the Cocos Islands from or through a Special Quarantine Zone in
respect of the Cocos Islands;
(id) a vessel that travels
to a place in Christmas Island from or through a Special Quarantine Zone in
respect of Christmas Island;
(ii) an overseas
installation;
(iii) an Australian vessel
subject to quarantine;
(iv) a Cocos Islands vessel
subject to quarantine;
(iva) a Christmas Island vessel
subject to quarantine;
(v) an Australian resources
installation, or a resources installation that is in Australian waters for the
purpose of becoming attached to the Australian seabed, subject to quarantine;
(vi) an Australian sea
installation, or a sea installation that is in Australian waters for the
purpose of becoming installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area, subject
to quarantine.
Part VAA—Vector monitoring and control activities
55B
Definitions
In this Part:
monitoring and control area means any of the
following areas (but not any area to the extent that it is beyond the outer
boundary of the coastal area):
(a) the area of a port;
(b) the area within a permissible
distance from the outer boundary of a port;
(c) the area within a permissible
distance from a place (other than a port) at which a vessel has landed, is
moored or is berthed;
(d) an area in relation to which the
following conditions are satisfied:
(i) there is a vector
incursion within the permissible distance from the outer boundary of a port, or
from a place referred to in paragraph (c);
(ii) a quarantine officer
(human quarantine) has reasonable cause to suspect that the vector has, or may
have, travelled beyond the permissible distance of that boundary or place;
(iii) the officer reasonably
considers that carrying out vector monitoring and control activities in the
area is necessary to ensure that the vector has not spread onto, or is not
likely to become established in, that area.
permissible distance means 400 metres or such
greater distance as is prescribed by regulations for the purpose of this
definition.
private property means property (including
premises) that is owned by, or under the control of, someone other than the
Commonwealth.
vector monitoring and control activities has
the meaning given by the regulations.
55C
Vector monitoring and control activities (other than on private property)
A quarantine officer (human quarantine),
and other persons acting under his or her supervision or control (if any), may,
when necessary, carry out vector monitoring and control activities in a
monitoring and control area. However, to enter onto private property that is,
or is within, such an area and carry out vector monitoring and control
activities, one of sections 55E to 55G must be satisfied.
55D
Private property—direction to owner or controller to carry out vector
monitoring and control activities
(1) The Director of Quarantine (Human
Quarantine) or a Chief Quarantine Officer (Human Quarantine) may, in writing,
direct a person who owns, or has control over, private property to carry out
vector monitoring and control activities on the property if:
(a) the property is, or is within, a
monitoring and control area; and
(b) the Director or Chief Quarantine
Officer has reasonable grounds to believe that carrying out those activities on
the property is necessary to ensure that a vector has not spread onto, or is
not likely to become established on, the property.
(2) The person must comply with the
direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(3) Subsection (2) does not apply if the
person has a reasonable excuse.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (3) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the
Criminal Code).
55E
Private property—power of quarantine officer (human quarantine) to carry out
vector monitoring and control activities with consent
(1) A quarantine officer (human quarantine),
and other persons acting under his or her supervision or control (if any), may
enter onto private property and carry out vector monitoring and control
activities if:
(a) the property is, or is within, a
monitoring and control area; and
(b) a consent given by the person who
owns or controls the property covers the officer and those other persons (if
any) entering onto the property and carrying out those activities.
(2) A person’s consent is not effective for
the purposes of this section unless, before giving the consent, a quarantine
officer (human quarantine) informed the person that he or she could refuse to
consent.
(3) A person’s consent is not effective for
the purposes of this section unless the consent is voluntary.
55F
Private property—power of quarantine officer (human quarantine) to carry out
vector monitoring and control activities in emergency
A quarantine officer (human quarantine),
and other persons acting under his or her supervision or control (if any), may
enter onto private property and carry out vector monitoring and control
activities if:
(a) the property is, or is within, a
monitoring and control area; and
(b) a quarantine officer (human
quarantine) has reasonable grounds to believe that the situation is of such
seriousness and urgency as to justify carrying out the activities on the
property without the consent of the person who owns or controls the property
and without the authority of a warrant issued under section 55G.
55G
Private property—power of quarantine officer (human quarantine) to carry out
vector monitoring and control activities under warrant
Carrying out vector monitoring and control activities
under warrant
(1) A quarantine officer (human quarantine),
and other persons acting under his or her supervision or control (if any), may
enter onto private property and carry out vector monitoring and control
activities if:
(a) the property is, or is within, a
monitoring and control area; and
(b) a warrant in force under this
section authorises the quarantine officer (human quarantine), and those other
persons (if any), to enter onto the property and carry out the activities.
Application for warrant
(2) A quarantine officer (human quarantine)
may apply to a magistrate for a warrant under this section in relation to
particular private property.
Issue of warrant
(3) The magistrate may issue the warrant if
the magistrate is satisfied, by information on oath, that there are reasonable
grounds for suspecting that:
(a) the property is, or is within, a
monitoring and control area; and
(b) entering onto the property and
carrying out the activities is necessary to ensure that a vector has not spread
onto, or is not likely to become established on, the property.
(4) However, the magistrate must not issue
the warrant unless the officer or some other person has given to the
magistrate, either orally or by affidavit, such further information (if any) as
the magistrate requires concerning the grounds on which the issue of the
warrant is being sought.
Content of warrant
(5) The warrant must:
(a) authorise a named quarantine
officer (human quarantine), and other persons under the supervision or control
of the officer (to the extent that the magistrate considers it appropriate for
the warrant to cover such other persons):
(i) to enter onto the
property; and
(ii) to carry out vector
monitoring and control activities either generally, or as specified in the
warrant; and
(b) specify the day (not more than 7
days after the issue of the warrant) on which the warrant ceases to have
effect; and
(c) state whether the entry and
carrying out of activities is authorised to be made at any time of the day or
night or during specified hours of the day or night.
(6) Paragraph (5)(b) does not prevent
the issue of successive warrants in relation to the same property.
(7) If the application for the warrant is
made under section 66AH, this section applies as if paragraph (5)(b)
referred to 48 hours rather than 7 days.
Note: Section 66AH provides for warrants to be
granted by telephone or other electronic means.
Part VA—Automated entry processing and release of imported goods
56
Automated entry processing and release of imported goods
Electronic notice
(1) An electronic notice under this section
may be given to:
(a) a person who has imported goods
that have not been released from quarantine; or
(b) an agent of such a person.
(2) The notice may do one or more of the
following:
(a) order the goods into quarantine;
(b) release the goods from quarantine;
(c) require the person to whom the
notice is given (the recipient) to cause the goods to be treated
in a manner specified in the notice;
(d) require the recipient to leave the
goods at a place specified in the notice;
(e) require the recipient to move the
goods to a place specified in the notice;
(f) set out the extent (if any) to
which the recipient may deal with or interfere with the goods.
However, if the notice orders the goods into quarantine,
the notice must also do one or more of the things mentioned in paragraphs (c)
to (f).
Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine taken to have
given the notice
(3) If a notice is given to a person under subsection (1),
the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine is taken to have given the notice.
Operation of the computer program
(4) The Director of Animal and Plant
Quarantine must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the computer program
concerned does not result in electronic notices ordering goods into quarantine
unless there are reasonable grounds to believe there is an unacceptably high
level of quarantine risk in respect of the goods.
Offences
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a notice is given to the person
under subsection (1) that orders goods into quarantine and does one or
more of the things mentioned in paragraphs (2)(c) to (f); and
(b) the person contravenes a
requirement in the notice; and
(c) the person is reckless as to
whether the goods posed a quarantine risk.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a notice is given to the person
under subsection (1) that does one or more of the things mentioned in paragraphs (2)(c)
to (f) (but does not order the goods into quarantine); and
(b) the person contravenes a
requirement in the notice.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Later electronic notices
(7) An electronic notice given under this
section may vary or revoke an earlier electronic notice given under this
section.
(8) If an electronic notice given under this
section is inconsistent with an earlier electronic notice given under this
section, the earlier notice is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no
effect.
This section in addition to other powers
(9) This section is in addition to any power
of a quarantine officer under this Act.
Orders or directions under other provisions prevail
(10) If an order or direction given by a
quarantine officer under this Act is inconsistent with an electronic notice,
the notice is, to the extent of the inconsistency, of no effect.
Definitions
(11) In this section:
electronic notice means an electronic notice
generated as a result of the operation of a computer program under the control
of the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine.
Part VI—Expenses
Division 1—Interpretation
58A
Interpretation
In this Part, a reference to a vessel
shall, unless the contrary intention appears, be read as including a reference
to an installation.
Division 2—Expenses of quarantine
58B
Prescribed health measures provided in relation to travellers
This Division has effect subject to
Division 3 (charges for the provision of prescribed health measures in
relation to travellers).
59
Liability of owner etc. for expenses of quarantine
(1) The master, owner, and agent, of any
vessel ordered into quarantine, or of any vessel from which any person is
removed to perform quarantine, shall severally be responsible for:
(a) the removal of the passengers and
crew to the quarantine station;
(b) the care and maintenance of the
passengers and crew while detained at the quarantine station;
(c) the conveyance of the passengers
from the quarantine station to their ports or places of destination;
(d) the medical surveillance of
persons released under quarantine surveillance;
(e) the provision of such medical,
nursing and other attendance on the vessel and at the quarantine station for or
in respect of the vessel as the Minister considers necessary; and
(f) the
provision of such launch and patrol services and such supervision as the
Minister considers necessary to ensure the satisfactory performance of
quarantine by the vessel and the persons and goods thereon;
and shall supply, to the satisfaction of the Minister, all
such service, attendance, meals, and other things as are required for those
purposes, including domestic and laundry service, medicines, medical comforts,
nursing, and attendance for the sick.
(2) The master, owner, or agent, of the
vessel may arrange with the Minister for the carrying out of any responsibility
under this section and for the payment of the expenses thereof, but in any case
the Minister may take action if he or she thinks it necessary to do so, and any
expense incurred must, at the Minister’s request, be paid by the master, owner,
or agent, of the vessel to the Commonwealth.
Provided that the Governor‑General may direct that, as
regards any vessel trading exclusively:
(a) between Australian ports; or
(aa) between Australian ports and
Australian installations; or
(ab) between Australian ports and
Australian resources installations; or
(ac) between Australian ports and
Australian sea installations; or
(b) between ports in the Cocos Islands; or
(ba) between ports in Christmas Island;
or
(c) between Australia and New Zealand; or
(d) between Australia and Fiji; or
(e) between Australia and the Cocos Islands; or
(ea) between Australia and Christmas Island; or
(eb) between the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island; or
(f) between
Australia and another place adjacent to Australia;
the expenses of carrying out any responsibility under this
section shall be borne by the Commonwealth, and, upon the issue of such
direction, the master, owner and agent of any vessel to which the direction
relates shall be exempt from liability for the expenses of carrying out that
responsibility:
Provided further that the Governor‑General may direct that
the expenses of overland passengers arising out of regulations relating to
human quarantine may be borne by the Commonwealth.
(3) A passenger shall not be liable to
compensate the master, owner, or agent for any cost incurred by the master,
owner, or agent under this section, and any contract or stipulation purporting
to impose any such liability upon him or her shall to that extent be null and
void.
59A
Liability for costs of pilotage, treatment etc.
(1) The master and owner of any vessel
ordered into quarantine, or ordered to be treated, are jointly and severally
liable to pay to the Commonwealth the cost of:
(a) the piloting or towing of the
vessel; or
(b) the removal of cargo or other
goods or things from the vessel; or
(c) the treatment of the vessel or of
cargo or other goods or things on the vessel or removed from it.
(2) Subject to subsection 63AA(1), if:
(a) a vessel is ordered into
quarantine or ordered to be treated; and
(b) a person is the agent of the
master or owner of the vessel at the time when a service is provided as a
result of the vessel’s having been so ordered into quarantine or ordered to be
so treated;
that agent is liable to pay to the Commonwealth, on behalf
of that master or owner, the expenses connected with the performance of that
service.
59B
Security for carrying out responsibilities
Before permitting any persons, goods,
personal effects, or things to leave or be removed from a vessel ordered into
quarantine, the quarantine officer may require the master, owner, or agent, of
the vessel to give security to the satisfaction of the quarantine officer that
all responsibilities under this Part of the master, owner, and agent, of the
vessel in respect of those persons, goods, personal effects, or things shall be
faithfully carried out.
63
Owners of vessel quarantined liable for services of medical officer
(1) When a vessel is ordered into quarantine,
the Minister may:
(a) appoint a medical officer to take
charge of the crew and passengers of the vessel while in quarantine; and
(b) fix the amount of remuneration to
be paid to the medical officer for his or her services.
Such remuneration shall be paid by the owners of the
vessel to the Commonwealth.
(2) Subject to subsection 63AA(1), if:
(a) the Minister appoints a medical
officer to take charge of the crew and passengers of a vessel while in
quarantine; and
(b) the Minister fixes the amount of
remuneration to be paid to the medical officer for his or her services; and
(c) a person is the agent of the owner
of the vessel at the time when that remuneration is fixed;
that agent is liable to pay to the Commonwealth, on behalf
of that owner, the remuneration so fixed.
63A
Provision of sustenance for animals in quarantine
(1) The owner of an animal held, or to be
held, in a quarantine station may agree with the Commonwealth, on such terms
and conditions as are set out in the agreement, to provide sustenance for the
animal during the period, or a part of the period, while the animal is so held.
(2) A Director of Quarantine may, by notice
given to the owner of an animal ordered into quarantine, direct the owner to provide
sustenance for the animal during the period, or a part of the period, while the
animal is so held.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (2); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
63AA
Additional provisions concerning agent’s liability under section 59A or 63
(1) If the master or owner of a vessel has
met the liability to the Commonwealth:
(a) under subsection 59A(1) in respect
of expenses connected with the performance of a service referred to in
paragraph 59A(1)(a), (b) or (c); or
(b) under subsection 63(1) in respect
of remuneration to be paid to a medical officer appointed by the Minister;
the liability of the agent of that master or owner is
thereby discharged.
(2) The liability of an agent of a master or
owner to make a payment to the Commonwealth on behalf of the master or owner:
(a) in respect of expenses connected
with the performance of a service referred to in paragraph 59A(1)(a), (b) or
(c); or
(b) in respect of remuneration to be
paid to a medical officer appointed by the minister under subsection 63(1);
is not affected by the fact that, at the time the payment
is required to be made, the agent had not recovered an amount equivalent to
those expenses or that remuneration from the master or owner.
(3) If:
(a) the agent of a master or owner
makes a payment to the Commonwealth on behalf of the master or owner:
(i) in respect of expenses
connected with the performance of a service referred to in paragraph 59A(1)(a),
(b) or (c); or
(ii) in respect of
remuneration to be paid to a medical officer appointed by the Minister under
subsection 63(1); and
(b) at the time when the payment is
made, the agent had not collected an amount equivalent to those expenses or
that remuneration from the master or owner;
the agent may recover such an amount from the master or
owner as a debt due to the agent.
64
Quarantine expenses in case of animals and plants
(1) The importer and owner of any animals,
plants or other goods that are subject to quarantine or are under quarantine
surveillance are jointly and severally liable to pay to the Commonwealth any
expenses connected with:
(a) the examination of the animals,
plants or other goods; or
(b) their transportation; or
(c) their detention, maintenance,
treatment or movement; or
(d) their removal, disposal and
destruction under a power conferred, or an order or direction given, under this
Act;
and those expenses are a charge upon the animals, plants
or other goods and may be recovered as provided in Division 4.
(1AA) Subject to subsection (1AB), if:
(a) animals, plants or other goods are
subject to quarantine or are under quarantine surveillance; and
(b) a person is the agent of the
importer or owner of those animals, plants or other goods at the time when a
service referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) is provided as a
result of those animals, plants or other goods being subject to quarantine or
under quarantine surveillance;
the agent must pay to the Commonwealth, on behalf of the
importer or owner, any expenses connected with the performance of that service
in respect of those animals, plants or other goods.
(1AB) If the importer or owner has met the
liability to the Commonwealth under subsection (1) in respect of any
expenses connected with the performance of a service referred to in paragraph (1)(a),
(b), (c) or (d), the liability of the agent of the importer or owner is thereby
discharged.
