Biological Control Act 1986 02-00-00 Xml

Crest Western Australia

Biological Control Act 1986

Reprint 2: The Act as at 14 September 2012

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Endnotes, Compilation table, and Table of provisions that have not come into operation

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		Reprinted under the Reprints Act 1984 as
		at 14 September 2012

Western Australia

Biological Control Act 1986

CONTENTS

Part I — Preliminary

1.Short title2

2.Commencement2

3.Terms used2

4.Which organisms are controllable by biological means5

5.Relevant laws, declaration of5

6.Act binds Crown6

7.Act not limited to agricultural pests6

8.Biological Control Authority of Western Australia established6

9.Delegation by Authority6

Part II — Target organisms

10.Target organisms, declaration of8

11.Application for s. 10 declaration, making8

12.Withdrawal of target application9

13.Target application, Authority to refer to Council9

14.Rejection of target application, notice of9

15.Proposed target organisms, public notice of10

16.Submissions about target organisms to be considered11

17.Target recommendation, Authority may direct etc. inquiry into11

18.Target organisms, declaration of13

Part III — Agent organisms

19.Agent organisms, declaration of15

20.Application for s. 19 declaration, making15

21.Withdrawal of agent application16

22.Agent application, Authority to refer to Council16

23.Rejection of agent application, notice of16

24.Proposed agent organisms, public notice of17

25.Submissions about agent organisms to be considered19

26.Agent recommendation, Authority may direct etc. inquiry into19

27.Agent organisms, declaration of20

Part IV — Special declarations of target organisms and agent organisms

28.Emergency declarations23

29.Some released live organisms, declaration of24

30.Proposed s. 29 declaration, public notice of25

31.Proposed s. 29 declaration, Authority may direct etc. inquiry into26

32.Organisms declared under relevant law, declaration of for this Act28

Part V — Release of agent organisms

33.Release of agent organisms29

34.No legal proceedings to be instituted etc. in respect of release of agent organisms in the State29

Part VI — Biological control under laws of another State or the Commonwealth

35.No legal proceedings to be instituted etc. in respect of release of agent organisms under relevant law31

Part VII — Inquiries

36.Commissions of inquiry, establishment and functions of33

37.Remuneration of Commissioners34

38.Public notice of inquiries34

39.Procedure at inquiries34

40.Witnesses, power to summon etc.36

41.Witness failing to attend, offence36

42.Oath or affirmation, power to administer36

43.Witness refusing to be sworn or to answer questions, offence36

44.Protection of Commissioners and witnesses37

45.False or misleading evidence, offence37

46.Contempt of Commission37

47.Documents etc. produced, Commission’s powers as to38

48.Allowances to witnesses38

49.Witness not to be harmed, prejudiced etc.38

Part VIII — Miscellaneous

50.Act not to render other controls illegal40

51.Declarations, revoking40

52.Declarations continue in operation40

53.Service of documents on Authority40

54.Review by SAT of certain decisions41

59.Regulations42

Notes

Compilation table43

Defined Terms

		Reprinted under the Reprints Act 1984 as
		at 14 September 2012

Western Australia

Biological Control Act 1986

An Act to make provision for the biological control of pests in Western Australia , and for related purposes.

Preamble

WHEREAS —

(1)It is generally acknowledged that in the interests of the Australian economy and for the general protection of the Australian environment it is necessary to implement a Scheme for biological control of pests in the States and Territories of Australia.

(2)The implementation of such a Scheme requires uniform legislation throughout Australia and for that legislation to be administered on a uniform basis.

(3)The Commonwealth, the other States and the Northern Territory have enacted, or are taking action to provide for the introduction of, the necessary legislation.

[Preamble amended by No. 19 of 2010 s. 50.]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Part I — Preliminary

1.Short title

This Act may be cited as the Biological Control Act 1986 1.

2.Commencement

This Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by proclamation 1.

3. Terms used

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

agent application means an application under section 20;

agent organisms means organisms in respect of which there is in force a declaration by the Authority, under section 27, 28, 29 or 32, that the organisms are agent organisms for the purposes of this Act;

agent recommendation means a recommendation to the Authority by the Council that organisms of a particular kind should be declared to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act;

Australia includes the external Territories (if any) in respect of which a declaration under section 4(1) of the Commonwealth Act is in force;

Authority means the Biological Control Authority of Western Australia established by section 8;

Commonwealth Act means the Biological Control Act 1984 of the Commonwealth;

control, in relation to organisms, includes —

(a)reduce the number of those organisms; and

(b)prevent an increase in the number of those organisms; and

(c)reduce the activity or appetite of some or all of those organisms; and

(d)modify the behaviour or characteristics of some or all of those organisms;

Council means —

(a)subject to paragraph (b), the Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, whether known by that or any other name; or

(b)if another body is prescribed by regulations for the purposes of this definition, that other body;

kind, in relation to live organisms, means species, sub‑ species or variety;

organism means —

(a)an organism (whether alive or dead and whether or not indigenous to Australia ) other than a human; or

(b)a part of, or matter discharged from, an organism within the meaning of paragraph (a);

organization includes —

(a)a body corporate; and

(b)an association or other body of persons; and

(c)an association that consists of 2 or more organizations referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b);

person includes an organization;

prescribed live organisms means live organisms other than live vaccines or resistant cultivars;

relevant law means a law declared by the Authority under section 5 to be a relevant law for the purposes of this Act;

State includes the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory ;

target application means an application under section 11;

target organisms means organisms in respect of which there is in force a declaration by the Authority, under section 18, 28, 29 or 32, that the organisms are target organisms for the purposes of this Act;

target recommendation means a recommendation to the Authority by the Council that organisms of a particular kind should be declared to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act;

Territory does not include the Northern Territory or the Australian Capital Territory .

(2)For the purposes of this Act, organisms of a particular kind shall be taken to cause harm if the control of those organisms would be for the public benefit.

(3)For the purposes of this Act, organisms of a particular kind shall be taken to cause harm in the State if they cause harm in a part or parts only of the State.

