Page 2163 - Week 06 - Thursday, 7 June 2018
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With this in mind, and taking into account the views of our neighbouring jurisdiction towards biosecurity, it was considered appropriate that penalties be set at a higher level. Under the Animal Diseases Act 2005, most penalties were a maximum of 10 penalties. The bill increases most penalties to 50 penalty units or $7,500 for individuals and five times that for corporations.
The government is of the view that this increase is well justified given the far-reaching consequences of a breach. This bill will help the ACT to be better prepared for outbreaks of disease and protect the ACT as our agricultural industry expands. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Ms Lee) adjourned to the next sitting.
Stock Amendment Bill 2018
Mr Gentleman, pursuant to notice, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR GENTLEMAN (Brindabella—Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Minister for Planning and Land Management and Minister for Urban Renewal) (10.37): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
I am pleased to present the Stock Amendment Bill 2018 to the Assembly. The bill makes limited amendments to the Stock Act 2005 with the aim of updating the act. The bill provides the Director-General of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate with more flexible options for dealing with impounded stock and updates the provisions in the act relating to permits for moving stock on foot.
I would first of all like to provide some relevant information about the Stock Act. One of the aims of the Stock Act is to encourage property owners to ensure their livestock are contained securely on their properties. The risks posed by escape of trespassing livestock include collisions with motor vehicles and the potential for people to be seriously injured or even killed. There is a real risk in Canberra because of the many high-speed roads adjacent to livestock paddocks. Furthermore, the impact of straying livestock trespassing onto neighbouring properties can include the spread of disease, injury to livestock, inseminating stud livestock, consuming fodder and damaging crops.
To deal with straying or trespassing stock, the Stock Act has a number of provisions about the impounding of stock. Part 5 of the act permits the director-general and the occupier of the land to impound trespassing stock. The act requires the director-general to give notice of the impoundment of stock either to the owner, if identified, or publicly.
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