(1AC) The liability of an agent of an importer or
owner to make a payment to the Commonwealth on behalf of the importer or owner
in respect of any expenses connected with the performance of a service referred
to in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d) is not affected by the fact that,
at the time when the payment is required to be made, the agent has not
recovered an amount equivalent to those expenses from the importer or owner.
(1AD) If:
(a) in accordance with subsection (1AA),
the agent for an importer or owner makes a payment to the Commonwealth on
behalf of the importer or owner in respect of any expenses connected with the
performance of a service referred to in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d);
and
(b) at the time when the payment is
made, the agent has not collected an amount equivalent to those expenses from
the importer or owner;
the agent may recover such an amount from the importer or
owner as a debt due to the agent.
(1A) The owner, or any person who is in control,
of any animals, plants or other goods that are required to be examined,
transported, detained, maintained, treated, moved, removed, disposed of or
destroyed as mentioned in subsection (1) may, with the permission of a
quarantine officer, provide at the expense of the owner or that person any
cartage or labour required in respect of the carrying out of the requirement.
(2) A quarantine officer may refuse to grant
a permit for the landing or removal of any animals or plants or goods until
security is given to his or her satisfaction for payment of the expenses
payable to the Commonwealth under this section.
(3) If expenses are payable under this
section in respect of animals, plants or goods, the Director of Animal and
Plant Quarantine may, in writing, direct that the animals, plants or goods must
not be released from quarantine until:
(a) the expenses have been paid to the
Commonwealth; or
(b) the owner of the animals, plants
or goods, or the agent of that owner, has entered into an agreement with the
Commonwealth for the payment of the expenses and has taken any action required
by the agreement as a condition for the release of the animals, plants or
goods.
(4) Without limiting the matters that may be
included in an agreement mentioned in paragraph (3)(b), an agreement may
require the owner of the animals, plants or goods concerned or the agent of
that owner to do either or both of the following:
(a) pay interest at a rate not
exceeding 20% per year on the amount of the expenses from time to time owing to
the Commonwealth in respect of the animals, plants or goods;
(b) give security for the payment of
the expenses and interest (if any) owing to the Commonwealth in respect of the
animals, plants or goods.
(5) A person must not release animals, plants
or goods from quarantine in contravention of a direction under subsection (3).
Division 3—Charges for the provision of prescribed health measures in
relation to travellers
64A Definition of prescribed
health measure
Definition of prescribed health measure
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a prescribed
health measure, in relation to a traveller, is a health measure
referred to in subsection (2) that is provided by, for or on behalf of the
Commonwealth under:
(a) this Act; or
(b) the Migration Act 1958; or
(c) any other law of the Commonwealth.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1),
the health measures are the following:
(a) a medical examination to ascertain
the health status of the traveller;
(b) subject to subsection (3), a
vaccination or other prophylaxis provided to the traveller on arrival in Australia;
(c) a restriction of the activities of
the traveller, or the segregation or isolation of the traveller, for the
purpose of preventing the spread of disease;
(d) the issuing to the traveller of a
certificate that specifies:
(i) that a prescribed
health measure referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (e) was provided
in relation to the traveller; and
(ii) the date on which that
measure was provided;
(e) a health measure applied to the
personal effects of the traveller.
Notification requirements for vaccinations etc.
(3) A vaccination or other prophylaxis
provided on a certain day to a traveller on arrival in Australia is not a prescribed
health measure in relation to the traveller if, at least 10 days before
that day, a notice published on the website of the Department that deals with
human quarantine stated that such travellers would be required to submit
themselves to such a vaccination or other prophylaxis.
Treatments and benefits for travellers in isolation
etc.
(4) If, for the purpose of preventing the spread
of disease, a traveller’s activities are restricted, or the traveller is
segregated or isolated, as described in paragraph (2)(c), none of the
following is a prescribed health measure in relation to the
traveller:
(a) any treatment (other than treatment
referred to in paragraph (2)(a), (b) or (e)) provided in relation to the
traveller:
(i) for the disease; or
(ii) for any other medical
condition;
(b) any other benefit provided to the
traveller solely for his or her benefit.
64B
Traveller definitions
Travellers
(1) For the purposes of this Act, a person is
a traveller if:
(a) the person has entered Australia while undertaking a voyage from another country; and
(b) none of the following applies:
(i) subject to
subsection (2), the person has been immigration cleared (within the
meaning of subsection 172(1) of the Migration Act 1958);
(ii) the person has been
detained under section 189 of that Act;
(iii) the person has left Australia;
(iv) the person is
prescribed by the regulations.
Note: The regulations may prescribe the person by
reference to a class of persons (see subsection 13(3) of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003).
(2) Subparagraph (1)(b)(i) does not
apply in relation to a person who has been immigration cleared (within the
meaning of subsection 172(1) of the Migration Act 1958) if:
(a) before the person was immigration
cleared, the person was notified that he or she would be required to submit to
the provision of a prescribed health measure as soon as practicable after being
immigration cleared; and
(b) the person submits to the
provision of the prescribed health measure as soon as practicable after being
immigration cleared; and
(c) the provision of the prescribed
health measure is not yet complete.
Temporary residence and permanent residence
(3) For the purposes of the International
Health Regulations and this Act, a traveller is seeking temporary
residence or permanent residence in Australia unless:
(a) the traveller is an Australian
citizen under the Australian Citizenship Act 2007; or
(b) the traveller is in Australia for transit purposes only; or
(c) the traveller is prescribed by the
regulations.
Note: The regulations may prescribe the traveller by
reference to a class of travellers (see subsection 13(3) of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003).
(4) For the purposes of
paragraph (3)(b), a traveller is in Australia for transit purposes
only if the traveller:
(a) is not required to comply with
section 166 of the Migration Act 1958 (immigration clearance); and
(b) holds:
(i) a confirmed onward
booking to leave Australia to travel to another country within 8 hours of
arrival; and
(ii) documentation
necessary to enter the country of his or her destination; and
(c) is not prescribed by the
regulations.
Note: The regulations may prescribe the traveller by
reference to a class of travellers (see subsection 13(3) of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003).
64C
Charges for the provision of prescribed health measures in relation to
travellers
Travellers not seeking temporary residence or permanent
residence
(1) If a traveller is not seeking temporary
residence or permanent residence in Australia, no person (other than the
Commonwealth) is liable, under any law of the Commonwealth, to pay for the
provision of a prescribed health measure in relation to the traveller.
Note 1: If the traveller entered Australia as a member
of the crew of a vessel, subsection (1) does not preclude the seeking of
reimbursement from the master, owner, or agent, of the vessel for expenses
incurred in providing the prescribed health measure (see subsection (3)).
Note 2: Subsection (1) does not preclude the
seeking of reimbursement from an applicable insurance source for expenses
incurred in providing the prescribed health measure (see subsection (3)).
Travellers seeking temporary residence or permanent
residence
(2) If a traveller is seeking temporary
residence or permanent residence in Australia, no person (other than the
Commonwealth) is liable, under any law of the Commonwealth, to pay for the
provision of a prescribed health measure in relation to the traveller if the
liability does not conform to a tariff in force under section 64D in
relation to the prescribed health measure.
Note 1: If the traveller entered Australia as a member of the crew of a vessel, subsection (2) does not preclude the
seeking of reimbursement from the master, owner, or agent, of the vessel for
expenses incurred in providing the prescribed health measure (see
subsection (3)).
Note 2: Subsection (2) does not preclude the
seeking of reimbursement from an applicable insurance source for expenses
incurred in providing the prescribed health measure (see subsection (3)).
Reimbursement of expenses from masters, owners, agents
and applicable insurance sources
(3) Despite subsections (1) and (2), a
person is not precluded from seeking reimbursement for expenses incurred in
providing a prescribed health measure in relation to a traveller:
(a) if the traveller entered Australia as a member of the crew of a vessel—from the master, owner, or agent, of the
vessel; or
(b) in any case—from an applicable
insurance source.
Definitions
(4) In this section:
applicable insurance source has the same
meaning as in Article 40 of the International Health Regulations.
member of the crew of a vessel includes the
master of the vessel.
64D
Tariff of amounts payable for prescribed health measures
(1) The Minister may, by legislative
instrument, make a tariff setting the amount payable for the provision of a
prescribed health measure in relation to a traveller who is seeking temporary
residence or permanent residence in Australia.
Note: For the effect of a tariff, see subsection
64C(2).
(2) The amount set must not exceed the actual
cost of the provision of the prescribed health measure.
(3) A tariff must not take effect before the
tenth day after it is registered under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Division 4—Recovery of expenses
65
Expenses to be a charge upon vessel
(1) Any expenses or charges payable to the
Commonwealth under this Part, by the owner or agent of any vessel, shall be a
charge upon the vessel, and the vessel may be detained by an officer until the
expenses are paid.
(2) While a vessel is detained under
subsection (1), a person does not have the power of seizure provided for
by section 123 of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 in
relation to the vessel.
66
Recovery of expenses
Any expenses or charges payable to the
Commonwealth under this Part may be recovered by action in a court of competent
jurisdiction as a debt due to the Commonwealth.
66A
Sale of animals, plants or goods to recover expenses
(1) If:
(a) animals, plants or goods have
performed quarantine but have not been released from quarantine; and
(b) expenses
are payable under section 64 in respect of the animals, plants or goods;
the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine may give the
owner of the animals, plants or goods a notice under subsection (2).
(2) A notice must be in writing and advise
the owner that the animals, plants or goods may be sold if expenses under
section 64 are payable in respect of the animals, plants or goods at the
end of 30 days after the notice is given to the owner.
(3) If, at the end of 30 days after a notice
is given to the owner, expenses under section 64 in respect of the
animals, plants or goods are payable, the Commonwealth may:
(a) sell the animals, plants or goods;
and
(b) give full and effective title to
the animals, plants or goods free of all encumbrances and interests.
(4) For the purpose of effecting a sale of
the animals, plants or goods, the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine may,
on behalf of the Commonwealth:
(a) take possession of the animals,
plants or goods; and
(b) make and execute all necessary
instruments and documents.
(5) The proceeds of sale are to be applied
against the expenses of the sale and the expenses payable under section 64
in respect of the animals, plants or goods, and any amount not so applied is to
be paid to the owner.
(6) Nothing in this section affects the right
of the Commonwealth to recover expenses by other means.
Part VIA—Enforcement
Division 1—General powers
66AA
General powers of quarantine officers in relation to premises
Nature of powers
(1) The powers that a quarantine officer may
exercise under paragraph 66AB(1)(b), subparagraph 66AC(4)(a)(ii) or paragraph
66AE(1)(b) or 66AG(1)(b) in relation to particular premises are as follows:
(a) to search the premises and any
thing on the premises;
(b) to examine any thing on the
premises;
(c) to take photographs (including
video or audio recordings) or to make sketches of the premises or any thing on
the premises;
(d) to take extracts from, or make
copies of, any document on the premises;
(e) to secure the premises or any
thing on the premises;
(f) if tests are to be carried out on
samples taken of any thing on the premises and the quarantine officer thinks it
is necessary to do so, to remove the samples from the premises for the purpose
of conducting the tests;
(g) to order into quarantine any
infected goods found on the premises;
(h) if the quarantine officer has
reasonable grounds to suspect that infected goods have been or are on the
premises—to carry out prescribed measures for regulating or preventing people,
vehicles or goods from entering or leaving the premises, or prescribed measures
of quarantine on or relating to the premises, during:
(i) the search referred to
in paragraph (a) and the examination referred to in paragraph (b);
and
(ii) the taking of samples
of goods found on the premises or the conducting of tests on such samples; and
(iii) any period for which
infected goods found on the premises remain on the premises, whether because of
an approval of the premises under section 46A or otherwise; and
(iv) such period after the
treatment of infected goods found on the premises as the quarantine officer
considers, on reasonable grounds, to be a period during which there is a danger
of the spread of diseases or pests because of those goods having been on the
premises;
(i) to affix on or near the premises
notices in relation to quarantine that have been approved by a Director of
Quarantine;
(j) to trap or destroy animals on the
premises;
(k) to exercise any other powers that
the quarantine officer has under this Act in respect of the premises or
infected goods found on the premises.
Powers in respect of vehicles
(2) If, while a quarantine officer is
entitled to exercise powers referred to in subsection (1) in relation to
premises, any vehicle leaves the premises without the permission of the
quarantine officer, the quarantine officer may exercise those powers, so far as
relevant, in relation to the vehicle as if it were part of the premises.
Extension of meaning of exposed
(3) For the purposes of this section, but
without affecting the operation of section 5B:
(a) an animal is taken to have been exposed
to any animal of which it is the progeny; and
(b) a plant is taken to have been exposed
to any plant of which it is the progeny, including any plant of which it was a
cutting or from which it was otherwise derived.
Prescribed measures
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(h):
(a) each of the following is a prescribed
measure for regulating or preventing people, vehicles or goods from entering or
leaving the premises:
(i) stopping a person or
vehicle;
(ii) prohibiting a person
from proceeding, moving goods, or driving or moving a vehicle, beyond a
specified point or outside a specified area;
(iii) prohibiting a person
from entering, moving goods, or driving or moving a vehicle, into a specified
area;
(iv) requiring a person to
proceed, move goods, or drive or move a vehicle, along a specified route or to
a specified area;
(v) removing a person, a
vehicle or goods from any area; and
(b) each of the following is a prescribed
measure of quarantine:
(i) treating any person,
premises or goods;
(ii) requiring a person to
treat himself or herself or any clothes that he or she is wearing or has in his
or her possession;
(iii) isolating people,
premises or goods;
(iv) examining an animal for
the purpose of determining whether it is infected with a disease or pest;
(v) detaining an animal for
the purpose of examining it as mentioned in subparagraph (iv);
(vi) detaining any goods for
the purpose of carrying out any treatment in relation to a disease or pest.
Infected goods
(5) In this section:
infected goods means any of the following
goods:
(a) goods infected with a
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest;
(b) goods that a quarantine officer
suspects, on reasonable grounds, are likely to be infected with a quarantinable
disease or a quarantinable pest;
(ba) goods that are quarantinable pests
or quarantinable diseases;
(bb) goods that a quarantine officer
suspects, on reasonable grounds, to be quarantinable pests or quarantinable
diseases;
(c) goods that have been exposed to
infection with a quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest;
(d) goods that have been:
(i) imported into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(ii) brought into, or
landed at, any port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(iii) removed from a part of
Australia to another part of Australia; or
(iv) removed from a part of
the Cocos Islands to another part of the Cocos Islands; or
(v) removed from Australia to the Cocos Islands; or
(vi) removed from the Cocos Islands to Australia;
(vii) removed from the Cocos Islands to Christmas Island; or
(viii) removed from a part of Christmas Island to another part of Christmas Island; or
(ix) removed from Australia to Christmas Island; or
(x) removed from Christmas Island to Australia; or
(xi) removed from Christmas Island to the Cocos Islands;
in contravention of this Act;
(e) goods that have been exposed to,
or that a quarantine officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, have been exposed
to, goods referred to in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
Division 2—Monitoring powers
66AB
The monitoring of premises
(1) For the purpose of deciding whether to
exercise a power under this Act or finding out whether this Act is being
complied with, a quarantine officer, at any time and with any necessary help,
may:
(a) enter:
(i) any premises approved
for the purposes of a provision of this Act; or
Note: For premises that have been approved, see for
example subsection 44A(5) and section 46A.
(ii) a quarantine station;
or
(iii) any premises at which
procedures are authorised under a compliance agreement to be carried out; or
(iv) any other premises with
the consent of the occupier; and
(b) exercise the powers set out in
section 66AA.
(2) If the relevant premises are a vessel or
a vehicle, a quarantine officer may stop and detain the vessel or vehicle for
the purpose of exercising a power conferred by subsection (1).
(3) For the purpose of examining domestic
animals in the Cocos Islands, or in Christmas Island, a quarantine officer, at
any time and with any necessary help, may:
(a) enter any premises on the Cocos
Islands or on Christmas Island, as the case may be, with the consent of the
occupier; and
(b) search the premises for domestic
animals; and
(c) if a domestic animal is found on
the premises:
(i) cause an examination
of the animal and of the premises to be carried out to ensure that the animal
is healthy and the premises are clean and free from infection; and
(ii) take whatever measures
are required to improve the health of the animal, including the treatment of
the animal; and
(iii) take whatever measures
are required to treat the premises; and
(iv) give to any person on
the premises any directions that the quarantine officer considers necessary to
enable him or her to exercise the powers referred to in subparagraphs (i),
(ii) and (iii).