(4)For the purposes of this Act —

(a)a recommendation or decision of, or an approval by, the Council has effect whether or not it was made or given while the Council was in session; and

(b)a recommendation of the Council shall be taken to be unanimous if, and only if, the recommendation is a recommendation of all the members of the Council; and

(c)an approval by the Council shall be taken to be unanimous if, and only if, the approval is an approval by all the members of the Council; and

(d)where a person is authorised to act as a member of the Council in place of another person, then, while the firstmentioned person is so acting, the firstmentioned person is to be taken to be a member of the Council and the other person is not to be taken to be a member of the Council.

(5)A reference in this Act to a recommendation by the Council that organisms of a particular kind should be declared to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act includes a reference to a recommendation that organisms of a particular kind should be so declared if organisms to which a target recommendation applies are declared to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(6)In this Act, a reference to —

(a)a function includes a reference to a power, authority and duty; and

(b)the exercise of a function includes, where the function is a duty, a reference to the performance of the duty.

[Section 3 amended by No. 13 of 1996 s. 4; No. 55 of 2004 s. 64.]

4. Which organisms are controllable by biological means

For the purposes of this Act, organisms of a particular kind shall be taken to be controllable by biological means if, and only if, those organisms can be controlled by the release of live organisms of another kind.

5.Relevant laws , declaration of

(1)Where a law of the Commonwealth or of a State other than Western Australia —

(a)provides for the control by biological means of organisms causing harm; and

(b)establishes an authority having similar functions to those of the Authority,

the Authority may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare that law to be a relevant law for the purposes of this Act.

(2)A declaration shall not be made under subsection (1) in respect of a law unless the Minister administering that law consents in writing to the declaration being made.

(3)A declaration made under subsection (1) shall cease to have effect in respect of a law if that law ceases to be a law described in subsection (1)(a) and (b).

6.Act binds Crown

(1)This Act binds the Crown not only in right of Western Australia but also, so far as the legislative power of Parliament permits, the Crown in all its other capacities.

(2)Nothing in this Act renders the Crown in right of Western Australia or in any other capacity liable to be prosecuted for an offence.

7.Act not limited to agricultural pests

The fact that certain functions of the Authority under this Act cannot be exercised except on the recommendation of the Council does not imply that the only kinds of organisms that may for the purposes of this Act be regarded as causing harm are kinds that are harmful by reason of their effect on agriculture.

8.Biological Control Authority of Western Australia established

(1)For the purposes of this Act, a Biological Control Authority of Western Australia is established by this section.

(2)The Authority shall be the Minister of the Crown of the State of Western Australia who is for the time being a member of the Council.

9.Delegation by Authority

(1)The Authority may delegate to an officer of the Department of Agriculture 2 the exercise of any of the functions of the Authority under this Act, other than —

(a)the exercise of the functions of the Authority under section 17, 18, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31, 32, 36 or 51; or

(b)this power of delegation.

(2)A delegation under this section —

(a)shall be in writing; and

(b)may be general or limited; and

(c)may be revoked, wholly or partly, by the Authority.

(3)A delegate is, in the exercise of a function delegated under this section, subject to such conditions as are specified in the instrument of delegation.

(4)A function delegated under this section, when exercised by the delegate, shall be deemed to have been exercised by the Authority.

(5)A delegation under this section does not prevent the exercise of a function by the Authority.

(6)A function purporting to have been exercised by a delegate under this section shall, until the contrary is proved, be deemed to have been duly exercised by a delegate under this section.

Part II — Target organisms

10.Target organisms , declaration of

(1)Subject to and in accordance with this Part, organisms of a particular kind may be declared to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)Action for the declaration of target organisms in accordance with this Part may be commenced by —

(a)a unanimous recommendation being made to the Authority by the Council; or

(b)an application being made under section 11.

11.Application for s. 10 declaration, making

(1)Where a person considers that organisms of a particular kind are causing harm in the State and are, or are likely to be, controllable by biological means, the person may make an application to the Authority for a declaration that organisms of that kind are target organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)A target application shall be in writing signed —

(a)in the case of an application by a natural person — by the applicant; or

(b)in any other case — by a natural person authorised by the applicant to do so.

(3)A target application in relation to organisms of a particular kind shall set out —

(a)particulars identifying the organisms; and

(b)particulars of the reasons why the organisms are considered to causing harm in the State; and

(c)particulars of the reasons why the applicant considers that the organisms are, or are likely to be, controllable by biological means; and

(d)such other particulars (if any) as are prescribed.

12.Withdrawal of target application

(1)A person who has made a target application may withdraw that application at any time before the application is referred to the Council under section 13(1).

(2)The withdrawal of a target application shall be effected by the making of a request for withdrawal to the Authority in writing signed —

(a)in the case of an application by a natural person — by the person who signed the application or by the legal personal representative of that person; or

(b)in any other case — by the person who signed the application or by a person authorised by the applicant to sign the request.

13.Target application, Authority to refer to Council

(1)Subject to subsection (2), where a target application is received by the Authority, the Authority shall refer the application to the Council for its consideration.

(2)The Authority is not required to refer to the Council a target application in respect of organisms of a particular kind if —

(a)other action to have them declared to be target organisms is being, or has been, taken under this Act; or

(b)action to have them declared to be organisms that may be controlled by biological means is being, or has been, taken under a relevant law.

14.Rejection of target application , notice of

(1)If the Council, after considering a target application referred to it by the Authority, informs the Authority that it does not recommend that the organisms to which the application relates should be target organisms, the Authority shall cause to be given, in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate, to the person who made the target application and to the persons (if any) who made a later target application in respect of those organisms notice in writing stating that the Council does not recommend that those organisms should be target organisms.

(2)A notice under subsection (1) shall —

(a)if reasons have been given by the Council for not recommending that organisms to which the notice relates should be target organisms — set out those reasons; and

(b)if there are circumstances in which, in the opinion of the Authority, a target application in relation to those organisms might result in a recommendation by the Council that those organisms should be target organisms — specify those circumstances.

