|
Frequently Asked Questions for Exotic Pest Animals | LC0366 |
Stuart Lardner, DPI Horsham and Keith Larner, DSE Box Hill
Updated: March 2007
To view the Adobe Acrobat file, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader (external link). |
(PDF 63kb) |
What is a pest animal?
A pest animal is an animal that has been declared as a prohibited pest animal or a controlled pest animal or a regulated pest animal or an established pest animal. These categories of pest animals are established in the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. Species are assigned to a category based on criteria in the Act and proclaimed by declaration in the Victorian Government Gazette. With the exception of dingos these animals are animals that did not occur naturally in the wild in Australia before European Settlement. These animals are often referred to as exotics or exotic pest animals.
Why declare animals as pests?
One of the main objectives of the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 is to protect primary production, Crown land, the environment and community health from the effects of pest animals.
Is there a list of pest animals available?
A list of pest animals is in Landcare Note LC0303: A guide for the possession trade and movement of pest animals. This Landcare Note is available free from DPI's website.
Can you keep pest animals as pets?
Up to 30 rabbits may be kept as pets without a permit. A permit is required for keeping rabbits for commercial purposes such as meat production. Dingoes may be kept as pets with a permit. All other pest animals cannot be kept as pets.
Do you need a permit to keep pest animals?
Prohibited pest animals cannot be kept at all. Controlled pest animals and regulated pest animals may be kept with a permit by commercial or scientific facilities for educational or scientific purposes. A subgroup of regulated pest animals can be kept on permit for commercial purposes.
Do I need a permit for exotic birds?
Birds are not declared pest animals. Exotic birds are managed under the National Exotic Bird Registration Scheme administered by Environment Australia. You may obtain a copy of the application form by ringing toll free within Australia on 1800-684-447, or you may write to the National Exotic Bird Registration Scheme, GPO Box 1443, Canberra ACT 2601, fax (02) 6250 0303 or email: wps@ea.gov.au.
What are the permit types that are available?
| Permit type | Category of animals that can be kept |
| Pest Animal Research/Education Collections Permit | Controlled, regulated and established pest animals. |
| Pest Animal Approved Collections (Zoo) Permit | Controlled, regulated and established pest animals. |
| Pest Animal Approved Collections (Animal Exhibition) Permit | Controlled, regulated and established pest animals. |
| Pest Animal Private Collections Permit | Sub group of regulated pest animals for commercial purposes |
| Pest Animal Special Collections Permit | Controlled, regulated and established pest animals that were being held by an individual prior to implementation of legislation restricting the holding of those species. No breeding or trading allowed. |
| Pest Animal Established Collections Permit | Rabbits for rabbit farming |
| Dingo (Neutered) Permit | Desexed dingo/es |
| Dingo (Commercial) Permit | Dingo/es |
| Dingo (Display) Permit | Dingoes |
Permits are subject to an annual renewal fee.
What are the costs of permits?
 | Annual fee
$ | 1 month or part
$.c |
| Pest Animal Research/Education Collections Permit | 50 | 4.20 |
| Pest Animal Approved Collections (Zoo) Permit | 650 | 54.20 |
| Pest Animal Approved Collections (Animal Exhibition) Permit | 300 | 25.00 |
| Pest Animal Private Collections Permit | 50 | 4.20 |
| Pest Animal Special Collections Permit | 80 | 6.70 |
| Pest Animal Established Collections Permit | 80 | 6.70 |
| Pest Animal Established Collections Permit - Commercial Rabbit Farming | 80 | 6.70 |
| Dingo (Neutered) Permit | 50 | 4.20 |
| Dingo (Commercial) Permit | 80 | 6.70 |
| Dingo (Display) Permit | 120 | 10.00 |
What sorts of conditions are there for holding pest animals?
Conditions vary between permit types. Generally there is a need for a contingency plan in case of escape, or cessation of business. All permit conditions include reference to keeping animals in accordance with the Code of Practice for the Public Display and Exhibition of Animals. This code of practice is available on the Internet. A number of commercial type permits will limit breeding to the Australasian Species Management Program (ASMP).
Why are there permit conditions for keeping pest animals?
Permit conditions exist to assist in responsible ownership and to minimise the opportunity for pest animals to be released and become established. The harmful effects of animals such as rabbits, foxes, wild dogs, feral goats and feral pigs cost many millions of dollars each year in lost production and degradation of natural resources, and further millions are spent by landholders and government authorities in attempts to minimise the impacts of these pests. These species cause immeasurable harm to the natural environment as well as to primary industry. These costs could have been avoided if the species had not been introduced in the first place.
What is the Australasian Species Management Program?
Details of the ASMP are available on the Internet. The ASMP is developed by the Australasian Regional Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria (ARAZPA) (external link).
Are requirements for pest animals the same in each state?
The Vertebrate Pest Committee, a national forum, provides guidelines for management of pest animals. Each state and territory develops legislation to adopt these guidelines to ensure there is a consistent approach nationally.
What government agencies are involved with bringing pest animals into Victoria?
- Environment Australia, Canberra,
ph. 02 6274 1111;
- Vertebrate Pest Committee;
- Department of Primary Industries
ph 136 186;
- Customs and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service.
|
What legislation has provisions for pest animals in Victoria?
The major acts include - Victorian law: Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994, Commonwealth Law: Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 and Quarantine Act 1908.
Why are some people able to have exotic reptiles or other controlled pest animals as pets?
