Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (WA)

Western Australia Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Western Australia Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Contents Part 1 — Preliminary 1. Short title 2 2. Commencement 2 3. Objects of Act 2 4. Principles of ecologically sustainable development 2 5. Terms used 3 6. Lawful activity 18 7. Lawful authority 18 8. Native species 19 9. Determination as to fauna, flora or species 20 10. Determination of certain native species or taxonomic groupings as fauna or flora 20 11. Crown bound 21 12. Application of Act in relation to aquatic matters 21 Part 2 — Listing of native species, ecological communities and threatening processes Division 1 — Native species Subdivision 1 — Specially protected species 13. Listing of specially protected species 22 14. Criteria for categorisation as species of special conservation interest 22 15. Criteria for categorisation as migratory species 23 16. Criteria for categorisation as cetaceans 24 17. Criteria for categorisation as species subject to international agreement 24 18. Criteria for categorisation as species otherwise in need of special protection 24 Subdivision 2 — Threatened species 19. Listing of threatened species 25 20. Criteria for categorisation as critically endangered species 25 21. Criteria for categorisation as endangered species 25 22. Criteria for categorisation as vulnerable species 26 Subdivision 3 — Extinct species 23. Listing of extinct species 26 24. Criteria for categorisation as extinct species 26 25. Criteria for categorisation as extinct in the wild species 27 26. Rediscovered species 27 Division 2 — Ecological communities Subdivision 1 — Threatened ecological communities 27. Listing of threatened ecological communities 28 28. Criteria for categorisation as critically endangered ecological community 28 29. Criteria for categorisation as endangered ecological community 29 30. Criteria for categorisation as vulnerable ecological community 29 Subdivision 2 — Collapsed ecological communities 31. Listing of collapsed ecological communities 30 32. Criteria for listing as collapsed ecological community 30 33. Rediscovered ecological communities 30 Division 3 — Threatening processes 34. Listing of key threatening processes 30 35. Criteria for listing as key threatening process 31 Division 4 — Listing process 36. Terms used 32 37. Minister to obtain scientific advice on listing decision 32 38. Nominations in respect of certain listings 32 39. Notification of Minister's decision 33 Part 3 — Threatened species and threatened ecological communities Division 1 — Threatened species 40. Minister may authorise taking or disturbance of threatened species 35 41. Conditions of authorisation 35 42. Parliament's approval required for certain proposals 37 43. Duty of certain people to report occurrence of threatened species 38 Division 2 — Threatened ecological communities 44. Term used: modify 38 45. Minister may authorise modification of occurrence of threatened ecological community 39 46. Conditions of authorisation 39 47. Parliament's approval required for certain proposals 41 48. Modifying occurrence of threatened ecological community 41 49. Duty of certain people to report occurrence of threatened ecological community 42 Division 3 — General provisions 50. Notice to owner and occupier as to presence of threatened species or threatened ecological community 43 51. Lodgment of notification with Registrar and withdrawal of notification 44 52. Duty to notify CEO of change in ownership or occupation 45 53. Certain visitors to be informed of threatened species or threatened ecological community 45 Part 4 — Critical habitat Division 1 — Determination of critical habitat 54. Listing of critical habitat 47 55. Criteria for listing as critical habitat 47 56. Consultation 48 57. Register 48 Division 2 — Habitat conservation notices 58. Terms used 48 59. Habitat conservation notice 49 60. Persons bound by habitat conservation notice 50 61. Amendment of habitat conservation notice 50 62. Cancellation of habitat conservation notice 51 63. Lodgment of notification with Registrar and withdrawal of notification 51 64. Habitat conservation notice binding on successive owners and occupiers 52 65. Contravention of habitat conservation notice 52 66. Duty to notify CEO of change in ownership or