Review of the management of feral animals and their impact on ...

Occupational Health <strong>and</strong> Safety Acts
Dangerous Goods or Substances Acts
Dog Acts
Civil Aviation Acts
Income Tax Assessment Acts
The following is a brief summary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> key State legislations regarding <strong>feral</strong> animal
<strong>management</strong> in Australia.
New South Wales
Rural L<strong>and</strong>s Protection Act 1998 <strong>and</strong> Rural L<strong>and</strong>s Protection Amendment Act 2003
This Act sets out <strong>the</strong> provisions under which <strong>animals</strong> can become declared pests
<strong>and</strong> also provides <strong>the</strong> processes <strong>and</strong> mechanisms for <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong> declared pest
species. The Act poses legal obligations on owners <strong>and</strong> occupiers <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong>, both
public <strong>and</strong> private, with regards to <strong>the</strong> eradication <strong>of</strong> declared pest species.
National Parks <strong>and</strong> Wildlife Act 1974
This Act provides <strong>the</strong> legislative basis for <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong> vertebrate pests in New
South Wales conservation l<strong>and</strong>s. One <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> objects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Act is <strong>the</strong> conservation
<strong>of</strong> habitat, ecosystems <strong>and</strong> ecosystem processes, <strong>and</strong> biological diversity at <strong>the</strong>
community, species <strong>and</strong> genetic levels. This can be achieved by applying <strong>the</strong>
principles <strong>of</strong> ecologically sustainable development including <strong>the</strong> control <strong>of</strong>
threatening processes.
Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995, Threatened Species Conservation
Amendment Act 2002 <strong>and</strong> Threatened Species Legislation Amendment Act 2004
These Acts list Key Threatening Processes (KTPs) to biodiversity. The listing <strong>of</strong>
an animal as a KTP results in <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a Threat Abatement Plan (TAP)
to manage, minimise <strong>and</strong> hopefully abate detrimental <strong>impact</strong>s <strong>the</strong> species have.
Currently European red foxes, <strong>feral</strong> pigs, rabbits, <strong>feral</strong> deer, fire ants, gambusia
<strong>and</strong> <strong>feral</strong> cats are currently listed as KTPs in New South Wales <strong>and</strong> TAPs are
being developed <strong>and</strong> implemented. Threat Abatement Plans (TAPs) have only
been developed for gambusia <strong>and</strong> foxes.
Wild Dog Destruction Act 1921
This Act requires l<strong>and</strong>holders <strong>and</strong> occupiers in <strong>the</strong> Western Division to destroy all
wild dogs upon such l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> for <strong>the</strong> maintenance <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> wild dog fence along <strong>the</strong>
north-western parts <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> New South Wales/Queensl<strong>and</strong> border <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> New
South Wales/South Australian borders.
Prevention <strong>of</strong> Cruelty to Animals Act 1979
This Act requires that all <strong>animals</strong> are treated <strong>and</strong> controlled in a humane <strong>and</strong>
ethical manner, regardless <strong>of</strong> status.
Wilderness Act 1987
This Act provides for <strong>the</strong> identification <strong>and</strong> permanent establishment <strong>and</strong>
<strong>management</strong> <strong>of</strong> wilderness areas where natural processes can occur with undue
anthropogenic influences.
67