15.Proposed target organisms , public notice of

(1)Where the Council has unanimously recommended to the Authority that organisms of a particular kind should be target organisms, the Authority shall publish in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette) and in such newspapers or journals as the Authority considers appropriate a notice that the Authority is contemplating declaring those organisms to be target organisms.

(2)Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), a notice under that subsection shall be published in at least one newspaper circulating generally in Western Australia and in each other State.

(3)A notice under subsection (1) in relation to organisms of a particular kind shall —

(a)set out particulars identifying the organisms; and

(b)set out brief particulars of the reasons why the organisms are believed to be causing harm in the State; and

(c)set out brief particulars of the benefits (if any) resulting from the absence of biological control of the population of the organisms; and

(d)state that the Council has unanimously recommended that the organisms should be declared to be target organisms; and

(e)where the recommendation of the Council followed a target application in relation to the organisms — inform the public that copies of the target application can be perused at a place specified in the notice; and

(f)invite any persons who object to, or support, the organisms being declared to be target organisms to submit written particulars of the grounds for that objection or support, as the case may be, to the Authority within the period of 6 weeks after the date of the publication of the notice in the Gazette, or within such further periods as the Authority (either before or after the expiration of that period) allows.

(4)Where the Authority publishes a notice under subsection (1) in relation to a target application, the Authority shall cause copies of the application to be available for perusal at a place specified in the notice in accordance with subsection (3)(e).

[Section 15 amended by No. 13 of 1996 s. 5.]

16.Submissions about target organisms to be considered

The Authority shall consider any submissions in response to an invitation referred to in section 15(3)(f).

17. Target recommendation, Authority may direct etc. inquiry into

(1)Where the Authority, after —

(a)complying with sections 15 and 16 in respect of a target recommendation; and

(b)consulting the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that recommendation; and

(c)considering the nature of, the proceedings in and the findings of, any inquiry that the Authority considers relevant to the recommendation (which may be an inquiry conducted on behalf of another State or the Commonwealth); and

(d)considering any reports relating to the recommendation made by any person or authority competent to do so that the Authority considers relevant,

considers that there is evidence that a person or the environment would be adversely affected by the control of organisms of the kind to which the recommendation relates but an adequate investigation or inquiry into the effect of such control has not been held, the Authority may —

(e)direct that an inquiry under Part VII be conducted in respect of the recommendation; or

(f)request the Minister administering the Commonwealth Act to arrange for the Minister who administers the Industry Commission Act 1989 of the Commonwealth 3 to refer the recommendation to the Industry Commission for inquiry and report; or

(g)arrange for a Minister who administers any law of this State relating to the protection of the environment to cause an inquiry to be conducted under that legislation in respect of the recommendation; or

(h)request the Biological Control Authority for another State or a Territory to arrange for a Minister who administers any legislation of that State or Territory relating to the protection of the environment to cause an inquiry to be conducted under that legislation in respect of the recommendation.

(2)Action shall not be taken under subsection (1)(e), (f), (g) or (h) in respect of a target recommendation unless the Council, upon being consulted in accordance with subsection (1)(b), has unanimously recommended that the action be taken.

(3)Where the Authority takes action under subsection (1)(e), (f), (g) or (h) for an inquiry in relation to a target recommendation, the Authority shall not take any further action under this Act in relation to that recommendation unless and until the Authority has considered the report made as the result of that inquiry.

[Section 17 amended by No. 13 of 1996 s. 6.]

18.Target organism s, declaration of

(1)Where the Authority, after —

(a)complying with the preceding provisions of this Part in relation to a target recommendation; and

(b)considering all reports and other matters relating to that recommendation that the Authority considers it appropriate to consider; and

(c)consulting the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that recommendation,

is satisfied —

(d)that organisms of the kind to which the recommendation relates are causing harm in Western Australia ; and

(e)that organisms of that kind are, or that there is a probability that organisms of that kind are likely to be, controllable by biological means; and

(f)that —

(i)the control throughout Australia of organisms of that kind would not cause any significant harm to any person or to the environment; or

(ii)any harm caused to persons or to the environment by the control throughout Australia of organisms of that kind would be significantly less than the harm caused, or likely to be caused, by failure to control organisms of that kind throughout Australia,

the Authority, subject to subsection (2), shall, by notice published in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette), declare organisms of that kind to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)The Authority shall not make a declaration under subsection (1) in respect of a target recommendation unless the Council, upon being consulted in accordance with subsection (1)(c), has unanimously recommended that the declaration be made.

Part III — Agent organisms

19.Agent organisms , declaration of

(1)Subject to and in accordance with this Part, prescribed live organisms of a particular kind may be declared to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)Action for the declaration of agent organisms in accordance with this Part may be commenced by —

(a)a unanimous recommendation being made to the Authority by the Council; or

(b)an application being made under section 20.

20.Application for s. 19 declaration, making

(1)Where a person considers that the release of prescribed live organisms of a particular kind would result in the control of —

(a)target organisms of a particular kind or kinds; or

(b)organisms to which a target recommendation applies or target recommendations apply,

(whether or not the organisms referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) can be controlled by existing agent organisms) the person may make an application to the Authority for a declaration that the firstmentioned organisms are agent organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)An agent application shall be in writing signed —

(a)in the case of an application by a natural person — by the applicant; or

(b)in any other case — by a natural person authorised by the applicant to do so.

(3)An agent application in relation to organisms of a particular kind shall set out —

(a)particulars identifying the organisms; and

(b)particulars of the possible ways in which the applicant considers that the release of the organisms could control the relevant population of target organisms; and

(c)such other particulars (if any) as are prescribed.

21.Withdrawal of agent application

(1)A person who has made an agent application may withdraw that application at any time before the application is referred to the Council under section 22(1).

(2)The withdrawal of an agent application shall be effected by the making of a request for withdrawal to the Authority in writing signed —

(a)in the case of an application by a natural person — by the person who signed the application or by the legal personal representative of that person; or

(b)in any other case — by the person who signed the application or by a person authorised by the applicant to sign the request.

22.Agent application, Authority to refer to Council

(1)Subject to subsection (2), where an agent application is received by the Authority, the Authority shall refer the application to the Council for its consideration.

(2)The Authority is not required to refer to the Council an agent application in respect of organisms of a particular kind if —

(a)other action to have them declared to be agent organisms is being, or has been, taken under this Act; or

(b)action to have them declared to be organisms that may be released to control the population of other organisms is being, or has been, taken under a relevant law.

23.Rejection of agent application , notice of

(1)If the Council, after considering an agent application referred to it by the Authority, informs the Authority that it does not recommend that the organisms to which the application relates should be agent organisms, the Authority shall cause to be given, in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate, to the person who made the agent application and to the persons (if any) who made a later agent application in respect of those organisms notice in writing that the Council does not recommend that those organisms should be agent organisms.

(2)A notice under subsection (1) shall —

(a)if reasons have been given by the Council for not recommending that organisms to which the notice relates should be agent organisms — set out those reasons; and

(b)if there are circumstances in which, in the opinion of the Authority, an agent application in relation to those organisms might result in a recommendation by the Council that those organisms should be agent organisms — specify those circumstances.

24.Proposed agent organisms , public notice of

(1)Where the Council has unanimously recommended to the Authority that prescribed live organisms of a particular kind should be agent organisms, the Authority shall publish in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette), and may publish in such newspapers or journals as the Authority thinks appropriate, a notice that the Authority is contemplating declaring those organisms to be agent organisms.

(2)A notice under subsection (1) in relation to organisms of a particular kind (in this subsection referred to as the relevant organisms) shall —

(a)set out particulars identifying the relevant organisms; and

(b)specify the organisms which it is intended to control by the release of the relevant organisms; and

(c)set out brief particulars of the manner in which the relevant organisms would control the organisms specified in the notice in accordance with paragraph (b); and

(d)state that the Council has unanimously recommended that the relevant organisms should be declared to be agent organisms; and

(e)where the recommendation of the Council followed an agent application in relation to the organisms — inform the public that copies of the agent application can be perused at a place specified in the notice; and

(f)invite any persons who object to, or support, the relevant organisms being declared to be agent organisms to submit written particulars of the grounds for that objection or support, as the case may be, to the Authority within the period of 6 weeks after the date of the publication of the notice in the Gazette, or within such further period as the Authority (either before or after the expiration of that period) allows.

(3)Where the Authority publishes a notice under subsection (1) in relation to an agent application, the Authority shall cause copies of the application to be available for perusal at the place specified in the notice in accordance with subsection (2)(e).

(4)Where the Council has recommended to the Authority that 2 or more kinds of organisms should be agent organisms for the purpose of the control of the same population of particular organisms, a notice under subsection (1) relating to one of those kinds may be combined with a notice under that subsection relating to the other kind or kinds.

25.Submissions about agent organisms to be considered

The Authority shall consider any submissions in response to an invitation referred to in section 24(2)(f).

26. Agent recommendation, Authority may direct etc. inquiry into

(1)Where the Authority, after —

(a)complying with sections 24 and 25 in respect of an agent recommendation; and

(b)consulting the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that recommendation; and

(c)considering the nature of, the proceedings in and the findings of, any inquiry that the Authority considers relevant to the recommendation (which may be an inquiry under Part VII in respect of a target recommendation or an inquiry conducted on behalf of another State or the Commonwealth); and

(d)considering any reports relating to the recommendation made by any person or authority competent to do so that the Authority considers relevant,

considers that there is evidence that a person or the environment would be adversely affected by the release of organisms of the kind to which the recommendation relates but an adequate investigation or inquiry into the effect of such a release has not been held, the Authority may —

(e)direct that an inquiry under Part VII be conducted in respect of the recommendation; or

(2)Action shall not be taken under subsection (1)(e), (f), (g) or (h) in respect of an agent recommendation unless the Council, upon being consulted in accordance with subsection (1)(b), has unanimously recommended that the action be taken.

(3)An inquiry by virtue of subsection (1) in respect of an agent recommendation that recommends that organisms of a particular kind should be declared to be agent organisms if organisms to which a target recommendation applies are declared to be target organisms and an inquiry by virtue of section 17(1) in respect of the target recommendation may be conducted as if they were one inquiry.

(4)Where the Authority takes action under subsection (1)(e), (f), (g) or (h) for an inquiry in relation to an agent recommendation, the Authority shall not take any further action under this Act in relation to that recommendation unless and until the Authority has considered the report made as the result of that inquiry.

[Section 26 amended by No. 13 of 1996 s. 6.]

27.Agent organisms , declaration of

(1)Where the Authority, after —

(a)complying with the preceding provisions of this Part in relation to an agent recommendation; and

(b)considering all reports and other matters relating to that recommendation that the Authority considers it appropriate to consider; and

(c)consulting the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that recommendation,

is satisfied —

(d)that the release of organisms of the kind to which the recommendation relates (in this subsection referred to as the relevant organisms) could result in the control of target organisms of a particular kind or kinds in the State;

(e)that —

(i)the release of the relevant organisms would not cause any significant harm to any person or to the environment, other than the harm (if any) resulting from the control throughout Australia of target organisms of that kind or those kinds; or

(ii)any harm caused to persons or to the environment by the release of the relevant organisms, other than the harm (if any) resulting from the control throughout Australia of target organisms of that kind or those kinds, would be significantly less than —

(A)the harm caused, or likely to be caused, by failure to control target organisms of that kind or those kinds throughout Australia ; and

(B)where target organisms of that kind or those kinds can be controlled by the release of other organisms or otherwise than by biological means — the harm (if any) caused, or likely to be caused, by controlling target organisms of that kind or those kinds throughout Australia by the release of those other organisms or by those other means,

the Authority, subject to subsection (2), shall, by notice published in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette), declare the relevant organisms to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)The Authority shall not make a declaration under subsection (1) in respect of an agent recommendation unless the Council, upon being consulted in accordance with subsection (1)(c), has unanimously recommended that the declaration be made.

(3)A notice under subsection (1) declaring organisms of a particular kind to be agent organisms may set out conditions under which those organisms may be released, which conditions may be or include —

(a)conditions specifying the persons who may release those organisms; or

(b)conditions specifying the circumstances in which those organisms may be released.

Part IV — Special declarations of target organisms and agent organisms

28.Emergency declarations

(1)If the Authority is satisfied —

(a)that an emergency exists because organisms of a particular kind (whether or not they are target organisms) —

(i)are having, or are likely to have, a serious effect on the health of humans, animals or plants in the State; or

(ii)are causing, or are likely to cause, harm in the State so as to result in significant damage to the economy; or

(iii)are causing, or are likely to cause, significant damage to the environment in the State;

and

(b)that the release of prescribed live organisms that are not agent organisms would control the firstmentioned organisms; and

(c)the release of the organisms of the secondmentioned kind would not have any significant adverse effects,

the Authority, subject to subsection (2), shall, by notice published in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette), declare —

(d)where the organisms of the firstmentioned kind are not target organisms, the organisms of the firstmentioned kind to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act; and

(e)organisms of the secondmentioned kind to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)The Authority shall not make a declaration under subsection (1) in respect of an organism unless —

(a)the Authority has first consulted the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that organism; and

(b)the Council has unanimously recommended that the declaration be made.

(3)A notice under subsection (1) declaring organisms of a particular kind to be agent organisms may set out particulars of the conditions under which those organisms may be released, which conditions may be or include —

(a)conditions specifying the persons who may release those organisms; or

(b)conditions specifying the circumstances in which those organisms may be released.

29. Some released live organisms, declaration of

(1)If the Authority is satisfied that —

(a)before the commencement of this Act, prescribed live organisms of a particular kind were released in Western Australia for the purpose of the control, by biological means, of organisms of another kind in the State; and

(b)if this Act had been in force before the release of the firstmentioned organisms, it is probable that action would have been taken under this Act that would have resulted in the organisms of the secondmentioned kind being declared to be target organisms and the organisms of the firstmentioned kind being declared to be agent organisms,

the Authority, subject to subsection (2), may, by notice published in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette), declare —

(c)organisms of the secondmentioned kind to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act; and

(d)organisms of the firstmentioned kind to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)The Authority shall not make a declaration under subsection (1) in respect of an organism unless —

(a)the Authority has first consulted the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that organism; and

(b)the Council has unanimously recommended that the declaration be made.

(3)A notice under subsection (1) declaring organisms of a particular kind to be agent organisms may set out conditions under which the organisms may be released, which conditions may be or include —

(a)conditions specifying the persons who may release those organisms; or

(b)conditions specifying the circumstances in which those organisms may be released.

30.Proposed s. 29 declaration , public notice of

(1)Where the Authority is contemplating making a declaration under section 29, the Authority may, subject to subsection (2), publish in the Gazette and in such newspapers or journals as the Authority considers appropriate a notice that the Authority is contemplating making that declaration.

(2)The Authority shall not publish a notice under subsection (1) in respect of an organism unless —

(a)the Authority has first consulted the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of that organism; and

(b)the Council has unanimously recommended that the notice be published.

(3)A notice under subsection (1) shall —

(a)set out particulars identifying the organisms that the Authority is contemplating declaring to be target organisms; and

(b)set out particulars identifying the organisms that the Authority is contemplating declaring to be agent organisms; and

(c)identify the occasions known to the Authority on which the organisms referred to in paragraph (b) were released; and

(d)invite any persons who object to, or support, the declaration being made to submit written particulars of the grounds for that objection or support, as the case may be, to the Authority within 6 weeks after the date of the publication of the notice in the Gazette, or within such further period as the Authority (either before or after the expiration of that period) allows.

(4)Where the Authority publishes a notice under subsection (1) in relation to a contemplated declaration, the Authority shall not make the declaration unless and until the Authority has considered any submissions in response to an invitation referred to in subsection (3)(d) in relation to the declaration.

31. Proposed s. 29 declaration, Authority may direct etc. inquiry into

(1)Where the Authority —

(a)is contemplating making a declaration under section 29; and

(b)after —

(i)consulting the Council regarding the appropriateness of action under this section in respect of the contemplated declaration; and

(ii)considering the nature of, the proceedings in and the findings of, any inquiry that the Authority considers relevant (which may be an inquiry conducted an behalf of another State or the Commonwealth); and

(iii)considering any reports made by any person or authority competent to do so that the Authority considers relevant,

considers that there is evidence that a person or the environment would be adversely affected by the release of organisms of the kind to which the declaration would relate but an adequate investigation or inquiry into the effect of such a release has not been held,

the Authority may —

(c)direct that an inquiry under Part VII be conducted in respect of the contemplated declaration; or

(d)request the Minister administering the Commonwealth Act to arrange for the Minister who administers the Industry Commission Act 1989 of the Commonwealth 3 to refer the contemplated declaration to the Industry Commission for inquiry and report; or

(e)arrange for a Minister who administers any law of this State relating to the protection of the environment to cause an inquiry to be conducted under that legislation in respect of the contemplated declaration; or

(f)request the Biological Control Authority for another State or a Territory to arrange for a Minister who administers any legislation of that State or Territory relating to the protection of the environment to cause an inquiry to be conducted under that legislation in respect of the contemplated declaration.

(2)Action shall not be taken under subsection (1)(c), (d), (e) or (f) in respect of a contemplated declaration unless the Council, upon being consulted in accordance with subsection (1)(b)(i), has unanimously recommended that the action be taken.

(3)Where the Authority takes action under subsection (1)(c), (d), (e) or (f) for an inquiry in respect of a contemplated declaration, the Authority shall not make that declaration unless and until the Authority has considered the report made as the result of the inquiry.

[Section 31 amended by No. 13 of 1996 s. 6.]

32.Organisms declared under relevant law , declaration of for this Act

(1)Where organisms of a particular kind are organisms that for the purposes of a relevant law may be controlled by biological means, the Authority may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare those organisms to be target organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(2)Where —

(a)prescribed live organisms of a particular kind are organisms that for the purposes of a relevant law may be released to control other organisms; and

(b)those other organisms are target organisms,

the Authority shall, by notice published in the Gazette, declare those firstmentioned organisms to be agent organisms for the purposes of this Act.

(3)A notice under subsection (2) declaring organisms of a particular kind to be agent organisms may set out conditions under which the organisms may be released, which conditions may be or include —

(a)conditions specifying the persons who may release those organisms; or

(b)conditions specifying the circumstances in which those organisms may be released.

Part V — Release of agent organisms

33.Release of agent organisms

(1)Subject to subsection (2), agent organisms may be released in the State.

(2)Where a notice under section 27, 28, 29 or 32 declaring organisms to be agent organisms specifies conditions under which the organisms may be released, those organisms shall not be released otherwise than in accordance with those conditions.

34.No legal proceedings to be instituted etc. in respect of release of agent organisms in the State

(1)Subject to subsection (3), no action or other proceeding shall be instituted or continued in any court —

(a)to prevent the release of agent organisms in accordance with section 33; or

(b)to recover damages in respect of any loss incurred, or any damage suffered, in the State, any other State, or a Territory by reason of the release of agent organisms in accordance with that section.

(2)If, at the time at which organisms of a particular kind were declared under section 27, 28, 29 or 32 to be agent organisms, there was in force an order of a court relating to the release of organisms of that kind, no action or other proceeding shall be instituted or continued in any court in respect of that order in so far as the order purports to prohibit a person from —

(a)releasing organisms of that kind in the State in accordance with section 33; or

(b)doing anything to assist or further the release of organisms of that kind in the State in accordance with section 33.

(3)Nothing in subsection (1) prevents the institution or continuation in any court of an action or other proceeding to recover damages in respect of any loss incurred, or any damage suffered, by reason of the release of agent organisms of a particular kind in accordance with section 33 where —

(a)the loss incurred or the damage suffered was the result of the release having had a significant effect on other organisms (not being organisms which the release was intended to control); and

(b)at the time of the release, the persons in Australia having a reputation for special knowledge of the biology of organisms of that kind knew, or had reasonable grounds to expect, that such a release could have such an effect; and

(c)in making the declaration declaring organisms of that kind to be agent organisms, the Authority did not take into account (whether because of the state of scientific knowledge or otherwise) the factor that such a release could have such an effect.

Part VI — Biological control under laws of another State or the Commonwealth

35.No legal proceedings to be instituted etc. in respect of release of agent organisms under relevant law

(1)Subject to subsection (4), no action or other proceeding shall be instituted or continued in any court to recover damages in respect of any loss incurred, or any damage suffered, in the State by reason of the release of organisms in accordance with a relevant law.

(2)Subject to subsection (4), no action or other proceeding shall be instituted or continued in any court —

(a)to prevent the release of organisms in accordance with a relevant law; or

(b)to recover damages in respect of any loss incurred, or any damage suffered, in another State or a Territory by reason of the release of organisms in accordance with a relevant law.

(3)If, at the time at which prescribed live organisms of a particular kind became organisms that could be released in accordance with a relevant law, there was in force an order of a court relating to the release of organisms of that kind, no action or other proceeding shall be instituted or continued in any court in respect of that order in so far as the order purports to restrict a person from —

(a)releasing organisms of that kind in accordance with that law; or

(b)doing anything to assist or further the release of organisms of that kind in accordance with that law.

(4)Nothing in subsection (1) or (2) prevents the institution or continuation in any court of an action or other proceeding to recover damages in respect of any loss incurred, or any damage suffered, by reason of the release of organisms of a particular kind in accordance with a relevant law where —

(a)the loss incurred or the damage suffered was the result of the release having had a significant effect on other organisms (not being organisms which the release was intended to control); and

(c)in making the declaration by virtue of which organisms of that kind became organisms that could be released in accordance with the relevant law, the authority established by that law did not take into account (whether because of the state of scientific knowledge or otherwise) the factor that such a release could have such an effect.

Part VII — Inquiries

36.Commissions of inquiry , establishment and functions of

(1)Where, in accordance with section 17(1), 26(1) or 31(1), the Authority directs that an inquiry be conducted under this Part, the Authority shall, after consulting the Council and having regard to any unanimous recommendation made by the Council, appoint a Commissioner or Commissioners to be a Commission to conduct that inquiry and may appoint a person or persons to advise the Commission.

(2)Where there is more than one Commissioner, the Authority shall appoint one of the Commissioners to preside at the inquiry.

(3)A Commission established to conduct an inquiry shall inquire into —

(a)such matters as it considers necessary to ascertain, from the broad community viewpoint, the overall benefits and disadvantages of declaring organisms of the kind to which the inquiry relates to be target organisms or agent organisms, as the case requires; and

(b)such relevant matters unanimously approved by the Council as the Authority, by notice in writing given to the Commissioner or to the Commissioner presiding at the inquiry, as the case requires, directs, which may be or include the following matter, namely, whether assistance should be given to any persons if a declaration is made in respect of those organisms; and

(c)any other relevant matters that the Commission considers it should inquire into.

(4)The Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Authority and shall, after so reporting but subject to subsection (6), make public those findings and recommendations.

(5)When the Authority appoints a Commissioner or Commissioners to be a Commission, the Authority may nominate a day on which the Commission is to report its findings and recommendations to the Authority and, where the Authority nominates a day, the Commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the Authority on or before that day or such later day as the Authority (before the nominated day) allows.

(6)The Commission shall not make public any evidence or matters in respect of which directions have been given under section 39(2)(b) or matters the publication of which is not allowed under section 39(6).

(7)Subject to this Act, a Commission is not subject to directions by the Authority, or otherwise by or on behalf of the Government of Western Australia, in or in relation to the conduct of an inquiry.

37.Remuneration of Commissioners

A Commissioner shall be paid such remuneration and allowances as may be prescribed.

38. Public notice of inquiries

Before a Commission commences an inquiry, the Commission shall give reasonable notice, by advertisement published in the Gazette (and, if the Council has so recommended, in the Commonwealth Gazette) and in such newspapers or journals as it thinks necessary, of its intention to hold the inquiry, the subject of the inquiry and the time and place at which the inquiry is to be commenced.

39.Procedure at inquiries

(1)Subject to this section, an inquiry by a Commission shall be held in public and evidence in the inquiry shall be taken in public on oath or affirmation.

(2)Where a Commission is satisfied that it is desirable to do so in the public interest by reason of the confidential nature of any evidence or matter or for any other reason, the Commission may —

(a)direct that an inquiry or a part of an inquiry shall take place in private and give directions as to the persons who may be present; or

(b)give directions prohibiting or restricting the publication of evidence given before the Commission or of matters contained in documents lodged with the Commission.

(3)A Commission may hold an inquiry or part of an inquiry outside Western Australia .

(4)A Commission may, if it thinks fit, permit a person appearing as a witness before the Commission to give evidence by tendering, and verifying by oath or affirmation, a written statement.

(5)Where a Commission considers that the attendance of a person as a witness before the Commission would cause serious hardship to a person, the Commission may permit the person to give evidence by sending to the Commission a written statement, verified in such manner as the Commission allows.

(6)Where evidence is given to a Commission by a written statement in accordance with subsection (4) or (5), the Commission shall make available to the public in such manner as the Commission thinks fit the contents of the statement other than any matter the publication of which, in the opinion of the Commission, would be contrary to the public interest by reason of its confidential nature or for any other reason.

(7)Subject to this section and the regulations —

(a)the procedure to be followed at an inquiry by a Commission is within the discretion of the Commission; and

(b)a Commission is not bound by the rules of evidence.

40.Witnesses , power to summon etc.

A Commissioner may, by writing signed by the Commissioner, summon a person to appear before the Commission at a time and place specified in the summons to give evidence and produce such books and documents (if any) as are referred to in the summons.

41.Witness failing to attend , offence

A person served with a summons to appear as a witness at an inquiry by a Commission shall not, without reasonable excuse —

(a)fail to attend as required by the summons; or

(b)fail to appear and report himself or herself from day to day unless excused or released from further attendance by or on behalf of the Commission.

Penalty: $1 000.

[Section 41 amended by No. 50 of 2003 s. 38(2).]

42.Oath or affirmation , power to administer

A Commissioner may administer an oath to or take an affirmation of a person appearing as a witness before the Commission.

43.Witness refusing to be sworn or to answer questions , offence

A person appearing as a witness at an inquiry by a Commission shall not, without reasonable excuse —

(a)refuse or fail to be sworn or to make an affirmation; or

(b)refuse or fail to answer a question that the person is required to answer by the Commissioner conducting or presiding at the inquiry; or

(c)refuse or fail to produce a document that the person was required to produce by a summons under this Act served on the person.

Penalty: $1 000.

[Section 43 amended by No. 50 of 2003 s. 38(2).]

44.Protection of Commissioners and witnesses

(1)A Commissioner has, in the performance of the duties of a Commissioner, the same protection and immunity as a Judge of the Supreme Court.

(2)Subject to this Act, a person appearing before a Commission as a witness at an inquiry has the same protection, and is, in addition to the penalties provided by this Act, subject to the same liabilities, in any civil or criminal proceedings as a witness in proceedings in the Supreme Court.

45.False or misleading evidence , offence

(1)A person shall not, at a hearing before a Commission, give evidence that is to the knowledge of the person false or misleading in a material particular.

(2)An offence against subsection (1) is a crime and, subject to this section, is punishable, upon conviction, by imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years or by a fine not exceeding $5 000, or both.

Summary conviction penalty: imprisonment for one year.

[Section 45 amended by No. 4 of 2004 s. 58.]

46.Contempt of Commission

(1)A person shall not —

(a)obstruct or hinder a Commission or a Commissioner in the conduct of an inquiry; or

(b)disrupt a hearing before a Commission.

Penalty: $2 000 or imprisonment for one year, or both.

(2)An offence against subsection (1) is punishable on summary conviction.

47. Documents etc. produced, Commission’s powers as to

(1)A Commissioner, or a person assisting a Commission and authorised by a Commissioner to do so, may inspect any books or documents furnished to the Commission for the purposes of the performance of its functions under this Act or produced at an inquiry and may make copies of, or take extracts from, those books or documents.

(2)Books or documents so furnished may be retained by the Commission for such reasonable period as the Commission thinks fit.

48.Allowances to witnesses

A witness summoned under this Act to appear at an inquiry by a Commission is entitled to be paid such allowances for the witness’s travelling and other expenses as are prescribed.

49.Witness not to be harmed, prejudiced etc.

(1)A person shall not —

(a)use violence against or inflict injury on; or

(b)cause or procure violence, damage, loss or disadvantage to; or

(c)cause or procure the punishment of,

a person for or on account of the lastmentioned person having appeared, or being about to appear, as a witness at an inquiry by a Commission or for or on account of any evidence given by the lastmentioned person before a Commission.

Penalty: $2 000 or imprisonment for 1 year, or both.

(2)Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), an employer shall not —

(a)dismiss an employee from his or her employment, or prejudice an employee in his or her employment, by reason that the employee has appeared as a witness, or has given any evidence, at an inquiry by a Commission; or

(b)dismiss, or threaten to dismiss, an employee from his or her employment or prejudice, or threaten to prejudice, an employee in his or her employment, by reason that the employee proposes to appear as a witness or to give evidence at an inquiry by a Commission.

Penalty: $10 000 in the case of a corporation and $2 000 or imprisonment for one year, or both, in any other case.

(3)In any proceedings arising out of subsection (2) —

(a)if it is established that the employee was dismissed from, or prejudiced in, his or her employment and that, before he or she was so dismissed or prejudiced, he or she appeared as a witness, or gave any evidence, at an inquiry by a Commission — the burden lies on the employer of proving that the employee was not so dismissed or prejudiced by reason that he or she so appeared as a witness or gave evidence; or

(b)if it is established that the employee was dismissed, or threatened with dismissal, from his or her employment, or was prejudiced, or threatened with prejudice, in his or her employment and that, before he or she was so dismissed, threatened with dismissal, prejudiced or threatened with prejudice, he or she proposed to appear as a witness, or to give evidence, at an inquiry by a Commission — the burden lies on the employer of proving that the employee was not so dismissed, threatened with dismissal, prejudiced or threatened with prejudice by reason that he or she proposed so to appear as a witness or to give evidence.