occupation 53 67. Apportionment of costs of complying with habitat conservation notice 53 Part 5 — Biodiversity management programmes 68. Terms used 55 69. Content of biodiversity management programme 55 70. Preparation of draft programme 56 71. Consultation on draft programme 56 72. Submission to Minister 57 73. Approval of biodiversity management programme 57 74. Notice of biodiversity management programme 57 75. Operation of biodiversity management programme 57 76. Publication of biodiversity management programme 58 77. Review of biodiversity management programme 58 78. Amendment of biodiversity management programme 58 79. Revocation of biodiversity management programme 59 80. Public authority to have regard to biodiversity management programme 59 Part 6 — Recovery plans and interim recovery plans Division 1 — Preliminary 81. Terms used 60 82. Content of recovery plan 61 Division 2 — Approved plans 83. Preparation of draft plan 62 84. Consultation on draft plan 62 85. CEO to publicise draft plan 63 86. Public submissions 63 87. Referral of draft plan to certain persons or bodies 63 88. Submission to Minister 64 89. Approval of plan 64 90. Amendment of approved plan 64 91. Joint recovery plan 65 Division 3 — Adopted plans 92. Adoption of plan 66 93. CEO to publicise proposed plan 66 94. Public submissions 67 95. Referral of proposed plan to certain persons or bodies 67 96. Amendment of adopted plan 67 Division 4 — General provisions for recovery plans 97. Matters relevant to approval or adoption of recovery plan 68 98. Notice of recovery plan 69 99. Operation of recovery plan 69 100. Publication of recovery plan 70 101. Review of recovery plan 70 102. Revocation of recovery plan 70 103. Public authority to have regard to recovery plan 71 Division 5 — Interim recovery plans 104. Interim recovery plan 71 105. Making an interim recovery plan 71 106. Consultation on proposed plan 71 107. Notice of interim recovery plan 72 108. Operation of interim recovery plan 72 109. Publication of interim recovery plan 72 110. Review of interim recovery plan 72 111. Amendment of interim recovery plan 73 112. Revocation of interim recovery plan 73 113. Public authority to have regard to interim recovery plan 73 Part 7 — Biodiversity conservation agreements 114. Minister may enter into biodiversity conservation agreement 74 115. Content of biodiversity conservation agreement 75 116. Amendment or cancellation of biodiversity conservation agreement 76 117. Lodgment of notification with Registrar and withdrawal of notification 77 118. Biodiversity conservation agreement binding on owners and occupiers 78 119. Duty to notify CEO of change in ownership or occupation 78 120. Action in respect of money, goods or services provided under agreement 79 Part 8 — Biodiversity conservation covenants 121. Terms used 81 122. Biodiversity conservation covenant 81 123. Consents required 82 124. Persons bound by biodiversity conservation covenant 82 125. Modification of biodiversity conservation covenant 83 126. Cancellation of biodiversity conservation covenant 83 127. Lodgment of biodiversity conservation covenant with Registrar 83 128. Instruments relating to modification or cancellation of biodiversity conservation covenant to be given to Registrar 84 129. Biodiversity conservation covenant binding on successive owners 85 130. Contravention of biodiversity conservation covenant 85 131. Duty to notify CEO of change in ownership or occupation 85 Part 10 — Fauna and flora Division 1 — Protection of fauna Subdivision 1 — Property in fauna 145. Term used: fauna 87 146. Property in fauna 87 147. Property remains vested in the State in certain cases 87 148. No compensation 88 Subdivision 2 — Protection provisions 149. Taking fauna other than threatened fauna or managed fauna 88 150. Taking threatened fauna 89 151. Defences to charges under s. 149 and 150 89 152. Possessing fauna 90 153. Disturbing fauna 91 154. Offender liable to punishment for certain offences despite The Criminal Code s. 11 93 155. Feeding fauna 93 156. Use of prohibited device or prohibited method when taking or disturbing fauna 93 157. Dealing in fauna 93 158. Processing fauna 94 159. Importing fauna 95 160. Exporting fauna 95 161. Injured or abandoned fauna 96 162. Releasing fauna 97 163. Managed fauna 98 164. Regulations: stranded or distressed fauna 99 165. Humane