There was a 90 day period of grace from the commencement of the Catchment & Land Protection Act 1994 as per section 76. People who were willing and able to identify that they had pest animals as pets in their possession prior to 13 February 1997 have been issued a permit to keep that/those animals for the life of that/those animals only with conditions of no further breeding, public display or trade.
Only certain pest animals are allowed to be kept as pets. However to allow for those people who were affected by changes to the law a special permit was devised to minimise any disadvantage to them whilst Victoria still met its obligations as a State partner to National agreements.
Are there courses, projects or lectures on keeping of pest animals?
There are some courses most often through TAFEs on animal handling and management. They may relate to animals held in laboratory conditions. Internet search encyclopedias, special interest publications, biological/veterinary texts specific to taxon groups, Vets, Royal Melbourne Zoo and interstate zoos are likely sources of information.
Can you get a refund for a permit if an application is unsuccessful?
Every application from any individual requires an amount of administrative work in processing, some more than others. This work may involve request of more information, cross checking for reference of other dealings in the Department. This work costs the Government time and money. This is a cost on the community with the benefit to an individual therefore it is appropriate that the individual pays, therefore no refunds are issued.
If I apply for a permit will my premises be inspected?
Yes. A permit will not be issued until DPI is satisfied that the applicant meets permit conditions. Animals must not be obtained prior to getting a permit.
Will there be an amnesty, and when, if not what will be the outcome with unlicensed pest animals?
There is no amnesty predicted in the foreseeable future. People detected with unlicensed exotic pest animals will be dealt with as the particular situation merits in accordance with provisions of the law.
Can people breed pest animals in Victoria?
Breeding of pest animals can only occur legally with those individuals who have a permit endorsed for breeding. The exception to this is pet rabbits.
What are the consequences of purchasing pest animals from anywhere in Australia, then applying for a permit but the application is rejected?
Ignorance of the law is not a defence. By applying for a permit it demonstrates some knowledge of the legal provisions. The logical process could be that if you know you need a permit for something you should obtain the permit first. It is illegal to bring pest animals into Victoria, see section 75 of Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. The laws relating to pest animals in Victoria are fairly consistent interstate.
If people are purchasing pest animals interstate they may be breaking laws of that state also. Anyone detected undertaking this practice will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the legislation. It is understood that the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Exports and Imports) Act 1982 has a reverse onus of proof in it. Animals may be seized from a person and that person has to demonstrate that the animals came from a legal source. Legal source means someone authorised to possess, breed and trade in that species.
What happens to pest animals that are seized from the public?
Most animals are likely to be destroyed because of unknown source and therefore unknown disease potential. Seized rare or endangered species may be placed in quarantine if it is determined that a particular animal can contribute to the management of that species without endangering the community or other populations of animals.
What are the concerns with pest animals?
Exotic animals may carry diseases that have the potential to have a significant impact on humans, domestic stock and native animal species in the wild. Action must be taken to prevent this from happening. People holding exotics of unknown origin should take care not to mix with natives because there is the potential to place diseases in the legal trade native species. Exotic reptiles may require quarantine periods of up to thirteen months to allow for diseases to manifest. Due to lack of known occurrence in Australia of some diseases which exotic pest animals may carry, there are no testing procedures available in Australia and blood and tissue samples need to be sent overseas. Animals illegally imported are a very high risk to Australian native animals, domestic stock and the community.
What happens when people want to go on holidays for a period, what is the procedure for someone else to take care of pest animals held on a special permit?
It is possible to nominate a carer on the application for a permit. However permits are given for one address only. There is no provision for multiple premises on a permit therefore arrangements must be made for care at the premises for which a permit is issued (specified premises address) during holidays. The specified premises address is not transferable.
Can native animals be infected with diseases from pest animals?
Diseases from illegal pest animals are a very real threat to native species. Contact between native species and pest animals should be avoided. Due to the lack of occurrence to date there are no testing protocols in Australia for many exotic diseases. The chance of exotic diseases occurring in Australia increases with each illegal importation and distribution of pest animals. Some diseases may take up to thirteen months to manifest in an animal.
Is there much chance of diseases from pest animals affecting humans?
There are an extensive number of zoonotic diseases, those transmissible between animals and humans. Risks to humans and native animals include the potential for epidemic outbreaks of diseases with some causing death.
How do you apply for a permit to keep a pest animal?
To obtain information on keeping pest animals or an application form please ring DPI on 136 186 or the Pest Animal Permit Administrator at DPI, Benalla on 03 5761 1611.
Is there an appeal process if a permit application fails?
There is no appeal process for applications in the legislation. There is an appeal process for revocation of a permit.
I know of someone who is breeding pest animals for sale on the blackmarket. Why don’t I just buy one from there?
It is expected that law abiding citizens who are aware of a blackmarket operator will provide information to the appropriate authorities. This can be done confidentially but sufficient information describing the activities is required.
What rights do members of the public have who are holding pest animals?
Those people holding animals in accordance with a permit and complying with all conditions of that permit should not have problem. Anyone else detected illegally holding pest animal species can expect to have the rights as per the provisions of the law.
May I purchase exotics from a licensed person? For example when juveniles are born?
You must have a permit to import, keep or sell pest animals. This means you must have permit before you obtain a pest animal.
Do I need a permit for stuffed (taxidermied) pest animals?
No. There is no permit required for dead pest animals under the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994. It may be advisable to check with Environment Australia and Australia Quarantine Inspection Service for provisions under their legislation, particularly regarding importation.
Acknowledgement
This Information Note was originally developed by Ross Williamson, the previous version was published in December 2000.
The advice provided in this publication is intended as a source of information only. Always read the label before using any of the products mentioned. The State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.
|