Part VIII — Miscellaneous

50.Act not to render other controls illegal

Subject to section 33(2), nothing in this Act shall be taken to render unlawful any release of organisms for the purpose of the biological control of other organisms if the release of the firstmentioned organisms would, but for this Act, be lawful.

51.Declarations , revoking

(1)The Authority may, by notice published in the Gazette, revoke a declaration made under this Act where the Council has unanimously approved of that action being taken.

(2)Where —

(a)the Authority revokes a declaration declaring organisms of a kind to be target organisms; and

(b)by reason of that revocation there would be no target organisms for the purpose of controlling which organisms of a kind have been declared to be agent organisms,

the Authority shall revoke the declaration declaring those lastmentioned organisms to be agent organisms.

52.Declarations continue in operation

Where a declaration in relation to agent organisms is in force, those organisms may be released in accordance with section 33 notwithstanding the length of the period of time that has elapsed since the last release of those organisms took place.

53.Service of documents on Authority

Where a person is entitled by this Act to make an application to the Authority or to submit particulars to the Authority, the person shall do so by causing the application or particulars to be lodged at the head office of the Department of Agriculture 2.

54. Review by SAT of certain decisions

(1)Any person whose interests are affected by —

(a)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 17 not to hold an inquiry; or

(b)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 18, being a decision that is inconsistent with a finding or recommendation of a Commission referred to in Part VII; or

(c)a decision of the Authority under section 24 not to publish a notice in any newspaper or journal; or

(d)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 26 not to hold an inquiry; or

(e)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 27, being a decision that is inconsistent with a finding or recommendation of a Commission referred to in Part VII; or

(f)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 28; or

(g)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 29, being a decision that is inconsistent with a finding or recommendation of a Commission referred to in Part VII; or

(h)a decision of the Authority for the purposes of section 31 not to hold an inquiry; or

(i)a decision of the Authority under section 51 to revoke a declaration,

may apply to the State Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision.

(2)In subsection (1) decision has the same meaning as in the Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 of the Commonwealth.

[Section 54 amended by No. 55 of 2004 s. 65.]

[55-58.Deleted by No. 55 of 2004 s. 66.]

59.Regulations

(1)The Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, for or with respect to any matter that by this Act is required or permitted to be prescribed or that is necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

(2)Without affecting the generality of subsection (1), the Governor may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing procedures for the initiation and processing of proposals to obtain declarations under this Act.

dline

Notes

1This reprint is a compilation as at 14 September 2012 of the Biological Control Act 1986 and includes the amendments made by the other written laws referred to in the following table 4. The table also contains information about any reprint.

Compilation table

Short title	Number and year	Assent	Commencement
Biological Control Act 1986	106 of 1986	12 Dec 1986	s. 1 and 2: 12 Dec 1986; Act other than s. 1 and 2: 20 Mar 1987 (see s. 2 and Gazette 20 Mar 1987 p. 949)
Biological Control Amendment Act 1996	13 of 1996	28 Jun 1996	28 Jun 1996 (see s. 2)
Sentencing Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2003 s. 38	50 of 2003	9 Jul 2003	15 May 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 14 May 2004 p. 1445)
Reprint 1: The Biological Control Act 1986 as at 3 Oct 2003 (includes amendments listed above except those in the Sentencing Legislation Amendment and Repeal Act 2003)
Acts Amendment and Repeal (Courts and Legal Practice) Act 2003 s. 14	65 of 2003	4 Dec 2003	1 Jan 2004 (see s. 2 and Gazette 30 Dec 2003 p. 5722)
Criminal Code Amendment Act 2004 s. 58	4 of 2004	23 Apr 2004	21 May 2004 (see s. 2)
State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 2 Div. 11 5	55 of 2004	24 Nov 2004	1 Jan 2005 (see s. 2 and Gazette 31 Dec 2004 p. 7130)
Standardisation of Formatting Act 2010 s. 50	19 of 2010	28 Jun 2010	11 Sep 2010 (see s. 2(b) and Gazette 10 Sep 2010 p. 4341)
Reprint 2: The Biological Control Act 1986 as at 14 Sep 2012 (includes amendments listed above)

2Under the Alteration of Statutory Designations Order 2006 a reference in any law to the Department of Agriculture is read and construed as a reference to the Department of Agriculture and Food.

3The Industry Commission Act 1989 (Cwlth) was repealed by the Productivity Commission (Repeals, Transitional and Consequential Amendments) Act 1998 (Cwlth). See the Productivity Commission Act 1998 (Cwlth).

4The Acts Amendment (Federal Courts and Tribunals) Act 2001 s. 38 had not come into operation when it was deleted by the Statutes (Repeals and Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2009 s. 16.

5The State Administrative Tribunal (Conferral of Jurisdiction) Amendment and Repeal Act 2004 Pt. 5, the State Administration Tribunal Act 2004 s. 167 and 169, and the State Administrative Tribunal Regulations 2004 r. 28 and 42 deal with certain transitional issues some of which may be relevant for this Act.

Defined Terms

[This is a list of terms defined and the provisions where they are defined. The list is not part of the law.]

Defined TermProvision(s)

agent application3(1)

agent organisms3(1)

agent recommendation3(1)

Australia 3(1)

Authority3(1)

Commonwealth Act3(1)

control3(1)

Council3(1)

decision54(2)

kind3(1)

organism3(1)

organization3(1)

person3(1)

prescribed live organisms3(1)

relevant law3(1)

relevant organisms24(2), 27(1)(d)

State3(1)

target application3(1)

target organisms3(1)

target recommendation3(1)

Territory3(1)

By Authority: JOHN A. STRIJK, Government Printer