destruction of fauna 100 Division 2 — Protection of flora Subdivision 1 — Property in flora 166. Term used: flora 100 167. Property in flora 100 168. Property remains vested in the State in certain cases 100 169. Flora propagated from taken flora 101 170. No compensation 101 Subdivision 2 — Protection provisions 171. Taking flora 101 172. Taking sandalwood 102 173. Taking threatened flora 103 174. Defences to charges under s. 171, 172 and 173 104 175. Use of prohibited device or prohibited method when taking flora 104 176. Supplying flora 105 177. Dealing in flora 105 178. Processing flora 106 179. Exporting flora 106 180. Additional penalty for offence involving sandalwood 107 Division 3 — Taking or disturbance by Aboriginal people 181. Terms used 108 182. Taking or disturbance for Aboriginal customary purposes 109 183. Possessing fauna taken for Aboriginal customary purposes 111 184. Selling fauna or flora taken for Aboriginal customary purposes 111 185. Permission given by exclusive native title holder to take or disturb fauna 111 186. Regulations: restriction or exclusion of s. 182(2) or (3) 112 Division 4 — Other matters 187. Orders limiting quantity of sandalwood taken 112 188. Regulations: charges for fauna and flora 114 189. Operation of The Criminal Code s. 417 not affected 115 Part 11 — Nature‑based tourism and recreation 190. Terms used 116 191. Issue of codes of practice 116 192. Approval of codes of practice 116 193. Regulations: nature‑based tourism and recreation 117 194. Consultation 118 Part 12 — Inspection and compliance Division 1 — Preliminary 195. Terms used 119 196. Reasonably suspects: meaning 120 197. Thing relevant to an offence: meaning 120 Division 2 — Inspection and related functions 198. Purposes for which inspection may be carried out 121 199. Power to enter places 121 200. Power to enter includes power to enter some other places 122 201. Power to stop and enter vehicles and ancillary powers 122 202. Application of CI Act s. 31 123 203. Other powers related to inspection 123 204. Obtaining records 124 205. Directions 125 206. Seizure of thing relevant to an offence 127 207. Dealing with seized thing 128 208. Dealing with seized live fauna 129 209. Forensic examination 129 Division 3 — Entry warrants 210. Applying for entry warrant 130 211. Making an application 131 212. Further provisions relating to application for entry warrant 132 213. Issuing entry warrant 132 214. Effect of entry warrant 133 215. Execution of entry warrant 133 Division 4 — Remedial action 216. Term used: relevant instrument 134 217. CEO may take remedial action 134 218. Notice required before remedial action 135 219. Recovery of costs of remedial action 135 Division 5 — Other provisions 220. Time and place for compliance with direction 136 221. Direction may be given orally or in writing 136 222. Exercise of power may be recorded 136 223. Assistance to exercise powers 136 224. Use of force 137 225. Evidence obtained improperly 137 226. Compliance with directions 139 227. False or misleading information 139 228. Obstruction of wildlife officer 139 229. Self‑incrimination not an excuse 140 230. Orders for forfeiture or disposal of seized things 140 231. Application of Criminal and Found Property Disposal Act 2006 140 Part 13 — Legal proceedings Division 1 — General provisions relating to offences 232. Who can commence prosecution 141 233. Time for commencing prosecution 141 234. Attempt, incitement or accessory after the fact 141 235. Penalties for continuing offences 142 236. Court may cancel or suspend licence 142 Division 2 — Responsibility of certain persons 237. Liability of officers for offence by body corporate 142 239. Liability of partners 143 240. Liability of principals for offence by agent 144 241. Liability of employers for offence by employee 145 Division 3 — Remediation orders 242. Terms used 146 243. Making a remediation order 146 244. Limitation on making remediation order: damage to habitat on private land 147 245. Enforcement of remediation order under s. 243(1)(a) 147 246. Enforcement of remediation order under s. 243(1)(b) 148 Division 4 — Evidentiary provisions 247. Terms used 148 248. Presumption as to identity of alleged offender 148 249. Presumption as to place of offence 149 250. Evidence as to authority or status 149 251. Evidence as to type of organism, species, ecological