EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1982 NO. 60
QUARANTINE ACT 1908
QUARANTINE (ANIMALS) REGULATIONS (AMENDMENT)
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR HEALTH
Sub-section 87 (1) of the Quarantine Act 1908 provides that the Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters which by the Act are required or permitted to be prescribed or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.
Sub-regulation 52 (2) of the Quarantine (Animals) Regulations provides that any application for registration of a zoo, circus or theatre must be accompanied by a fee. Sub-regulation 53 (1) and regulation 54 provide that owners of wild, undomesticated or other zoo animals shall enter into bonds to ensure compliance with quarantine requirements. Similarly, under sub-regulations 76 (2), 78 (1) and 79 (2) importers of furred skins and animal hair or bristles and owners of approved tanneries shall enter into bonds.
In view of the recent increases in quarantine penalties for breaches of the Quarantine Act 1908 it is considered appropriate to increase the amounts of the bonds to provide an effective deterrent against possible breaches of the conditions of the bonds. In addition it is considered that by increasing the licence fee for registration of a zoological garden, circus or theatre, applications will be limited to those people who have a serious interest and who would therefore be prepared to provide appropriate facilities, security and care. (The present amounts of the bonds and the licence fee and the proposed increased amounts are shown in the attachment.)
The regulations amend the Quarantine (Animals) Regulations to incorporate the new recommended amounts for the bonds and the new fee to be charged for an application for registration of a zoological garden, circus or theatre.
The regulations also amend Form C of Schedule 1 of the Quarantine (Animals) Regulations to include the new recommended fee level in sub-regulation 52 (2) in Form C.
ATTACHMENT
Regulation | Provision | Present Amount | Proposed Amount |
Sub-regulation 52 (2) | Registration of Zoological gardens, circuses and theatres. | $2.00 | $100.00 |
Sub-regulation 53 (1) | Bond by an owner of registered Zoological garden, circus or theatre. | $200.00 | $1000.00 |
Regulation 54 | Bond by an owner of an animal. | $100.00 | $500.00 |
Sub-regulation 76 (2) | Bond by an importer of furred skins. | $200.00 | $1000.00 |
Paragraph 78 (1) (b) | Bond by an owner of a tannery. | $200.00 | $1000.00 |
Sub-regulation 79 (2) | Bond by an importer of animal hair or bristles. | $100.00 | $1000.00 |