66AC
Monitoring warrants
(1) A quarantine officer may apply to a
magistrate for a warrant under this section in relation to particular premises.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the
magistrate may issue a warrant if satisfied, by information on oath or
affirmation, that it is reasonably necessary that the quarantine officer should
have access to the premises for the purpose of:
(a) deciding whether to exercise a
power under this Act; or
(b) finding out:
(i) whether this Act has
been complied with; and
(ii) if the premises are in
the Cocos Islands or in Christmas Island—whether any domestic animals are on
the premises.
(3) The magistrate must not issue a warrant
unless the quarantine officer or another person has given the magistrate,
either orally (on oath or affirmation) or by affidavit, such further
information as the magistrate requires about the grounds on which the issue of
the warrant is being sought.
(4) The warrant must:
(a) authorise a quarantine officer
named in the warrant, with such assistance and by such force as is necessary
and reasonable, from time to time, while the warrant remains in force:
(i) to enter the premises;
and
(ii) to exercise powers of
the kind set out in section 66AA in relation to the premises; and
(iii) if the premises are in
the Cocos Islands or in Christmas Island—to exercise the powers referred to in
paragraphs 66AB(3)(b) and (c) in relation to the premises; and
(b) state whether an entry under the
warrant is authorised to be made at any time of the day or night or during
specified hours of the day or night; and
(c) specify the day (not more than 6
months after the day on which the warrant is issued) on which the warrant
ceases to have effect; and
(d) state the purpose for which the
warrant is issued.
66AD
Seizures without offence‑related warrant in emergency situations
(1) This section applies when a quarantine
officer has entered premises under section 66AB or under a warrant issued
under section 66AC.
(2) If the quarantine officer suspects, on
reasonable grounds, that:
(a) particular evidential material is
on the premises; and
(b) it is necessary to seize the
evidential material in order to prevent it from being concealed, lost or
destroyed; and
(c) it is necessary to do so without
the authority of a warrant under section 66AF because the circumstances
are serious and urgent;
the quarantine officer may seize the evidential material
if he or she finds it there.
Division 3—Offence‑related searches and seizures
66AE
Offence‑related searches and seizures
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a
quarantine officer has reasonable grounds for suspecting that there may be, on
any premises, particular evidential material, the officer, at any time and with
any necessary help, may:
(a) enter the premises; and
(b) exercise the powers set out in
section 66AA; and
(c) seize that evidential material, if
the officer finds it on the premises.
(2) A quarantine officer is not authorised to
enter premises under subsection (1) unless:
(a) the premises are:
(i) premises approved for
the purposes of a provision of this Act; or
Note: For premises that have been approved, see for
example subsection 44A(5) and section 46A.
(ii) a quarantine station;
or
(iii) premises at which
procedures are authorised under a compliance agreement to be carried out; or
(b) the occupier of the premises has
consented to the entry.
(3) If the relevant premises are a vessel or
vehicle, a quarantine officer may stop and detain the vessel or vehicle for the
purpose of exercising a power conferred by subsection (1).
66AF
Offence‑related warrants
(1) A quarantine officer may apply to a
magistrate for a warrant under this section in relation to particular premises.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), a
magistrate may issue the warrant if satisfied, by information on oath or
affirmation, that there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that there is, or
may be within the next 72 hours, any evidential material at the premises.
(3) A magistrate must not issue a warrant
unless the quarantine officer or some other person has given the magistrate,
either orally (on oath or affirmation) or by affidavit, such further
information as the magistrate requires about the grounds on which the issue of
the warrant is being sought.
(4) The warrant must:
(a) state the offence to which the
warrant relates; and
(b) describe the premises to which the
warrant relates; and
(c) describe the kinds of evidential
material that are to be searched for under the warrant; and
(d) state the name of the quarantine
officer who is to be responsible for executing the warrant; and
(e) state the period for which the
warrant remains in force, which must not be more than 7 days; and
(f) state whether the warrant may be
executed at any time of the day or night or only during specified hours of the
day or night.
(5) The warrant must also state that the
warrant authorises the seizure of a thing (other than evidential material of
the kind referred to in paragraph (4)(c)) found at the premises in the
course of the search that the executing officer or an officer assisting
believes on reasonable grounds to be:
(a) evidential material in relation to
an offence to which the warrant relates; or
(b) evidential material in relation to
another offence against this Act;
if the executing officer or an officer assisting believes
on reasonable grounds that seizure of the thing is necessary to prevent its
concealment, loss or destruction or its use in committing an offence against
this Act.
(6) Paragraph (4)(e) does not prevent
the issue of successive warrants in relation to the same premises.
(7) If the application for the warrant is
made under section 66AH, this section applies as if:
(a) subsection (2) referred to 48
hours rather than 72 hours; and
(b) paragraph (4)(e) referred to
48 hours rather than 7 days.
66AG
The things that are authorised by a search warrant
(1) A warrant under this Division that is in
force in relation to premises authorises the executing officer or an officer
assisting:
(a) to enter the premises; and
(b) to exercise the powers set out in
section 66AA; and
(c) to search the premises and any
thing on the premises for the kinds of evidential material specified in the
warrant, and to seize things of those kinds found at the premises; and
(d) to seize other things found at the
premises in the course of the search that the executing officer or an officer
assisting believes on reasonable grounds to be:
(i) evidential material in
relation to an offence to which the warrant relates; or
(ii) evidential material in
relation to another offence against this Act;
if the executing officer or an
officer assisting believes on reasonable grounds that seizure of the thing is
necessary to prevent its concealment, loss or destruction or its use in
committing an offence against this Act.
(2) If the warrant states that it may be
executed only during particular hours, the warrant must not be executed outside
those hours.
(3) If things are seized under a warrant, the
warrant authorises the executing officer to make the things available to
officers of other agencies if it is necessary to do so for the purpose of
investigating or prosecuting an offence to which the things relate.
Division 4—Warrants granted by telephone or other electronic means
66AH
Warrants may be granted by telephone or other electronic means
(1) A quarantine officer may apply to a
magistrate for a warrant under section 55G, 66AC or 66AF by telephone,
facsimile or other electronic means:
(a) in an urgent case; or
(b) if the delay that would occur if
an application were made in person would frustrate the effective execution of
the warrant.
(2) The magistrate may require voice
communication to the extent that it is practicable in the circumstances.
(3) An application under this section must
include all information required to be provided in an ordinary application for
a warrant under section 55G, 66AC or 66AF, as the case requires, but the
application may, if necessary, be made before the information is sworn or
affirmed.
(4) If a magistrate to whom an application is
made under this section is satisfied:
(a) after having considered the
information mentioned in subsection (3); and
(b) after having received any further
information that the magistrate requires about the grounds on which the issue
of the warrant is being sought;
that there are reasonable grounds for issuing the warrant,
the magistrate may complete and sign the same form of warrant as would be
issued under section 55G, 66AC or 66AF, as the case requires.
(5) If a magistrate signs a warrant under subsection (4):
(a) the magistrate must notify the
quarantine officer, by telephone, facsimile or other electronic means, of the
terms of the warrant and the date on which and the time at which it was signed,
and write on it the reasons for granting it; and
(b) the officer must complete a form
of warrant in the terms notified to the officer by the magistrate and write on
it the name of the magistrate and the date on which and the time at which it
was signed.
(6) If a quarantine officer completes a form
of warrant under subsection (5), the officer must, not later than the day
after the day on which the warrant ceased to be in force or was executed,
whichever is the earlier, give or send to the magistrate who signed the warrant
the form of warrant completed by the officer and, if the information mentioned
in subsection (3) was not sworn or affirmed, that information duly sworn
or affirmed.
(7) The magistrate must attach to the documents
provided under subsection (6) the warrant signed by the magistrate.
(8) A form of warrant that has been duly
completed by a quarantine officer under subsection (5), and is in
accordance with the terms of the warrant signed by the magistrate, is authority
for any entry, search, seizure, or other exercise of power, that the warrant so
signed authorises.
(9) If:
(a) it is material, in any
proceedings, for a court to be satisfied that an exercise of power was
authorised under this section; and
(b) the warrant signed by the
magistrate under this section authorising the exercise of power is not produced
in evidence;
the court must assume, unless the contrary is proved, that
the exercise of power was not authorised by such a warrant.
Division 5—Stopping and searching vessels or vehicles
66AI
Searches without warrant in emergency situations
(1) This section applies if a quarantine
officer suspects, on reasonable grounds, that:
(a) particular evidential material is
in or on a vessel or vehicle; and
(b) it is necessary to exercise a
power under subsection (2) in order to prevent the evidential material
being concealed, lost or destroyed; and
(c) it is necessary to exercise the
power without the authority of a warrant under section 66AF because the circumstances
are serious and urgent.
(2) The quarantine officer may:
(a) stop and detain the vessel or
vehicle; and
(b) search the vessel or vehicle and
any thing in or on it for the evidential material; and
(c) seize the evidential material if
he or she finds it there.
(3) If, in the course of searching for the
evidential material, the quarantine officer finds other evidential material,
the officer may seize the other evidential material if he or she suspects, on
reasonable grounds, that:
(a) it is necessary to seize it in
order to prevent its concealment, loss or destruction; and
(b) it is necessary to seize it
without the authority of a warrant under section 66AF because the
circumstances are serious and urgent.
(4) The quarantine officer must exercise his
or her powers subject to section 66AJ.
66AJ
How a quarantine officer exercises a power under section 66AI
When a quarantine officer exercises a
power under section 66AI in relation to a vessel or vehicle, he or she:
(a) may use such assistance as is
necessary; and
(b) must search the vessel or vehicle
in a public place or in some other place to which members of the public have
ready access; and
(c) must not detain the vessel or
vehicle for longer than is necessary and reasonable to search it and any thing
found in or on it; and
(d) may use such force as is necessary
and reasonable in the circumstances, but must not damage the vessel or vehicle
or any thing found in or on it by forcing open a part of the vessel or vehicle
or thing unless:
(i) the person (if any)
apparently in charge of the vessel or vehicle has been given a reasonable
opportunity to open that part or thing; or
(ii) it is not possible to
give that person such an opportunity.
Division 6—General rules about premises and warrants
66AK
Availability of assistance, and use of force, in executing a warrant
In executing a warrant:
(a) the executing officer may obtain
such assistance as is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances; and
(b) the executing officer, or a
quarantine officer who is assisting in executing the warrant, may use such
force against persons and things as is necessary and reasonable in the
circumstances; and
(c) a person who is not a quarantine
officer, but has been authorised to assist in executing the warrant, may use
such force against things as is necessary and reasonable in the circumstances.
66AL
Announcement before entry under warrants
(1) The executing officer must, before any
person enters premises under a warrant:
(a) announce that he or she is
authorised by the warrant to enter the premises; and
(b) give any person at the premises an
opportunity to allow entry to the premises.
(2) The executing officer does not have to
comply with subsection (1) if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that
immediate entry to the premises is required to ensure:
(a) the safety of a person (including
the executing officer); or
(b) that the effective execution of
the warrant is not frustrated.
66AM
Details of warrant to be given to occupier etc.
(1) If a warrant in relation to premises is
being executed and the occupier of the premises, or another person who
apparently represents the occupier, is present at the premises, the executing
officer or an officer assisting must make a copy of the warrant available to
that person.
(2) The executing officer must identify
himself or herself to the person at the premises.
(3) The copy of the warrant referred to in subsection (1)
need not include the signature of the magistrate who issued the warrant.
66AN
Occupier to be present during search under warrants
(1) If a warrant issued in relation to
premises is being executed and the occupier of the premises, or another person
who apparently represents the occupier, is present at the premises, the person
is, subject to Part IC of the Crimes Act 1914, entitled to observe
the search being conducted.
(2) The right to observe the search being
conducted ceases if the person impedes the search.
(3) This section does not prevent 2 or more
areas of the premises being searched at the same time.
66AO
Use of equipment to examine or process things
(1) A person who enters premises under this
Part may bring to the premises and use any equipment reasonably necessary for
the examination or processing of things found at the premises for the purposes
of exercising a power conferred on the person under this Part.
(2) If:
(a) it is not practicable to examine
or process the things at the premises; or
(b) the occupier of the premises
consents in writing;
the things may be moved to another place so that the
examination or processing can be carried out.
(3) If things containing electronically
stored information are moved to another place under subsection (2), the
person referred to in subsection (1) must, if it is practicable to do so:
(a) tell the occupier the address of
the place and the time at which the examination or processing will be carried
out; and
(b) allow the occupier, or a
representative of the occupier, to be present during the examination or
processing.
(4) A person who enters premises under this
Part may operate equipment already at the premises to carry out the examination
or processing of a thing found at the premises for the purpose of exercising a
power conferred on the person under this Part, if the person believes on
reasonable grounds that:
(a) the equipment is suitable for the
examination or processing; and
(b) the examination or processing can
be carried out without damage to the equipment or the thing.
66AP
Use of electronic equipment at premises
(1) A person who enters premises under this
Part may operate electronic equipment at the premises for the purpose of
exercising a power conferred on the person under this Part if he or she
believes on reasonable grounds that the operation of the equipment can be carried
out without damage to the equipment.
(2) If the person, after operating the
equipment, finds that evidential material is accessible by doing so, he or she
may:
(a) seize the equipment and any disk,
tape or other associated device; or
(b) if the material can, by using
facilities at the premises, be put in documentary form—operate the facilities
to put the material in that form and seize the documents so produced; or
(c) if the material can be transferred
to a disk, tape or other storage device:
(i) which is brought to
the premises; or
(ii) which is at the
premises and the use of which for the purpose has been agreed to in writing by
the occupier of the premises;
operate the equipment or other
facilities to copy the material to the storage device and take the storage
device from the premises.
(3) A person may seize equipment under paragraph (2)(a)
only if:
(a) it is not practicable to put the
material in documentary form as mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) or to copy
the material as mentioned in paragraph (2)(c); or
(b) possession of the equipment by the
occupier could constitute an offence.
(4) If the person believes on reasonable
grounds that:
(a) evidential material may be
accessible by operating electronic equipment at the premises; and
(b) expert assistance is required to
operate the equipment; and
(c) if he or she does not take action
under this subsection, the material may be destroyed, altered or otherwise
interfered with;
he or she may do whatever is necessary to secure the
equipment, whether by locking it up, placing a guard or otherwise.
(5) The person must give notice to the
occupier of the premises of his or her intention to secure equipment and of the
fact that the equipment may be secured for up to 24 hours.
(6) The equipment may be secured:
(a) for a period not exceeding 24
hours; or
(b) until the equipment has been
operated by the expert;
whichever happens first.
(7) If the person believes on reasonable
grounds that the expert assistance will not be available within 24 hours, he or
she may apply to a magistrate for an extension of that period.
(8) The person must give notice to the
occupier of the premises of his or her intention to apply for an extension, and
the occupier is entitled to be heard in relation to the application.
66AQ
Compensation for damage to equipment
(1) If:
(a) equipment is damaged because of
being operated as mentioned in section 66AO or 66AP; and
(b) the damage was caused by:
(i) insufficient care
being exercised in selecting the person who was to operate the equipment; or
(ii) insufficient care
being exercised by the person (other than the occupier or a person employed by
the occupier) operating the equipment;
compensation for the damage is payable to the owner of the
equipment.
(2) Compensation is payable out of money
appropriated by the Parliament for the purpose.
(3) In determining the amount of compensation
payable, regard is to be had to whether the occupier of the premises and the
employees and agents of the occupier, if they were available at the time, had
provided any warning or guidance as to the operation of the equipment that was
appropriate in the circumstances.
66AR
Copies of seized things to be given
(1) Subject to subsection (2), if a
person who enters premises under this Part seizes:
(a) a document, film, computer file or
other thing that can readily be copied; or
(b) a storage device the information
in which can readily be copied;
the person must, if asked to do so by the occupier of the
premises or another person who apparently represents the occupier and is
present when the seizure takes place, give a copy of the thing or the
information to that person as soon as practicable after the seizure.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply if:
(a) the thing has been seized under
paragraph 66AP(2)(b) or taken under paragraph 66AP(2)(c); or
(b) possession by the occupier of the
document, film, computer file, thing or information could constitute an
offence.
66AS
Retention of things that are seized
(1) Subject to any contrary order of a court,
if a person seizes a thing under this Part, the person must return it if:
(a) the reason for its seizure no
longer exists or it is decided that it is not to be used in evidence; or
(b) the period of 60 days after its
seizure ends;
whichever first occurs, unless the thing is forfeited or
forfeitable to the Commonwealth or is the subject of a dispute as to ownership.
(2) At the end of the 60 days specified in paragraph (1)(b),
the person must take reasonable steps to return the thing to the person from whom
it was seized (or to the owner if that person is not entitled to possess it)
unless:
(a) proceedings in which the thing may
be used in evidence were begun before the end of the 60 days and have not been
completed (including an appeal to a court in relation to those proceedings); or
(b) the person may retain the thing
because of an order under section 66AT; or
(c) the person is otherwise authorised
or required (by a law, or an order of a court, of the Commonwealth, of a State
or of a Territory) to retain, destroy or dispose of the thing.
66AT
Magistrate may permit a thing to be kept
(1) If a person seizes a thing under this
Part; and:
(a) before the end of 60 days after
the seizure; or
(b) before the end of a period
previously stated in an order of a magistrate under this section;
proceedings in which the thing may be used in evidence
have not been brought, the person may apply to a magistrate for an order that
he or she may keep the thing for a further period.
(2) If the magistrate is satisfied that it is
necessary for the person to continue to keep the thing:
(a) for the purpose of an
investigation as to whether an offence has been committed; or
(b) to enable evidence of an offence
to be secured for the purposes of a prosecution;
the magistrate may order that the person may keep the
thing for a period stated in the order.
(3) Before making the application, the person
must:
(a) take reasonable steps to discover
who has an interest in the retention of the thing; and
(b) if it is practicable to do so,
give notice of the proposed application to everyone who the person believes has
such an interest.
(4) A function of making an order conferred
on a magistrate by this section is conferred on the magistrate in a personal
capacity and not as a court or a member of a court.
(5) Without limiting the generality of subsection (4),
an order made by a magistrate under this section has effect only by this Act
and is not taken, by implication, to be made by a court.
(6) A magistrate performing a function of, or
connected with, making an order under this section has the same protection and
immunity as if he or she were performing that function as, or as a member of, a
court (being the court of which the magistrate is a member).
(7) The Governor‑General may make
arrangements with the Governor of a State or the Administrator of the Northern Territory for the performance, by all or any of the people who from time to time
hold office as magistrates in that State or Territory, of the function of
making orders under this section.
(8) The Prime Minister may make arrangements
with the Chief Minister for the Australian Capital Territory for the
performance, by all or any of the people who from time to time hold office as
magistrates of that Territory, of the function of making orders under this
section.
66AU
Release of seized goods
The Secretary may authorise any
evidential material seized under this Part to be released to the owner, or to
the person from whose possession it was seized, either unconditionally or on
any conditions that the Secretary thinks fit.
66AV
Quarantine officer must produce identity card
A quarantine officer may not exercise
any powers under this Part in relation to premises (other than premises entered
under a warrant) if:
(a) the occupier of the premises has
required the officer to produce his or her identity card for inspection by the
occupier; and
(b) the officer fails to comply with
the requirement.
66AW
Giving of consent
(1) Before
obtaining the consent of a person for the purposes of entering premises under
section 66AB or 66AE, a quarantine officer must tell the person that the
person may refuse to give consent.
(2) An entry by a quarantine officer in
consequence of the consent of a person is not lawful unless the person
voluntarily consented to the entry.
66AX
Receipts for things seized or moved
(1) If a thing is seized under this Part, or
moved under subsection 66AO(2), a quarantine officer must provide a receipt for
it.
(2) If 2 or more things are seized or moved,
they may be covered in the one receipt.
Part VIB—Commission of inquiry into equine influenza outbreak
66AY
Appointment of Commissioner
(1) The Minister may, in writing, appoint a
person to:
(a) conduct a Commission of inquiry
into matters specified in the instrument of appointment relating to all or any
of the following:
(i) the outbreak of equine
influenza in Australia in 2007;
(ii) quarantine
requirements and practices relating to the outbreak;
(iii) any matters incidental
to the matters referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii); and
(b) report to the Minister on the
matters (including any recommendations relating to the matters) on or before a
day specified in the instrument of appointment.
(2) The appointment takes effect on the day
of effect specified in the instrument of appointment. The day of effect must
not be earlier than the day on which the instrument is made.
(3) A copy of the instrument must be
published in the Gazette.
(4) The Commissioner’s report is not a
legislative instrument.
66AZ
Hearings
(1) The Commissioner may hold hearings for
the purposes of the Commission of inquiry.
(2) The hearings may be held at such places,
whether within or outside Australia, as the Commissioner determines.
(3) Subject to this Act, the procedure at a
hearing is to be such as the Commissioner determines.
66AZA
Commissioner not bound by the rules of evidence
The Commissioner is not bound by the
rules of evidence and may inform himself or herself on any matter in such
manner as he or she thinks fit.
66AZB
Quarantine officers
(1) The Director of Quarantine may enter into
an arrangement with the Commissioner to make quarantine officers available, for
a period not exceeding the duration of the Commission of inquiry, to assist
with the conduct of the Commission of inquiry.
(2) In performing functions and exercising
powers to the extent reasonably necessary to assist with the conduct of the
Commission of inquiry, a quarantine officer made available under such an
arrangement:
(a) is subject to the directions of the
Commissioner; and
(b) despite subsection 8A(6) or 8B(6),
is not subject to the directions of a Chief Quarantine Officer or Director of
Quarantine.
66AZC
Conferral of quarantine powers
(1) The Director of Quarantine may, in
writing, determine that a specified person, or a person included in a specified
class of persons, who is engaged by the Commonwealth to assist with the conduct
of the Commission of inquiry has all the functions and powers of, or specified
functions and/or powers of, a quarantine officer under this Act.
(2) The person is taken, for the purposes of
this Act, to be a quarantine officer in connection with the performance of
those functions and the exercise of those powers.
(3) In performing those functions and
exercising those powers, the person:
(a) is subject to the directions of
the Commissioner; and
(b) is not subject to the directions
of a Chief Quarantine Officer or Director of Quarantine.
(4) A determination made under
subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.
66AZD
Disclosure of personal information
The disclosure of personal information
(within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988) by:
(a) a quarantine officer; or
(b) a person engaged under the Public
Service Act 1999;
for the purposes of assisting with the conduct of the
Commission of inquiry is taken to be authorised by law.
Note: The effect of this section includes (but is
not limited to) an authorisation for the purposes of paragraph (1)(d) of
Information Privacy Principle 11 in section 14 of the Privacy Act 1988.
66AZE
Application of the Royal Commissions Act 1902
(1) Subject to this section, the Royal
Commissions Act 1902, other than sections 4 and 5, applies in relation
to the Commission of inquiry, and to the Commissioner conducting it, as if:
(a) the Commission of inquiry were a
Royal Commission; and
(b) the Commissioner were a member of
a Royal Commission; and
(c) that Act bound the Crown in each
of its capacities.
(2) This section does not make the Crown
liable to be prosecuted for an offence.
(3) The regulations may, for the purposes of
the application of section 9 of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 in
accordance with subsection (1) of this section, provide for or specify
matters of the kind referred to in subsection 9(2) of that Act.
(4) Section 9 of the Royal
Commissions Act 1902, in its application in accordance with
subsection (1) of this section, has effect as if those regulations were
regulations made for the purposes of subsection 9(2) of that Act.
(5) Sections 10 and 15 of the Royal
Commissions Act 1902, in their application in accordance with
subsection (1) of this section, have effect as if references in those
sections to offences against that Act included references to such offences as
apply in accordance with subsection (1) of this section.
66AZF
Application of laws relating to disclosure
A law of the Commonwealth that relates
to the disclosure of information applies in relation to disclosure of
information to the Commission of inquiry in the same way that it would apply to
disclosure of the information to a Royal Commission.
Part VII—Miscellaneous
66B
Compliance agreements
(1) A Director of Quarantine may, on behalf
of the Commonwealth, enter into an agreement (a compliance agreement)
with a person in connection with:
(a) the application of particular
procedures in respect of goods; and
(b) the supervision, monitoring and
testing of the person’s compliance with those procedures.
(2) The terms of a compliance agreement must
be in accordance with this section and the regulations.
(3) A compliance agreement may provide that,
in circumstances stated in the agreement, a Director of Quarantine may, by
written notice given to a party to the agreement other than the Commonwealth,
cancel or vary the agreement or suspend its operation for a period, or until
the happening of an event, stated in the notice.
(4) A quarantine officer may notify a party
to a compliance agreement other than the Commonwealth in writing of procedures
to which the agreement is to extend in addition to those specifically referred
to in the agreement and, if such a notification is given, the agreement has
effect as if those procedures were referred to in it.
(5) The regulations may require a compliance
agreement to include provision for the giving of security for the proper
observance of the agreement by a party other than the Commonwealth and, if
security is so given under such a provision, the security may be enforced or
forfeited regardless of any liability or penalty to which a person may be
subject under this Act or the regulations.
(6) A quarantine officer may release goods to
which a compliance agreement applies from quarantine on the basis of a
certificate or assurance, given by a person authorised under the agreement to
give such a certificate or assurance, that all the procedures to which the
agreement refers have been complied with in respect of the goods.
(7) A party to a compliance agreement other
than the Commonwealth is guilty of an offence if that party fails to ensure
that any requirements imposed on that party under the agreement are complied
with.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(8) In this section:
goods has the meaning given by subsection
5(1), and includes a vessel.
procedures includes:
(a) the doing of anything under this
Act; and
(b) the doing of anything in
connection with activities carried out in the performance of functions related
to quarantine.
(9) The definition of goods in subsection (8)
does not affect the meaning of goods in any other provision of
this Act.
67
Penalties for certain acts done in contravention of Act
Basic illegal importation offence
(1) A person is guilty of an offence against
this subsection if:
(a) the person imports, introduces, or
brings into any port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island any thing; and
(b) the person knows that the thing
is:
(i) a disease or pest; or
(ii) a substance or article
containing a disease or pest; or
(iii) an animal, plant or
other goods; and
(c) the importation, introduction or
bringing in of the thing is in contravention of this Act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Strict liability applies to paragraph (1)(c)
(2) For the purposes of an offence against subsection (1),
strict liability applies to paragraph (1)(c).
Aggravated illegal importation offence
(3) A person is guilty of aggravated illegal
importation if:
(a) the person imports, introduces, or
brings into any port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island any thing; and
(b) the person knows that the thing
is:
(i) a disease or pest; or
(ii) a substance or article
containing a disease or pest; or
(iii) an animal, plant or
other goods; and
(c) the importation, introduction or
bringing in of the thing is in contravention of this Act; and
(d) the person obtains, or is likely
to obtain, a commercial advantage over the person’s competitors or potential
competitors.
Maximum penalty:
(a) if the offender is an
individual—imprisonment for 10 years or a fine of 2,000 penalty units, or both;
and
(b) if the offender is a body
corporate—a fine of 10,000 penalty units.
Examples of commercial advantage
(4) The following are examples of a
commercial advantage as referred to in subsection (3):
(a) the avoidance of business costs
associated with obtaining an import permit or meeting quarantine requirements;
or
(b) the avoidance of delays
necessarily involved in compliance with applicable quarantine measures.
Strict liability applies to paragraph (3)(c)
(4A) For the purposes of an offence against subsection (3),
strict liability applies to paragraph (3)(c).
Illegal removal offence
(4B) A person is guilty of an offence against
this subsection if:
(a) the person removes any thing:
(i) from a part of Australia to another part of Australia; or
(ii) from a part of the Cocos Islands to another part of the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) from Australia to the Cocos Islands; or
(iv) from the Cocos Islands to Australia; or
(v) from a part of Christmas Island to another part of Christmas Island; or
(vi) from Australia to Christmas Island; or
(vii) from Christmas Island
to Australia; or
(viii) from Christmas Island
to the Cocos Islands; and
(b) the person knows that the thing is
an animal, plant or other goods; and
(c) the removal of the thing is in
contravention of this Act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Strict liability applies to paragraph (4B)(c)
(4C) For the purposes of an offence against subsection (4B),
strict liability applies to paragraph (4B)(c).
Non‑compliance with condition of permit granted under
Proclamation
(5) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person fails to comply with a
condition or restriction set out in a permit granted under a Proclamation made
in accordance with subsection 13(2A); and
(b) the person is reckless as to whether
or not the condition or restriction is complied with.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Hindering compliance with Act
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if the
person:
(a) does any act that hinders or
prevents another person from complying with this Act; and
(b) is reckless as to whether or not
the doing of that act hinders or prevents the other person from complying with
this Act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
67A
Liability of master or owner of vessel for importation of prohibited animals
The
master or owner of a vessel shall not bring, or permit to be brought, in the
vessel, any animal into any port or place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island in contravention of this Act, the regulations or any proclamation under
this Act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
68
Effect of unlawful importation etc.
Circumstances in which section applies
(1) This section applies if:
(a) any animals, plants or other goods
are imported or introduced into, or brought into any port or other place in,
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(b) any animals, plants or other goods
are removed:
(i) from a part of Australia to another part of Australia; or
(ii) from a part of the Cocos Islands to another part of the Cocos Islands; or
(iii) from Australia to the Cocos Islands; or
(iv) from the Cocos Islands to Australia; or
(v) from a part of Christmas Island to another part of Christmas Island; or
(vi) from Australia to Christmas Island; or
(vii) from Christmas Island
to Australia; or
(viii) from Christmas Island
to the Cocos Islands; or
(ix) from the Cocos Islands to Christmas Island; or
(c) any animals, plants or other goods
are moved, interfered with or dealt with;
in contravention of this Act.
Seizure of goods
(2) A quarantine officer may seize the
animals, plants or goods and, if they are seized:
(a) they are forfeited to the
Commonwealth; and
(b) the quarantine officer must give a
notice to a person referred to in subsection (4) stating that they have
been seized and forfeited to the Commonwealth and that they will be sold,
destroyed, exported from Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island or
otherwise disposed of in any way that a Director of Quarantine thinks
appropriate; and
(c) a Director of Quarantine may cause
the animals, plants or goods to be sold, destroyed, exported from Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island or otherwise disposed of.
Notice by Director of Quarantine where goods not seized
(3) If the animals, plants or goods have not
been seized under subsection (2), a Director of Quarantine may give a
notice to a person referred to in subsection (4) stating that they will be
seized, sold, destroyed, exported from Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island or otherwise disposed of in any way that the Director thinks
appropriate unless, within a period set out in the notice:
(a) they are destroyed, exported from
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be, or
otherwise dealt with in a way set out in the notice; and
(b) any other requirements set out in
the notice relating to the animals, plants or goods are complied with.
Person to whom notice may be given
(4) A notice under subsection (2) or (3)
may be given:
(a) in respect of animals, plants or
other goods imported or introduced into, or brought into any port or other
place in, Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island—to the importer or
consignee of the goods; or
(b) otherwise—to the owner, or the
person in possession or control, of the animals, plants or goods.
Notice must not require action involving unacceptably
high level of risk
(5) A Director of Quarantine must not give a
notice under subsection (3) if the Director is not satisfied that:
(a) if the animals, plants or goods
are dealt with in the way set out in the notice, there will be no unacceptably
high level of quarantine risk; or
(b) the person will either comply with
the notice or tell the Director within the period set out in the notice that
the person does not wish to deal with the goods as required by the notice.
Authorised action will not contravene Act
(6) If, the animals, plants or goods have not
been released from quarantine, any movement of, interference with, or dealing
with, them that is necessary to comply with the notice is not a contravention
of this Act.
Liability for things done before notice not affected
(7) Any civil or criminal liability of the
person to whom a notice is given because of a contravention of this Act that
occurred in relation to the animals, plants or goods before the notice is given
is not affected by the giving of the notice.