community or habitat 150 252. Evidence of scientific matters 151 253. Evidence as to authorisations, notices and other documents 152 254. Provisions in addition to Evidence Act 1906 152 Part 14 — Regulations, orders and guidelines Division 1 — Regulations 255. Regulations: general power 153 256. Regulations: licensing 153 257. Regulations may adopt codes or legislation 155 Division 2 — Orders 258. Orders made by Minister 156 259. Certain orders subject to disallowance 156 Division 3 — Guidelines 260. Guidelines about listing 157 261. Other guidelines 158 262. Publication, amendment and revocation of guidelines 158 263. Guidelines to be taken into account 158 264. Status of guidelines 159 Part 15 — Miscellaneous Division 1 — Documents 265. Giving documents to CEO 160 266. Giving documents generally 160 267. Giving documents to owner or occupier of land 161 268. Giving certain notices 162 269. Time when document given 162 270. Defects in document 163 Division 2 — Other matters 271. Exemptions from Act 163 272. Resolution of matters relating to powers and duties of public authorities 164 273. Protection from liability for wrongdoing 165 274. Information sharing 166 275. Confidentiality 168 276. Certain information may be kept confidential 169 277. Review of Act 169 Part 16 — Repeals and transitional provisions Division 1 — Repeal of Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 Subdivision 1 — Repeals 278. Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 repealed 171 279. Subsidiary legislation repealed 171 Subdivision 2 — Transitional provisions 280. Consents under Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 s. 23F 171 Division 2 — Repeal of Sandalwood Act 1929 Subdivision 1 — Repeals 281. Sandalwood Act 1929 repealed 172 282. Sandalwood Regulations 1993 repealed 172 Subdivision 2 — Transitional provisions 283. Licences under Sandalwood Act 1929 172 Division 3 — Transitional regulations 284. Transitional regulations 172 Division 4 — General 285. Interpretation Act 1984 not affected 174 Part 17 — Consequential amendments to other Acts Division 1 — Conservation and Land Management Act 1984 amended 286. Act amended 175 287. Long title amended 175 288. Section 3 amended 175 289. Section 13A amended 176 290. Section 13B amended 176 291. Section 19 amended 176 292. Section 33 amended 177 293. Section 34A amended 180 294. Section 37 amended 181 295. Section 45 amended 181 296. Section 46 amended 182 297. Section 48 amended 182 298. Section 56 amended 182 299. Section 68 replaced 183 68. Biodiversity Conservation Account 183 300. Section 87 amended 184 301. Section 101B amended 184 302. Section 103A amended 185 303. Section 106 amended 185 304. Section 121 amended 185 305. Section 124 amended 185 306. Section 125 replaced 185 125. Application of Criminal Investigation Act 2006 and Criminal Investigation (Identifying People) Act 2002 to enforcement officers 185 126A. Department a prescribed agency for the Criminal and Found Property Disposal Act 2006 187 307. Section 127 amended 188 308. Section 132 amended 188 309. Section 133 amended 188 Division 2 — Other Acts amended 310. Animal Welfare Act 2002 amended 189 311. Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007 amended 191 312. Bush Fires Act 1954 amended 192 313. Constitution Acts Amendment Act 1899 amended 192 314. Environmental Protection Act 1986 amended 192 315. Financial Management Act 2006 amended 194 316. Firearms Act 1973 amended 194 317. Forest Products Act 2000 amended 194 318. Land Administration Act 1997 amended 195 319. Land Tax Assessment Act 2002 amended 195 42A. Land under biodiversity conservation covenant, exemption for 195 320. Soil and Land Conservation Act 1945 amended 195 Schedule 1 — Matters for which regulations may be made Notes Compilation table 200 Uncommenced provisions table 201 Defined terms Western Australia Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 An Act to provide for — * the conservation and protection of biodiversity and biodiversity components in Western Australia; and * the ecologically sustainable use of biodiversity components in Western Australia; and * the repeal of the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 and the Sandalwood Act 1929; and * consequential amendments to other Acts, and for related purposes. The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows: