Animals and Birds Act 1965 · 2020 Revised Edition · Part 3 · Prevention of Spread of Disease
20. Isolation or destruction of diseased animal or bird
Feedback & supportThe Director‑General or an authorised officer may require the immediate isolation or destruction of any animal or bird if —
Director‑General
“Director‑General” means the Director‑General, Animal Health and Welfare appointed under section 3(1);
the animal or bird is certified by an authorised examiner, upon any examination carried out under section 19, to be infected with disease;
the Director‑General or authorised officer has other reasonable cause for believing that the animal or bird is infected with disease; or
the Director‑General or authorised officer has reasonable cause for believing that the animal or bird —
may have been in contact with another animal or bird which is infected with disease;
may have been exposed to disease; or
may perpetuate any disease.
Any person who, without lawful excuse, refuses or fails to isolate or destroy any animal or bird when required to do so by the Director‑General or an authorised officer under subsection (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both.
animal
“animal” means any mammal (other than man) or fish and includes any other living creature that is prescribed as an animal for the purposes of this Act or that falls within a class of animals that is prescribed for those purposes;