Further notice may be given
(8) At any time before the person to whom a
notice under subsection (3) is given complies with the notice, a Director
of Quarantine may give a further notice to the person amending or revoking the
notice. If the notice is amended, this section applies to the notice as amended
in the same way as it applied to the original notice.
If notice is not complied with
(9) If a notice is given to a person under subsection (3)
within the period prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this
subsection, but the person:
(a) does not comply with the notice
within the period specified in it; or
(b) tells a Director of Quarantine
within that period that the person does not wish to deal with the goods as
required by the notice;
the following provisions have effect:
(c) the animals, plants or goods are
forfeited to the Commonwealth; and
(d) an officer or an officer of
Customs may seize them; and
(e) a Director of Quarantine may cause
them to be sold, destroyed, exported from Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island or otherwise disposed of.
68A
Destruction of certain animals
If:
(a) an animal has been brought into a
port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island but the
animal was not intended, or is not permitted, to be imported into Australia,
the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be; and
(b) the master of a vessel or
installation fails to comply with:
(i) a direction given by a
Director of Quarantine with respect to the animal; or
(ii) any of the prescribed
conditions relating to the giving of reports about the animal, or relating to
the control or confinement of, or the giving of access to, the animal;
a quarantine officer may destroy the animal.
69
Seizure of animals, plants or other goods
(1) If any animals, plants or other goods
that are subject to quarantine are found at a place other than a quarantine
station:
(a) any officer or police officer may
seize them; and
(b) if an officer or police officer
does so—he or she must take them to a quarantine station or to such other place
as a Director of Quarantine directs.
(2) If an animal that is required to be kept
under quarantine surveillance at a particular place (the place of
surveillance) is found at another place:
(a) any officer or police officer may
seize it; and
(b) if an officer or police officer
does so—he or she must take it back to the place of surveillance or to such
other place as a Director of Quarantine directs.
(3) In this
section:
quarantine station, in relation to an animal,
plant or other goods, includes:
(a) a place approved under section 46A
in relation to a class of animals, plants or other goods in which the animal,
plant or other goods are included; and
(b) any other place where the animal,
plant or other goods may be detained under this Act.
69A
Compensation for destroyed goods
(1) Subject to this section, where any goods
(including any animal or plant) or any premises comprising buildings or other
structures are destroyed under or in accordance with this Act, the Minister
may, if he or she considers it appropriate to do so, approve the payment of
compensation under this section in respect of those goods or premises.
(2) The Minister shall not approve the
payment of compensation under this section in respect of:
(a) goods unlawfully imported into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(b) goods lawfully imported into
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island that were in quarantine at all
times between their importation and destruction, other than a prescribed animal
destroyed at a quarantine station.
(3) The Minister shall not approve the
payment of compensation under this section in respect of goods or premises
where the Minister is satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that:
(a) the goods or premises were
destroyed by reason of an act or omission in contravention of a law of the
Commonwealth, a law of a State or a law of a Territory; and
(b) a person who had, or was a member
of a partnership that had, an interest in the goods or premises at the time of
their destruction:
(i) was a party to, or was
in any way directly or indirectly concerned in, the act or omission;
(ii) had an interest in the
goods or premises at the time when the act or omission occurred and, at an
earlier time, knew, ought to have known, or had reasonable grounds for
suspecting, that the act or omission would occur; or
(iii) acquired an interest
in the goods or premises after the act or omission occurred and, at the time
when he or she acquired that interest, knew, ought to have known, or had
reasonable grounds for suspecting, that the act or omission had occurred.
(4) Where an animal destroyed at a quarantine
station had been lawfully imported into Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island and had been in quarantine at all times between its
importation and destruction, the Minister shall not approve the payment of
compensation under this section in respect of the animal if he or she is
satisfied, on reasonable grounds, that, before the animal left its place of
origin for exportation to Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, the
animal was infected, or was likely to be infected, with a disease or pest for
reasons relating to which the animal was destroyed.
(5) Subject to this section, compensation
approved under this section in respect of goods or premises shall:
(a) where there is only one owner of
the goods or premises—be paid to the owner; or
(b) where there are 2 or more owners
of the goods or premises—be divided among those owners in accordance with their
interests in the goods or premises at the time of their destruction.
(6) If a quarantine officer or other person
who causes goods or premises to be destroyed under this Act knows, at the time
of the destruction of the goods or premises, the name and address of the owner
or any of the owners of the goods or premises, the quarantine officer or other
person must give written notice of the destruction of the goods or other
premises to that owner or each of those owners, either personally or by post.
(7) An owner is not entitled to compensation
under this section in respect of goods or premises unless a claim for
compensation in respect of the goods or premises is made by or on behalf of the
owner within 12 months after:
(a) if under subsection (6)
notice of the destruction of the goods or premises is required to be given to
him or her—that notice is given; or
(b) in any other case—the goods or
premises are destroyed.
(8) A claim for compensation under subsection (7)
shall be in a form approved by the Minister and shall be accompanied by such
documents as are required by that form to accompany the claim.
(9) The compensation payable under this
section in respect of goods or premises is an amount equal to:
(a) except where paragraph (b) or
(c) applies—the market value of the goods or premises immediately before their
destruction;
(b) in the case of an animal (other
than an animal to which paragraph (c) applies) destroyed by reason of the
animal being infected, or suspected of being infected, with a disease or
pest—the market value that the animal would have had at the time of its
destruction if it had not been infected or suspected of being infected; or
(c) in the case of an animal imported
into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island that was in quarantine at
all times between its importation and destruction—the sum of the market value
of the animal in the country of export at the time of export and the charges
for freight, maintenance or similar expenses in respect of the animal incurred
after the animal left its place of origin for exportation to Australia, the
Cocos Islands or Christmas Island and before its destruction.
(10) If the Minister and the owner or the
owners entitled to compensation under this section in respect of goods or
premises do not agree as to the market value or sum that, in accordance with subsection (9),
is to be the amount of that compensation, that market value or sum shall be
determined by a person agreed upon by the Minister and by the owner or owners
entitled to that compensation.
(11) Where the Minister approves the payment of
compensation under this section in respect of goods or premises and:
(a) the Minister and the owner or
owners entitled to be paid that compensation agree on the market value or sum
that, in accordance with subsection (9), is to be the amount of that
compensation; or
(b) that
market value or sum is determined in accordance with subsection (10);
that amount of compensation is payable to the owner or
owners so entitled and the amount so payable to the owner or an owner may be
recovered by him or her by action against the Commonwealth in a court of
competent jurisdiction.
(12) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person makes a statement that
is false or misleading in a material particular; and
(b) the statement is made with the
intention of obtaining pecuniary benefit for the person or for another person
under this section; and
(c) the person knows the statement to
be false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(12A) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person makes a statement that
is false or misleading in a material particular; and
(b) the statement is made with the
intention of obtaining pecuniary benefit for the person or for another person
under this section; and
(c) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the statement is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(12B) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person does a fraudulent act;
and
(b) the act is done with the intention
of obtaining pecuniary benefit for the person or for another person under this
section.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(13) For the purposes of this section:
(a) goods subject to quarantine or
ordered into quarantine shall be taken to be in quarantine;
(b) where goods imported into
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island on a vessel are ordered into
quarantine on, or soon after, the granting of pratique in relation to that
vessel, the goods shall be deemed to have continued to be subject to quarantine
during the period commencing when pratique was granted in relation to the
vessel and ending when the goods were ordered into quarantine; and
(c) where goods subject to quarantine
or ordered into quarantine are released from quarantine for the purpose of
exportation, the goods shall be deemed to continue to be in quarantine.
(14) In this section and subject to
subsection (14A), owner, in relation to goods or premises
that have been destroyed, means a person who, or a partnership which, had an
interest in the goods or premises at the time of their destruction, but does not
include a person who had such an interest by reason only that he or she was
entitled to the benefit of a mortgage or other charge, or a lien, in respect of
the goods or premises (other than a PPSA security interest) unless he or she
was in possession of the goods or occupying, or otherwise in control of, the
premises, at that time.
(14A) For the purposes of the definition of owner
in subsection (14), a person who, or a partnership which, had an interest
in the goods or premises at the time of their destruction does not include a
person or partnership if the person or partnership:
(a) holds a PPSA security interest in
the goods or premises; but
(b) is not in possession or control of
the goods or premises at that time.
(15) In this section, prescribed animal
means an animal other than any of the following, that is to say:
(a) a horse, an ass, a mule or a pig;
(b) a ruminant;
(c) an animal imported for the
purposes of a zoo or circus; or
(d) an animal imported by an
organization engaged in scientific research for the purposes of that research.
70
Power to board vessels and examine things found on them
(1) A quarantine officer may board any vessel
that:
(a) is in a port or place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(b) is:
(i) on the seaward side of
the outer limits of the territorial sea of Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island and is within 9 nautical miles, or such greater distance as
the Governor‑General, by proclamation, declares, of those outer limits; and
(ii) bound
for a port or place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island;
and may, after boarding the vessel:
(c) enter and examine any part of the
vessel;
(d) examine any animals, plants or
other goods on board the vessel; and
(e) examine the passenger list, log,
manifest, journal and any other papers relating to the vessel or to any
persons, animals, plants or other goods on board the vessel.
(2) The master of a vessel is guilty of an
offence if:
(a) he or she is required by a
quarantine officer to produce to him or her for examination the papers referred
to in paragraph (1)(e); and
(b) he or she fails to comply with the
requirement.
Maximum penalty: 60 penalty units.
Note: Subsection (2) is not subject to the
privilege against self incrimination but a use derivative‑use indemnity applies
(see subsections 79A(1) and (2)).
(2A) An offence against subsection (2) is
an offence of strict liability.
(3) A person authorized in writing by a
Director of Quarantine to act under this subsection may board any vessel that:
(a) is in a port or place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island; or
(b) is:
(i) on the seaward side of
the outer limits of the territorial sea of Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island and is within 9 nautical miles, or such greater distance as
the Governor‑General, by proclamation, declares, of those outer limits; and
(ii) bound
for a port or place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island;
and may, after boarding the vessel, enter and examine any
part of the vessel and all animals, plants or other goods on board the vessel.
70AA
Power to board installations and examine things found on them
(1) This section applies in relation to:
(a) any Australian installation or any
overseas installation; and
(b) any installation (other than an
Australian installation or an overseas installation) on which a quarantine
officer has reasonable grounds to believe there are any persons who are, or any
animals, plants or other goods that are, subject to quarantine.
(2) A quarantine officer may board an
installation to which this section applies and:
(a) enter and examine any part of the
installation;
(b) examine any animals, plants or
other goods on board the installation; and
(c) examine any log, manifest, journal
and any other papers related to the installation or to any persons, animals,
plants or other goods on board the installation.
(3) The master of an installation to which
this section applies is guilty of an offence if:
(a) he or she is required by a quarantine
officer to produce to him or her for examination the papers referred to in paragraph (2)(c);
and
(b) he or she fails to comply with the
requirement.
Maximum penalty: 60 penalty units.
Note: Subsection (3) is not subject to the
privilege against self incrimination but a use derivative‑use indemnity applies
(see subsections 79A(1) and (2)).
(3A) An offence against subsection (3) is
an offence of strict liability.
(4) A person authorized in writing by a
Director of Quarantine to act under this subsection may board an installation
to which this section applies and may enter and examine any part of the
installation and any animals, plants or other goods on board the installation.
70A
Power to search goods
(1) A quarantine officer may search and
examine any goods which, or which a quarantine officer believes on reasonable
grounds:
(a) are about to be placed on, are on,
or have been taken off or out of, an overseas vessel; or
(b) are on, or are about to be placed
on, a vessel or installation in the Protected Zone or a Special Quarantine Zone
that is about to travel to a place in Australia; or
(c) are on, or have been taken off or
out of, a vessel or installation that has travelled to a place in Australia from or through a place in the Protected Zone or a Special Quarantine Zone.
(2) A quarantine officer may ask a person who
owns, is carrying or is otherwise associated with, or appears to the quarantine
officer to be associated with, goods that the quarantine officer is searching
or examining or entitled to search or examine under subsection (1) any
question in respect of the goods relating to matters within the functions,
duties or powers of the quarantine officer.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is asked a question
under subsection (2); and
(b) the person fails to answer the
question.
Maximum penalty: 60 penalty units.
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person answers a question
asked under subsection (2); and
(b) the answer contains a statement
that the person knows to be false or misleading in a material particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(5) An offence against subsection (3) is
an offence of strict liability.
Note: This section is subject to the privilege
against self incrimination (see subsection 79A(3)).
70B
Powers of officers in relation to goods
(1) In this
section, prescribed goods means goods that:
(a) are,
or have been, subject to quarantine; or
(b) a quarantine officer believes, on
reasonable grounds, are, or have been, subject to quarantine.
(2) A quarantine officer may ask a person who
the officer believes on reasonable grounds has information in respect of
prescribed goods any question in respect of the goods relating to matters
within the functions, duties or powers of the officer.
Note 1: It is an offence to fail to answer a question
asked under this subsection (see section 74C).
Note 2: It is an offence to give false or misleading
information in answer to a question asked under this subsection (see
section 137.1 of the Criminal Code).
(3) A quarantine officer may require a person
who the officer believes on reasonable grounds has the custody or control of
documents in respect of prescribed goods relating to matters within the
functions, duties or powers of the officer to produce to the officer such of
those documents as are specified by the officer.
Note 1: It is an offence to fail to produce a document
(see section 74C).
Note 2: It is an offence to produce a document knowing
that the document is false or misleading unless the document is accompanied by
a written statement acknowledging that the document is false or misleading (see
section 137.2 of the Criminal Code).
(4) A quarantine officer may require a person
who the officer believes on reasonable grounds is the owner, or the agent of
the owner, of prescribed goods or of goods that have been, or that the
quarantine officer suspects, or believes on reasonable grounds, have been,
exposed to prescribed goods, to deliver to the officer samples of such of those
goods owned by him or her or by his or her principal as are specified by the
officer.
Note: It is an offence to fail to deliver a sample
required to be delivered under this subsection (see section 74C).
(5) A quarantine officer may make copies of,
or take extracts from, any documents produced under subsection (3) and,
for the purpose of making a copy of, or taking an extract from, a document, may
remove the document from the place at which it was produced.
(6) A quarantine officer may carry out tests
on any samples delivered under subsection (4).
70BA
Carrying out tests on samples
If a quarantine officer has power under
this Act to carry out tests on any samples, the officer has power to carry out
tests that result in the destruction, or reduce the value, of the samples or of
a package or goods associated with the samples.
70BB
Officers may be assisted by animals
(1) A quarantine officer is entitled to be
accompanied by, and make use of, an animal to help the officer in:
(a) exercising the power to enter and
search a quarantine station, a quarantine area, a place approved under section 46A
or another place at which animals, plants or other goods may be detained under
this Act; or
(b) examining or inspecting any
vessel, installation, premises, vehicle, animals, plants or other goods.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply
unless:
(a) the quarantine officer is
authorised by a Director of Quarantine to handle animals in the performance of
his or her functions or duties; and
(b) the animal is under the effective
control of the quarantine officer.
(3) If the quarantine officer is exercising a
power under a warrant, subsection (1) does not apply unless the use of the
animal is authorised by the warrant.
70C
Offences in relation to goods or vessel
False or misleading statement
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person makes a statement to a
quarantine officer in respect of goods; and
(b) the person knows that the
statement is false or misleading in a material particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Concealment of condition of vessel or nature of goods
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if the
person conceals from a quarantine officer the condition of a vessel or the
nature of any goods, or any fact or matter relating to the condition of a vessel
or the nature of any goods.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Possession or conveyance of illegally imported goods
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person has in his or her
possession, or conveys, any goods; and
(b) the goods have been imported,
introduced or otherwise brought into Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island in contravention of this Act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
70CA
False or misleading statements about approvals, permits, compliance agreements
etc.
Making of statements known to be false or misleading
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person makes an oral or
written statement:
(i) that an instrument
under this Act has been given to, or on the application of, the person; or
(ii) that an instrument
under this Act given to, or on the application of, the person is in force; or
(iii) as to the terms of an
instrument under this Act given to, or on the application of, the person; or
(iv) as to any conditions to
which an instrument mentioned in subparagraph (iii) is subject; or
(v) that the person is a
party to a compliance agreement; or
(vi) as to the terms of a
compliance agreement to which the person is a party; or
(vii) as to any conditions to
which a compliance agreement mentioned in subparagraph (vi) is subject;
and
(b) the statement is false or
misleading in a material particular; and
(c) the person knows that the
statement is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for one year.
Negligently making false or misleading statements
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person makes an oral or
written statement:
(i) that an instrument
under this Act has been given to, or on the application of, the person; or
(ii) that an instrument
under this Act given to, or on the application of, the person is in force; or
(iii) as to the terms of an
instrument under this Act given to, or on the application of, the person; or
(iv) as to any conditions to
which an instrument mentioned in subparagraph (iii) is subject; or
(v) that the person is a
party to a compliance agreement; or
(vi) as to the terms of a
compliance agreement to which the person is a party; or
(vii) as to any conditions to
which a compliance agreement mentioned in subparagraph (vi) is subject;
and
(b) the statement is false or
misleading in a material particular; and
(c) the person is negligent as to
whether or not the statement is false or misleading in that particular.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
Definition
(3) In this
section:
instrument under this Act means an approval,
authorisation, permission or permit under this Act.
70D
Directions relating to the movement of persons and goods subject to quarantine
(1) A quarantine officer may give to a person
who is subject to quarantine:
(a) a direction to remain at a
particular place;
(b) a direction to go to a place
specified by the quarantine officer; or
(c) any other directions relating to
the movement of the person from a place to another place.
(2) A quarantine officer may give to a person
who is in control of goods that are subject to quarantine:
(a) a direction to leave the goods at
a particular place;
(b) a direction to move the goods to a
place specified by the quarantine officer; or
(c) any other directions relating to
the movement of the goods.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1) or (2); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
70E
Directions to people in a quarantine station
(1) For the purpose of achieving the object
referred to in section 4, a quarantine officer who is in charge of a
quarantine station may give directions to a person in the quarantine station.
(2) For the purpose of achieving the object
referred to in section 4, a quarantine officer may give directions to a
person who is in a place approved under section 46A.
(3) Without limiting subsections (1) and
(2), the directions that may be given under either of those subsections to a
person in a quarantine station or a place approved under section 46A may
include either or both of the following:
(a) a direction to leave the
quarantine station or place;
(b) a direction to subject himself or
herself to such treatment as is required by the direction.
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under this section; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
71
Boarding vessel or installation
(1) A quarantine officer who boards a vessel:
(a) may remain on it for such period
as the officer thinks necessary or desirable for the purpose of performing his
or her duties; and
(b) may direct the master to provide
suitable and sufficient food and sleeping accommodation for the officer.
(1A) The master of a vessel is guilty of an
offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the master
under paragraph (1)(b); and
(b) the master fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units.
(1B) An offence against subsection (1A) is
an offence of strict liability.
(2) If the vessel is a passenger vessel, the
quarantine officer shall be entitled to all the privileges and accommodation
extended to a first‑class passenger.
(3) A reference in this section to a vessel
shall be read as including a reference to an installation to which section 70AA
applies.
72
Medical inspections and examinations
(1) A quarantine officer may require the
master of a vessel to cause all or any of the persons on the vessel to be
informed that, for the purposes of quarantine inspection, a muster of those
persons will be held at a time, and at a place on or in the vicinity of the
vessel, specified by the quarantine officer.
(2) The master
of a vessel shall comply with a requirement made by a quarantine officer under subsection (1)
and, whether or not such a requirement is made, shall, by all reasonable means,
facilitate the inspection by a quarantine officer of persons on the vessel.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3) A person
on a vessel must attend a muster of which he or she is informed in pursuance of
a requirement made under subsection (1).
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4) If so
required by a quarantine officer, a person on a vessel must attend, for the
purpose of quarantine inspection, at a time, and at a place on or in the
vicinity of the vessel, specified by the quarantine officer.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(4A) Subsections (3) and (4) do not apply
if the person is prevented from attending by illness or some other cause.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (4A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(5) A person
on a vessel, or a person who attends at a place in the vicinity of a vessel in
pursuance of subsection (3) or (4), shall answer truly to the best of his
or her knowledge all questions asked him or her by a quarantine officer
concerning his or her personal health and the likelihood of his or her having
been exposed to infection.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
Note: This subsection is subject to the privilege
against self incrimination (see subsection 79A(3)).
(6) A person
on a vessel, or a person who attends at a place in the vicinity of a vessel in
pursuance of subsection (3) or (4), shall, if required by a quarantine
officer, submit to a medical examination.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(6A) An offence against subsection (2),
(3), (4) or (6) is an offence of strict liability.
(7) A reference in this section to a vessel
shall be read as including a reference to an installation to which section 70AA
applies.
73
Quarantine officer may make inquiries at any time
(1) A quarantine officer may ask the master
or medical officer of any vessel any questions he or she thinks fit to ask
concerning any sickness on board the vessel or the sanitary condition of the
vessel, and the master or medical officer shall, to the best of his or her
knowledge, information, and belief, truly answer the questions asked him or her
by the quarantine officer.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(2) A
quarantine officer may ask any person subject to quarantine any questions
concerning his or her personal health or liability to infection, and the person
shall, to the best of his or her knowledge, information, and belief, truly
answer the questions asked him or her by the quarantine officer.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for one year.
(3) A quarantine officer may, if he or she
thinks fit, require a person, who has been asked questions in pursuance of this
section, to verify, by statutory declaration, the answers given to the
questions.
(3A) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a requirement is made of the
person under subsection (3); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(3B) An offence against subsection (3A) is
an offence of strict liability.
Note: This section is subject to the privilege
against self incrimination (see subsection 79A(3)).
(4) A reference in this section to a vessel
shall be read as including a reference to an installation to which section 70AA
applies.
74
Power to affix notices
(1) A quarantine officer may affix any
notices relating to quarantine that have been approved by a Director of Quarantine:
(a) on any part of a vessel subject to
quarantine; and
(b) on any goods subject to
quarantine; and
(c) at or near any quarantine station
or any place approved under section 46A; and
(d) in any quarantine area; and
(e) in any other place approved for
the purposes of this Act or a provision of this Act.
(2) An unauthorised person must not engage in
conduct that results in the interference with, removal or defacement of, any
notice affixed under this section.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2A) An offence against subsection (2) is
an offence of strict liability.
(3) A reference in this section to a vessel
shall be read as including a reference to an installation to which section 70AA
applies.
74AA
Quarantine information to be given to travellers to Australia
(1) Where a vessel leaves a place outside
Australia to travel to a port in Australia or to an Australian installation
without stopping at any other place outside Australia, the master of the vessel
shall give notice, or cause notice to be given, to all persons travelling on
the vessel (including members of the crew) of the quarantine measures required
under the laws of the Commonwealth, being notice the content and form of which
have been approved by the Director of Human Quarantine and the Director of
Animal and Plant Quarantine.
Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units.
(2) An offence against subsection (1) is
an offence of strict liability.
74BB
Identity cards
(1) A Director of Quarantine may cause an
identity card to be issued to an officer.
(2) An identity card:
(a) is to incorporate a recent
photograph of the officer to whom it is issued; and
(b) is to contain:
(i) the officer’s
signature; or
(ii) a unique number
assigned to the officer by the Director who issued the identity card; and
(c) is to state that the officer is an
officer appointed under this Act.
(3) A person who ceases to be a quarantine
officer must, as soon as practicable after so ceasing, return his or her
identity card to a Director of Quarantine.
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) an identity card was issued to the
person; and
(b) the person has ceased to be a
quarantine officer; and
(c) the person fails to return the
identity card as required by subsection (3).
Maximum penalty: One penalty unit.
74BC
Power to require information after entering premises with consent or under
warrant
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a
quarantine officer who has entered premises under subparagraph 66AB(1)(a)(iv)
or paragraph 66AE(2)(b) or under a warrant under section 66AC, 66AF or
66AH may, to the extent that it is reasonably necessary for the purpose of
deciding whether to exercise any power under this Act or finding out whether
this Act has been complied with:
(a) require a person to answer
questions relating to the movement of people, vehicles or goods to or from the
premises or otherwise relating to the prevention or control of the
introduction, establishment or spread of a disease or pest; or
(b) require a person to produce any
documents relating to the movement of people, vehicles or goods to or from the
premises or otherwise relating to the prevention or control of the
introduction, establishment or spread of a disease or pest, and inspect any
documents so produced.
(2) A quarantine officer is not entitled to
make a requirement of a person under subsection (1) unless the officer
produces his or her identity card for inspection by the person.
Note: This section is subject to the privilege
against self incrimination (see subsection 79A(3)).
74C
Non‑compliance with requirements
Failure to answer question or produce document
(1) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is asked a question or
required to produce a document under subsection 70B(2) or (3) or 74BC(1); and
(b) the person fails to answer the
question or produce the document.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for one year.
Failure to deliver sample
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is required under
subsection 70B(4) to deliver a sample; and
(b) the person fails to deliver the sample.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for one year.
Note: Subsections (1) and (2) are subject to
the privilege against self incrimination (see subsection 79A(3)).
74D
Powers relating to vessels and vehicles
(1) If a quarantine officer believes on
reasonable grounds that a vessel or vehicle is carrying, or will carry,
infected goods or goods subject to quarantine in a manner that could result in
the introduction, establishment or spread of a disease or pest, the officer may
give the master of the vessel or the person in control of the vehicle
directions to take measures in respect of the vessel or vehicle, or the goods,
that the officer thinks necessary to prevent the introduction, establishment or
spread of the disease or pest.
(2) The directions that may be given under subsection (1)
include, without limiting the generality of that subsection, any of the
following:
(a) directions relating to the
movement of the vessel or vehicle (including a direction to cause the vessel or
vehicle to stop);
(b) directions for the performance of
work on the vessel or vehicle;
(c) directions for the treatment of
the vessel, vehicle or goods.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
(4) In this section:
infected goods has the same meaning as in
section 66AA.
74DA
Master or owner of vessel or installation ordered into quarantine may be
directed to help officers
(1) A quarantine officer may direct the
master or owner of a vessel or installation:
(a) that is subject to quarantine; or
(b) on which a person is performing
quarantine;
to provide such help as is reasonable, and is stated in
the direction, to any officer performing functions or duties or exercising
powers under this Act in relation to the vessel or installation or in relation
to any person who, or thing that, is on the vessel or installation.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under this section; and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
74E
Persons to assist officers
(1) A person in control of imported goods
shall, if requested by a quarantine officer to do so, provide reasonable
assistance to the officer in the performance of the functions, the carrying out
of the duties, or the exercise of the powers, of the officer under this Act in
relation to those goods.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 6 months.
(2) A reference in subsection (1) to a
person in control of imported goods shall be read as including a reference to:
(a) the owner of the goods;
(b) the person who imported the goods;
and
(c) an agent of a person referred to
in paragraph (a) or (b).
75
Persons may be vaccinated etc.
Quarantine officers may require vaccinations etc.
(1) Subject to subsection (2), a
quarantine officer may require a person who is subject to quarantine or
performing quarantine to submit himself or herself to:
(a) vaccination with any prophylactic
or curative vaccine; or
(b) any other prophylaxis.
Offence
(1A) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a requirement is made of the
person under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the requirement.
Maximum penalty: 20 penalty units.
(1B) An offence against subsection (1A) is
an offence of strict liability.
Circumstances in which vaccinations etc. may be
required
(2) A quarantine officer may require a person
to submit himself or herself to a vaccination or other prophylaxis under
subsection (1) only if:
(a) either:
(i) in the quarantine
officer’s opinion, the vaccination or other prophylaxis is necessary for the
prevention of the spread of a quarantinable disease; or
(ii) the vaccine or other
prophylaxis is specified in Annex 7 to the International Health Regulations or
recommended under those Regulations; and
(b) the International Health
Regulations do not preclude the requirement.
(2A) A vaccine or other prophylaxis administered
under subsection (1), as provided for in the International Health
Regulations (including recommendations, within the meaning of those
Regulations, and related certificates), must conform to Annex 6 and, if
applicable, Annex 7 to those Regulations.
Minister may ensure manufacture or importation of
vaccines etc.
(3) The Minister may take such action as he
or she thinks fit to ensure the manufacture or importation of any prophylactic
vaccine or other product required for the prevention or treatment of disease.
75A
Vessels involved in certain offences
(1) In this section, unless the contrary
intention appears:
approved person means:
(a) a quarantine officer; or
(b) an officer of Customs; or
(c) a police officer; or
(e) a person (who may be a member of
the Defence Force) authorized in writing by the Minister administering the
Department that deals with human quarantine or the Minister administering the
Department that deals with animal and plant quarantine or a quarantine officer
to be an approved person for the purposes of this section.
prescribed vessel
means:
(a) a vessel used in navigation by sea
the maximum overall length of the hull proper of which is 45 metres or less; or
(b) an aircraft.
(2) This section applies to:
(a) a prescribed vessel in relation to
which its master has committed an offence against section 20; and
(b) a prescribed vessel, being an
aircraft, in relation to which its master has committed an offence against
section 20A; and
(c) a prescribed vessel in relation to
which its master has committed an offence against section 29, other than
at the first port of entry, the first Cocos Islands port of entry or the first
Christmas Island port of entry, of the vessel; and
(d) a prescribed vessel in relation to
which its master has committed an offence against section 30, other than
at the first port of entry, the first Cocos Islands port of entry or the first
Christmas Island port of entry, of the vessel; and
(e) a prescribed vessel from which a
person has landed animals or plants in contravention of section 20D, other
than at the first port of entry, the first Cocos Islands port of entry or the
first Christmas Island port of entry, of the vessel; and
(f) a prescribed vessel in relation
to which a person has committed an offence against section 67, other than
at the first port of entry, the first Cocos Islands port of entry or the first
Christmas Island port of entry of the vessel; and
(g) a prescribed vessel in relation to
which its master or owner has committed an offence against section 67A,
other than at the first port of entry, the first Cocos Islands port of entry or
the first Christmas Island port of entry, of the vessel.
(3) Where an approved person has reasonable
grounds to believe that this section applies to a vessel, that person may board
the vessel.
(4) Where an approved person has reasonable
grounds to believe that this section applies to a vessel, that person may:
(a) detain the vessel, or cause the
vessel to be detained, at the place where a vessel is found; or
(b) bring the vessel, or cause the
vessel to be brought, to such other place or such other places as:
(i) where the approved
person is a quarantine officer—the approved person; or
(ii) in
any other case—a quarantine officer;
from time to time deems
appropriate and detain the vessel or cause the vessel to be detained at that
place or at those places.
(5) For the purposes of the detention and
other lawful dealings with a vessel, a person authorized under this section to
detain the vessel is entitled to take with him or her, and to have the
assistance of, any members of the Defence Force or other persons that he or she
may think necessary.
(6) A person (other than an approved person
or a person assisting an approved person under subsection (5)) who moves a
vessel from the place at which it is detained under subsection (4) is
guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(6A) Subsection (6) does not apply if the
person moves the vessel with the written permission of an approved person.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (6A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(7) Where an approved person detains a vessel
under subsection (4), that person shall, as soon as practicable, give the
Minister particulars of the detention.
(8) Where a vessel has been detained under subsection (4),
the Minister shall, as soon as practicable after being given particulars of the
detention, direct the person detaining the vessel:
(a) if the Minister is not satisfied
that this section applies to the vessel—to deliver the vessel to the master or
owner of the vessel;
(b) if the Minister is satisfied that
this section applies to the vessel but, after considering the offence or
offences by reason of the commission of which the section would so apply and
any other relevant matters, is satisfied that it would be inappropriate for the
vessel to be forfeited under this section—to deliver the vessel to the master
or owner of the vessel as soon as all things required to be done in relation to
the vessel for the purposes of this Act have been done; or
(c) in any other case—to continue to
detain the vessel and to serve on the master or owner of the vessel, either
personally or by post, a notice in writing:
(i) stating that the
vessel has been detained under this section;
(ii) giving particulars of
the offence by reason of which the vessel is alleged to be a vessel to which
this section applies; and
(iii) setting
out the terms of the provisions of subsections (9) and (10);
and, subject to the Customs Act 1901, the person
detaining the vessel shall comply with that direction.
(9) Where a notice under paragraph (c)
of subsection (8) is served in respect of a vessel, the owner of the
vessel may, within one month after the service of the notice, bring an action
in a court of competent jurisdiction for the delivery of the vessel to him or
her on the ground that the vessel is not a vessel to which this section
applies, and:
(a) where the owner of the vessel
brings such an action within that period:
(i) if the court finds
that this section applies to the vessel—the court shall order the vessel to be
forfeited to the Crown; or
(ii) if the action is
discontinued—the vessel is forfeited to the Crown; or
(b) where the owner of the vessel does
not bring such an action within that period—the vessel is forfeited to the
Crown.
(10) In any action in a court brought under subsection (9)
for the delivery of a vessel, the court may find that a person committed an
offence if, and only if:
(a) in the case of a person who has
been tried for the offence—the person has been convicted of the offence; or
(b) in any other case—the court is
satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the person committed the offence.
(11) A vessel ordered to be forfeited to the
Crown under subparagraph (9)(a)(i) or forfeited to the Crown under subparagraph (9)(a)(ii)
or under paragraph (9)(b) becomes the property of the Commonwealth and
shall be dealt with and disposed of in accordance with the directions of the
Minister.
(12) For the purposes of the application of
section 29 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to the service by
post on the master or owner of a vessel of a notice referred to in paragraph (8)(c),
such a notice posted as a letter addressed to him or her at:
(a) where he or she has given the
person detaining the vessel an address in Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island for the purposes of this subsection—that address; or
(b) in
any other case—his or her last address in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island known to the person detaining the vessel;
shall be deemed to be properly addressed.
(13) For the purposes of this section, goods
on, and the fittings and equipment of, a vessel detained under this section
shall be deemed to be part of the vessel.
(14) An approved person may destroy:
(a) any animals or plants; or
(b) any
goods (other than animals or plants) that he or she considers could be a source
of infection;
that are on board, or that he or she believes on
reasonable grounds have been on board, a vessel detained in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island under this section.
(15) An approved person shall be taken to be an
authorized person for the purpose of the application of section 31 in
relation to a prescribed vessel.
75B
Animals on boats
(1) An approved person may destroy any animal
on board a prescribed overseas vessel in Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island, being an animal that he or she believes on reasonable grounds
has travelled on that vessel, unless, in his or her opinion, arrangements exist
or are to be made to ensure that while the vessel is in Australia, the Cocos
Islands or Christmas Island, as the case may be, the animal will not leave the
vessel except, in the case of an animal to be lawfully imported, when being
landed for the purpose of importation.
(2) In this section:
approved person has the same meaning as in
section 75A.
prescribed overseas vessel means an overseas
vessel (other than a vessel detained under section 75A or an overseas
aircraft) the maximum overall length of the hull proper of which is 45 metres
or less.
76
Unauthorised entry on quarantine station etc.
Definition
(1) In this section:
relevant act means any of the following:
(a) entering or trespassing on, or
leaving, a quarantine station or quarantine area;
(b) taking any animal, plant or other
goods into or out of a quarantine station or quarantine area;
(c) interfering with any animals,
plants or other goods that are subject to quarantine.
Offence to act without permission
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person does a relevant act;
and
(b) the person does not have the
written permission of a quarantine officer to do the act.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Offence to contravene condition of permission
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person does a relevant act;
and
(b) the person has the written
permission of a quarantine officer to do the act; and
(c) the permission is subject to a
condition; and
(d) the condition is contravened; and
(e) the person is reckless as to
whether or not the condition is contravened.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
Power to give permissions
(4) A quarantine officer has power to give to
a specified person, or to persons included in a specified class of persons,
written permission to do one or more relevant acts or to do one or more
relevant acts during a specified period.
Power to detain unauthorised persons
(5) If an unauthorised person:
(a) enters a quarantine station while
anyone is performing quarantine at the station; or
(b) enters a quarantine area;
a quarantine officer may:
(c) detain the person at the
quarantine station for the performance of quarantine, or detain the person in
the quarantine area, as the case may be, and use any means reasonably necessary
to detain the person; and
(d) give such directions to the person
as are necessary to prevent or control the introduction, establishment or
spread of a disease or pest.
(6) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (5); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
77
Pilot wrongly conducting vessel subject to quarantine
A pilot who conducts a vessel that is
subject to quarantine into a place that is not the proper place for a vessel
subject to quarantine is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
Note: The pilot will not be guilty of an offence if
the conducting of the vessel to the place was due to sudden or extraordinary
emergency (see section 10.3 of the Criminal Code).
78
Master not to allow vessel to enter port other than first port of entry if
quarantinable disease or pest on board
The master of a vessel is guilty of an
offence if:
(a) the master knows that a
quarantinable disease or quarantinable pest exists on the vessel; and
(b) the master causes or permits the
vessel to enter a port other than a port declared to be a first port of entry.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Note: The master will not be guilty of an offence if
the entry of the vessel to the port was due to circumstances of sudden or
extraordinary emergency (see section 10.3 of the Criminal Code).
78A
Treatment of vessels and installations that are believed to be in an insanitary
condition or to be likely to be carrying diseases or pests
(1) In this section:
installation means:
(a) an Australian installation; or
(b) a resources installation which is
in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming attached to the Australian
seabed; or
(c) a sea installation which is in
Australian waters for the purpose of becoming installed in an adjacent area or
in a coastal area.
internal waters, in relation to a State or an
internal Territory, means the area comprising the waters of the sea within the
limits of the State or the internal Territory and includes the space above or
below that area.
vessel means:
(a) an Australian vessel; or
(b) a Cocos Islands vessel; or
(ba) a Christmas Island vessel; or
(c) an overseas vessel that is:
(i) in the coastal area or
the internal waters of a State or an internal Territory; and
(ii) is travelling to a
port or a place in the Commonwealth; or
(d) a vessel in any port or other
place in the Commonwealth.
(2) If a quarantine officer believes, on
reasonable grounds, that a vessel or installation is in an insanitary
condition, or is likely to be carrying diseases or pests, the quarantine
officer may give a direction to the owner or master of the vessel or
installation requiring a specified process to be carried out in respect of the
vessel or installation in the manner specified in the direction.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2):
(a) the process that may be specified
in a direction given under that subsection includes:
(i) subjecting the vessel
or installation to specified treatment; and
(ii) storing, discharging,
removing, treating or disposing of refuse, organic waste, dunnage, sweepings
from the hold or ballast water; and
(iii) keeping food in a
hygienic condition; and
(iv) treating any thing on
the vessel or installation; and
(v) moving any people on
the vessel or installation to a different part of the vessel or installation or
causing them to disembark; and
(vi) embarking people on to
the vessel or installation; and
(vii) moving or securing any
goods on the vessel or installation or causing them to be unloaded; and
(viii) loading goods on to the
vessel or installation; and
(ix) producing samples of,
or exchanging or treating, ballast water in the vessel; and
(b) the direction may specify where
the specified process is to be carried out.
(4) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) the person is given a direction
under subsection (2); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
78AA
Treatment of vessel or installation subject to quarantine
(1) If:
(a) a vessel or installation is
subject to quarantine; or
(b) a person who is subject to
quarantine is on board a vessel or installation;
a quarantine officer may give to the master of the vessel
or installation a direction requiring a specified process to be carried out in
respect of the vessel or installation in the manner specified in the direction.
(2) Without limiting subsection (1):
(a) the process that may be specified
in a direction under that subsection includes:
(i) subjecting the vessel
or installation to specified treatment; and
(ii) storing, discharging,
removing, treating or disposing of refuse, organic waste, dunnage, sweepings
from the hold or ballast water; and
(iii) keeping food in a
hygienic condition; and
(iv) treating any thing on
the vessel or installation; and
(v) moving any people on
the vessel or installation to a different part of the vessel or installation or
causing them to disembark; and
(vi) embarking people on to
the vessel or installation; and
(vii) moving or securing any
goods on the vessel or installation or causing them to be unloaded; and
(viii) loading goods on to the
vessel or installation; and
(ix) producing samples of,
or exchanging or treating, ballast water in the vessel; and
(b) the direction may specify where
the specified process is to be carried out.
(3) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) a direction is given to the person
under subsection (1); and
(b) the person fails to comply with
the direction.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
78B
Mooring of insanitary vessels
(1) If, in the opinion of a quarantine
officer, a vessel in a port is in an insanitary condition favourable to the
spread of communicable disease, the officer may, instead of exercising his or
her powers under subsection 78A(2) or 78AA(1), direct the master of the vessel
to moor the vessel at a place in the port specified by the officer.
(2) If a direction is given under subsection (1),
the master of the vessel:
(a) must cause the vessel to be taken
to, and moored at, the place in the port specified by the officer; and
(b) if the vessel is moored in
compliance with paragraph (a), must not move the vessel, or allow the
vessel to be moved, from that place.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(3) Paragraph (2)(a) does not apply if
the vessel immediately leaves the port.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (2) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
(4) Paragraph (2)(b) does not apply if
the master moves the vessel:
(a) with the intention of taking the
vessel out of the port; or
(b) by reason of stress of weather or
for other reasonable cause; or
(c) with the permission of a
quarantine officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matters in subsection (3) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
78C
Moving an insanitary vessel
(1) If a quarantine officer believes, on
reasonable grounds, that:
(a) a vessel that is in a port or
other place is in an insanitary condition or is carrying diseases or pests; and
(b) if quarantine measures are not
taken there will be an unacceptably high level of quarantine risk;
the officer may do either or both of the following:
(c) cause the vessel to be moved to
another place;
(d) cause cargo or other goods or any
other thing on the vessel to be removed from the vessel to another place.
(2) A person is guilty of an offence if:
(a) either of the following happens:
(i) a vessel is moved to a
place under paragraph (1)(c);
(ii) cargo or other goods
or any other thing on a vessel is removed from the vessel to a place under paragraph (1)(d);
and
(b) the person causes the vessel to be
moved from the place mentioned in subparagraph (a)(i) or causes the cargo
or other goods or other thing on the vessel to be removed from the place
mentioned in subparagraph (a)(ii), as the case may be.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.
(2A) Subsection (2) does not apply if the
person does the things mentioned in paragraph (2)(b) with the permission
of a quarantine officer.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in
relation to the matter in subsection (2A) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal
Code).
79A
Exclusion of privilege against self incrimination in certain circumstances
Person not entitled to refuse to give information or
documents under certain provisions of the Act
(1) A person is not entitled to refuse to
answer a question, give information or produce a document that he or she is
required to answer, give or produce by or under section 27A, 27B or 28 or
subsection 70(2) or 70AA(3) on the ground that the answer, the information or
the production of the document, as the case may be, might tend to incriminate him
or her.
Use derivative‑use indemnity applies to information or
documents
(2) However, any answer or information so
given or the production of such a document, and any information or thing
(including any document) obtained as a direct or indirect result of the giving
of the answer or information or the production of the document, is not
admissible in evidence against the person in:
(a) any criminal proceedings other
than a proceeding for:
(i) an offence against
subsection 27A(6) or (7), 27B(5) or (6), 28(8) or (9); or
(ii) an offence against
section 137.2 of the Criminal Code that relates to this Act; or
(b) any civil proceedings.
Privilege not otherwise affected
(3) Except as provided by subsection (1),
nothing in this Act affects the right of a person to refuse to answer a
question, give information, or produce a document or thing, on the ground that
the answer to the question, the information, or the production of the document
or thing, might tend to incriminate him or her or make him or her liable to a
penalty.
80
Penalty for desertion
Any officer who:
(a) deserts from his or her duty; or
(b) unlawfully
permits any person, vessel, animal, plant, or goods to depart from or be
conveyed out of any quarantine station where they are detained;
shall be guilty of an offence against this Act punishable
upon conviction by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 5 years.
82
Protection from civil proceedings
(1) The Minister, a Director of Quarantine,
an officer, an analyst, an authorised person or an approved person referred to
in section 75A or 75B is not liable to any action, suit or other civil
proceeding for or in relation to anything done or omitted to be done in good
faith (whether negligently or not) by the Minister, Director, officer,
authorised person or approved person in the performance or purported
performance of any function or duty, or the exercise or purported exercise of
any power, conferred on the Minister, Director, officer, authorised person or
approved person under this Act.
(1A) A person authorised under subsection 3(1)
or (2) to give such directions, and to take such action, as the person
considers necessary to control and eradicate an epidemic or to remove the
danger of an epidemic, is not liable to any action, suit or other civil
proceedings for or in relation to anything done or omitted to be done in good
faith (whether negligently or not) by the person:
(a) in the performance or purported
performance of any function or duty; or
(b) in the exercise or purported
exercise of any power;
conferred on the person under that authorisation.
(2) A quarantine officer is not liable to any
action, suit or other civil proceeding in relation to:
(a) anything done by an animal used by
the officer; or
(b) anything done or omitted to be
done (whether negligently or not) by a person providing or purporting to
provide help as a result of a request made by the officer;
in the performance or purported performance of any
function or duty, or the exercise or purported exercise of any power, conferred
on the officer under this Act.
(3) A person who is requested or directed by
a quarantine officer to provide help to the officer:
(a) in the performance or purported
performance of any function or duty; or
(b) in the exercise or purported
exercise of any power;
conferred on the officer under this Act is not liable to
any action, suit or other civil proceeding for or in relation to anything done
or omitted to be done in good faith (whether negligently or not) by the person
in the provision or purported provision of the help.
83
Master, medical officer or agent misleading quarantine officer
The master, a medical officer or an
agent of:
(a) a vessel; or
(b) an Australian installation; or
(c) a resources installation that is
in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming attached to the Australian
seabed; or
(d) a sea installation that is in
Australian waters for the purpose of becoming installed in an adjacent area or
in a coastal sea;
is guilty of an offence if the master, medical officer or
agent, as the case may be:
(e) makes, in an answer to a question
asked of him or her by a quarantine officer under this Act, a statement that he
or she knows to be false or misleading in a material particular; or
(f) misleads a quarantine officer who
is performing duty as such an officer.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
84
Maliciously ordering vessel etc. into quarantine
A quarantine officer who maliciously
orders any vessel, installation or person, or any animal, plant or other goods,
into quarantine is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.
86A
Venue in summary prosecution
Proceedings in a court of summary
jurisdiction may be instituted either in the State or part of the Commonwealth
where the offence was committed, or in the State or part of the Commonwealth in
which the defendant is found.
86B
Jurisdiction of courts
(1) A provision of the Judiciary Act 1903 by
which a court of a State is invested with federal jurisdiction has effect, in
relation to matters arising under this Act, as if that jurisdiction were so
invested without limitation as to locality other than the limitation imposed by
section 80 of the Constitution.
(2) Subject to the Constitution, jurisdiction
is conferred on the several courts of the Territories within the limits of
their several jurisdictions, other than limits as to locality, with respect to
matters arising under this Act.
86C
Power to administer oaths or take declarations
All quarantine officers who are
authorized in that behalf by the regulations or by the Minister are hereby
authorized to administer oaths or affirmations and to take declarations in all
cases in which any answers to questions asked in pursuance of this Act are by
this Act or the regulations required to be verified by oath, affirmation, or
declaration.
86DA
Evidence of analyst
Appointment of analyst
(1) The Secretary may appoint a person to be
an analyst for the purposes of this Act.
Analyst’s certificate to be evidence
(2) Subject to subsection (4), in any
proceedings for an offence against this Act, a certificate of an analyst in a
form approved by a Director of Quarantine stating, in respect of any substance
or thing in relation to which the offence is alleged to have been committed,
all or any of the following matters:
(a) that the analyst signing the
certificate is appointed under subsection (1);
(b) when and from whom the substance
or thing was received;
(c) what, if any, labels or other
means of identifying the substance or thing accompanied it when it was received;
(d) what container or containers the
substance or thing was contained in when it was received;
(e) a description, and the weight, of
the substance or thing received;
(f) when the substance or thing, or a
portion of it, was analysed;
(g) a description of the method of
analysis;
(h) the results of the analysis;
(i) how the substance or thing was
dealt with after handling by the analyst, including details of:
(i) the quantity retained;
and
(ii) the name of the
person, if any, to whom any retained quantity was given; and
(iii) measures taken to
secure any retained quantity;
is admissible as prima facie evidence of the matters in
the certificate and of the correctness of the result of the analysis.
Proof of certificate
(3) For the purposes of this section, a
document purporting to be a certificate referred to in subsection (2) is,
unless the contrary is established, to be taken to be such a certificate and to
have been duly given.
Copy of certificate to be given to defendant or
defendant’s solicitor
(4) A certificate must not be admitted in
evidence under subsection (2) in proceedings for an offence unless the
person charged with the offence or a solicitor who has appeared for the person
in those proceedings has, at least 14 days before the certificate is sought to
be so admitted, been given a copy of the certificate together with reasonable
notice of the intention to produce the certificate as evidence in the
proceedings.
Analyst may be required to attend for cross‑examination
(5) Subject to subsection (6), if, under
subsection (2), a certificate of an analyst is admitted in evidence in
proceedings for an offence, the person charged with the offence may require the
analyst to be called as a witness for the prosecution and the analyst may be
cross‑examined as if he or she had given evidence of the matters stated in the
certificate.
Notice to be given to prosecutor
(6) Subsection (5) does not entitle a
person to require an analyst to be called as a witness for the prosecution
unless:
(a) the prosecutor has been given at
least 4 days notice of the person’s intention to require the analyst to be so
called; or
(b) the Court, by order, allows the
person to require the analyst to be so called.
86E
Fees and deposits
Definitions
(1A) In this section:
basic fee has the meaning given by subsection (2B).
late payment fee has the meaning given by subsection (2B).
payment day, in relation to a basic fee or a
deposit in respect of a quarantine service, means the last day of the period
within which the fee or deposit is required to be paid.
quarantine service means anything referred to
in paragraph (1)(a), (b), (c) or (d).
Determination of basic fees
(1B) The Minister may, by legislative instrument,
make determinations for the purposes of this section.
(1) Subject to subsection (1AA), a
determination may require fees of amounts set out in the determination to be
paid for or in relation to the doing of anything in connection with:
(a) specified examinations, services
or other quarantine measures carried out or provided under this Act; and
(b) the issue by quarantine officers
of specified certificates under this Act; and
(c) the management and maintenance of
animals at a quarantine station in Australia, in the Cocos Islands or in
Christmas Island or at a place approved under section 46A; and
(d) the giving of approvals by a
Director of Quarantine under subsection 44A(5) or 46A(1); and
(e) the giving of permissions and
permits under this Act; and
(f) the entering into compliance
agreements.
(1AA) The Minister’s power to make a determination
that relates to the provision of a prescribed health measure in relation to a
traveller is subject to Division 3 of Part VI.
(2) Subject to Part VI, a determination
may specify the persons by whom fees are payable.
(2A) A determination
may:
(a) except to the extent that the
determination relates to a quarantine service to which paragraph (b)
applies—state the period within which fees are to be paid; and
(b) to the extent that the
determination relates to a quarantine service for which the fees can be worked
out before the provision of the service:
(i) make provision for an
intended recipient of the service and if there is a person who is known to the
agent of the intended recipient, that agent, to be informed of the fees before
the service is provided; and
(ii) permit a quarantine
officer to withhold the provision of the service until the payment of the fees.
Late payment fees
(2B) If a determination states a period within
which a fee (the basic fee) is to be paid, a determination may
also require an additional fee (a late payment fee) to be paid if
the basic fee is not paid on or before the payment day.
(2C) A late payment fee may be either or both of
the following:
(a) a fee of a stated amount;
(b) a fee of a stated amount in
respect of each day after the payment day and before the day on which the basic
fee is paid.
(2CA) Without limiting the generality of paragraph (2C)(b),
the reference to a fee as set out in that paragraph includes a reference to a
fee that is a percentage per annum of the basic fee, worked out on a daily
basis, for each day after the payment day on which the basic fee remains
unpaid.
(2CB) Subsections (2B), (2C) and (2CA) do not
apply in relation to a fee payable for the provision of a prescribed health
measure in relation to a traveller.
Booking fees and deposits
(2E) A determination may, in respect of the
reservation of space at a quarantine station or at a place approved under
section 46A for an animal in respect of a period, require the payment of
either or both of the following:
(a) a booking fee;
(b) a deposit on account of the basic
fee that will be payable for the management and maintenance of the animal at
the station or place.
(2F) A determination may make provision for or
in relation to:
(a) the forfeiture, in circumstances
referred to in the determination, of the whole or a part of a deposit paid
under a requirement mentioned in subsection (2E); and
(b) the return or other application,
in circumstances referred to in the determination, of such a deposit less any
costs worked out in accordance with the determination that are associated with
the return or other application of the deposit.
Unpaid fees and deposits
(2G) If:
(a) the basic fee payable for a
quarantine service, or a deposit payable on account of the basic fee for a
quarantine service referred to in paragraph (1)(c), is not paid on or
before the payment day; or
(b) a
late payment fee that is payable in respect of a quarantine service is not
paid;
a Director of Quarantine may direct that no quarantine
service is to be provided, or a particular quarantine service or kind of
quarantine service is not to be provided, for the person who failed to make the
payment until the basic fee, the deposit or the late payment fee, as the case
may be, is paid.
Minister may remit and refund fees
(2H) The Minister may remit or refund the whole
or a part of a fee specified in a determination and payable or paid to the
Commonwealth if he or she is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances
that justify doing so.
86EA
Commonwealth etc. not liable to pay fees
(1) The Commonwealth is not liable to pay
quarantine fees that are payable under this Act. However, it is the
Parliament’s intention that the Commonwealth should be notionally liable to pay
quarantine fees.
(2) The Finance Minister may give such
written directions as are necessary or convenient for carrying out or giving
effect to subsection (1) and, in particular, may give directions in
relation to the transfer of money within an account, or between accounts,
operated by the Commonwealth.
(3) Directions under subsection (2) have
effect, and must be complied with, despite any other Commonwealth law.
(4) Directions under subsection (2) are
not legislative instruments.
(5) In this section:
Commonwealth includes:
(a) an Agency (within the meaning of
the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997); and
(b) a Commonwealth authority (within
the meaning of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997);
that cannot be made liable to taxation by a Commonwealth
law.
Finance Minister means the Minister who
administers the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.
quarantine fees means the fees specified in
determinations made under subsection 86E(1B).
86F
Compensation for acquisition of property
(1) If:
(a) the
operation of this Act results in the acquisition of property from a person; and
(b) the Commonwealth and the person
agree on an amount of compensation for the acquisition;
the Commonwealth must pay the person the agreed amount of
compensation.
(2) If:
(a) the operation of this Act results
in the acquisition of property from a person; and
(b) the Commonwealth and the person do
not agree on an amount of compensation for the acquisition;
the Commonwealth must pay the person the amount of
compensation (if any) that is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
(3) This section does not affect the
operation of section 69A.
(4) In this section:
acquisition of property means an acquisition
of property within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution.
86G
Application of the Criminal Code
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code
applies to all offences against this Act.
87
Regulations
(1) The Governor‑General may make
regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by
this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed or which are necessary or
convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act, and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, may make regulations
concerning the following matters:
(a) for regulating the performance of
quarantine;
(b) for regulating and protecting
quarantine stations, quarantine areas and places approved under section 46A
and for prescribing measures of quarantine within any such stations, areas and
places;
(c) for regulating or preventing the
entry of persons into, or the exit of persons from, quarantine stations,
quarantine areas and places approved under section 46A;
(d) for regulating or preventing the
taking of animals, plants, goods or things into, or out of, quarantine
stations, quarantine areas and places approved under section 46A;
(e) for requiring notification to a
quarantine officer of each case of a quarantinable disease which arises, or of
a quarantinable pest which occurs, in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas
Island or within any specified part of Australia, the Cocos Islands or
Christmas Island or within any quarantine area;
(f) for prescribing the precautions
to be taken to prevent the ingress to or egress from a vessel of rats, mice,
mosquitoes or other vermin or species or kinds of animals or insects liable to
convey disease or pests;
(g) for prescribing the measures to be
taken by the masters or owners of vessels to destroy rats, mice, mosquitoes or
other vermin or species or kinds of animals or insects liable to convey disease
or pests, which may exist on the vessels;
(h) for prescribing and for
establishing and maintaining on vessels or within any quarantine area of
conditions unfavourable to, and to the migration of, rats, mice, mosquitoes or
other vermin or species or kinds of animals or insects liable to convey disease
or pests, for fixing the time limit for the completion of any work necessary
for the purpose of establishing such conditions, and for empowering the
Minister, in case of default by the owner or master, to carry out any such work
at the expense of the owner or master;
(j) for prescribing the precautions
to be taken by masters of vessels in respect of their vessels and the crews,
passengers and cargoes of their vessels:
(i) at declared places;
and
(ii) on voyages from
declared places; and
(iii) on voyages between
Australian ports; and
(iv) on voyages between
ports in the Cocos Islands; and
(iva) on voyages between ports
in Christmas Island; and
(v) on
voyages between Australian ports and Australian installations;
to prevent the introduction into
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, or the establishment or
spread, of quarantinable diseases or quarantinable pests;
(k) for regulating the discharge or
removal from a vessel of any thing, for example, ballast water, refuse, and
equipment or things used for purposes associated with the transportation of
animals, plants or other goods;
(l) for regulating and controlling
the sanitary conditions of:
(i) vessels in, or on,
ports or landing places;
(ii) wharf areas and
landing places which are, or are situated in, places which are declared places
by virtue of section 12 (including buildings and stores on any such wharf
areas and landing places) and refuse dumps on or adjacent to any such wharf
areas and landing places; and
(iii) Australian
installations;
(la) for prescribing measures to be
taken (including measures relating to the examination of animals, plants, goods
or things, or of any equipment or thing used for purposes associated with the
transportation of animals, plants, goods or any other thing and to the sampling
of ballast water) for the diagnosis and prevention of disease or pests for
purposes of, or incidental to, quarantine;
(lb) for requiring, or requiring
arrangements to be made for, the treatment of, or the taking of other measures
of quarantine in relation to, aircraft before or after they land in Australia,
the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island;
(m) for providing for the examination
by quarantine officers of animals or plants for export from Australia, from the Cocos Islands or from Christmas Island;
(n) for providing for the granting of
certificates by quarantine officers in relation to any vessels, animals,
plants, or goods examined or treated by them or under their supervision;
(p) for prescribing the movements of
any person subject to quarantine;
(q) for prescribing measures of
disinfection, fumigation, and other measures of quarantine which persons or
goods subject to quarantine shall carry out or be subjected to;
(qa) for prescribing methods of
controlling the storage, use, movement and disposal in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island of goods that:
(i) have been imported into
Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island, being goods the importation
of which without the approval of the Minister or a Director of Quarantine is
prohibited by a proclamation under section 13 or the importation of which
without a permit granted pursuant to a proclamation made in accordance with
subsection 13(2A) is prohibited; or
(ii) are disease agents or
pests produced in Australia from goods of the kind referred to in subparagraph (i);
(r) for prescribing the conditions
under which any prophylactic or curative vaccine or serum may be prepared and
offered for sale;
(ra) for prescribing matters relating
to:
(i) the making of an
application for any of the following (however described), a permission, permit,
authorisation or approval under this Act, the regulations, a Proclamation under
this Act or a compliance agreement; and
(ii) the procedures for
consideration of such an application and the grant or refusal of the
application; and
(iii) the making of an
order, determination or declaration under this Act, the regulations, a
Proclamation under this Act or a compliance agreement; and
(iv) the giving of a notice
or direction, or the making of any other requirement, under this Act, the
regulations, a Proclamation under this Act or a compliance agreement;
(rb) for prescribing the manner in
which any permission, permit, authorisation, approval, notice, direction,
requirement or other instrument granted or given, or any order, determination,
declaration or other instrument made, under this Act, the regulations, a
Proclamation under this Act or a compliance agreement may be produced to a
person or body;
(s) for prescribing penalties not
exceeding 50 penalty units for breaches of the regulations;
(sa) enabling a person who is alleged
to have contravened a provision of this Act or of the regulations to pay to the
Commonwealth, as an alternative to prosecution, a penalty of not more than 10
penalty units;
(t) for regulating for the purposes
of this Act and the Regulations, navigation by air;
(u) for prescribing the circumstances
in which reports are to be made in relation to vessels, the matters to be
covered in those reports, and the persons by whom, and the manner in which,
those reports are to be made;
(v) for regulating inter‑state traffic
and prescribing measures of quarantine in relation to inter‑state traffic for
the prevention of the occurrence or spread of diseases or pests.
(1A) Regulations made under subsection (1)
may:
(a) apply in, or relate to, Australia, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island; or
(b) apply in, or relate to, Australia only; or
(c) apply in, or relate to, the Cocos Islands only; or
(d) apply in, or relate to, Christmas Island only.
(1B) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1),
regulations may be made under that subsection for the purpose of preventing the
spread of diseases or pests to, or from, quarantine stations in the Cocos
Islands or for the purpose of preventing, eradicating or controlling diseases
or pests in the Cocos Islands, including regulations:
(a) conferring functions and powers,
and imposing duties, upon quarantine officers, including:
(i) powers to enter,
search and examine premises;
(ii) powers to question
persons; and
(iii) powers to examine
animals and plants;
(b) prohibiting the entry of animals
into areas adjoining quarantine stations in the Cocos Islands;
(c) requiring the registration of live‑stock
and other domestic animals in the Cocos Islands;
(d) prohibiting the abandonment of
animals in the Cocos Islands;
(e) requiring the notification of
diseases or pests in animals and plants in the Cocos Islands;
(f) regulating the disposal of dead
animals in the Cocos Islands;
(g) providing for the eradication of
vermin in the Cocos Islands;
(h) prohibiting the growing of
particular plants in the Cocos Islands or in parts of the Cocos Islands;
(j) providing for the destruction of
animals or plants in the Cocos Islands; or
(k) providing for the payment of
compensation to the owners of any animals or plants destroyed in pursuance of the
regulations.
(1BA) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1),
regulations may be made under that subsection for the purpose of preventing the
spread of disease or pests to, or from, quarantine stations in Christmas Island
or for the purpose of preventing, eradicating or controlling diseases or pests
in Christmas Island, including regulations:
(a) conferring functions and powers,
and imposing duties, on quarantine officers, including:
(i) powers to enter,
search and examine premises; and
(ii) powers to question
persons; and
(iii) powers to examine
animals and plants; and
(b) prohibiting the entry of animals
into areas adjoining quarantine stations in Christmas Island; and
(c) requiring the registration of live‑stock
and other domestic animals in Christmas Island; and
(d) prohibiting the abandonment of
animals in Christmas Island; and
(e) requiring the notification of
diseases or pests in animals and plants in Christmas Island; and
(f) regulating the disposal of dead
animals in Christmas Island; and
(g) providing for the eradication of
vermin in Christmas Island; and
(h) prohibiting the growing of
particular plants in Christmas Island or in parts of Christmas Island; and
(i) providing for the destruction of
animals or plants in Christmas Island; and
(j) providing for the payment of
compensation to the owners of any animals or plants destroyed in pursuance of
the regulations.
(1C) Notwithstanding the generality of section 12
of the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955, an Ordinance of the Cocos
Islands has effect to the extent only that it is capable of operating
concurrently with this Act and the regulations.
(1D) Despite the generality of section 8 of
the Christmas Island Act 1958, an ordinance of Christmas Island has
effect to the extent only that it is capable of operating concurrently with
this Act and the regulations.
(2) Regulations made under paragraph (1)(v):
(a) shall be published in the Gazette;
(b) shall come into force only in
pursuance of an order made by the Minister;
(c) shall be in force in such State,
Territory, place, area, or locality within the Commonwealth as the Minister by
order directs; and
(d) shall remain in force for such
time as is specified in the order, but may from time to time, by a further
order, be renewed for a further specified period for the same locality or part
thereof.
(3) Any order made by the Minister in
pursuance of subsection (2) shall set forth the regulations to which the
order relates.
(4) A reference in this section to a vessel
includes a reference to:
(a) an Australian resources
installation or a resources installation that is in Australian waters for the
purposes of becoming attached to the Australian seabed; and
(b) an
Australian sea installation or a sea installation that is in Australian waters
for the purpose of becoming installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area.