Exhibited Animals Bill 2015
Plain English Summary
Overview
This bill creates a single law for exhibiting animals in Queensland, covering zoos, wildlife parks, aquariums, circuses and mobile animal shows. It replaces four overlapping Acts with one exhibition licence and a new legal duty to minimise animal welfare, biosecurity and public safety risks.
Who it affects
Operators of animal exhibits face simpler licensing but tougher obligations, while visitors and the broader community get stronger protections against cruelty, dangerous animals and pest species escaping.
Key changes
- One exhibition licence (up to three years) replaces six existing licensing schemes across the Nature Conservation, Fisheries, Animal Care and Protection, and Land Protection Acts
- New general obligation on exhibitors to take reasonable steps to prevent animal welfare, biosecurity and safety risks, with a maximum fine of 750 penalty units
- A wider range of exotic and native species can be exhibited if the applicant's management plan shows risks can be managed
- High pest-risk exotic animals (prohibited matter under the Biosecurity Act) must be kept at a fixed public exhibit, with mobile display only under a one-year special approval
- New inspection, seizure and forfeiture powers, mandatory reporting of serious incidents including human deaths, and an accredited private assessor scheme to support licence renewals
Bill Story
The journey of this bill through Parliament, including debate and recorded votes.
▸Committee27 Mar 2015View Hansard
Referred to Agriculture and Environment Committee
The Agriculture and Environment Committee examined the bill, which proposed to consolidate and streamline the licensing of exhibited animals in Queensland under a single risk-based regulatory framework, replacing provisions spread across several existing Acts. The committee recommended the bill be passed with amendments, making seven recommendations focused on reducing regulatory burden on mobile exhibitors, adjusting minimum exhibition requirements, and improving the clarity of risk management obligations. The government agreed to all recommendations in full or in principle.
Key findings (5)
- The bill consolidated licensing provisions from three existing Acts into a single framework covering animal welfare, biosecurity, and safety risks for exhibited animals
- Mobile exhibitors, who made up about half of all permit holders, raised significant concerns about restrictions that disadvantaged them compared to fixed exhibitors such as zoos
- The committee recommended reducing minimum exhibition hours and providing exemptions for circumstances where animals were temporarily unsuitable for exhibit
- The committee raised concerns about regulatory complexity and recommended the department develop template management plans and application guidelines to assist small business exhibitors
- The government agreed to all seven committee recommendations in full or in principle and committed to consulting exhibitors during development of regulations
Recommendations (7)
- The committee recommends that the Bill be passed with the amendments proposed in this report.
- The committee recommends that the Bill be amended to specify that a 'regular enclosure' at a 'regular enclosure site' need not be open generally to the public, provided the exhibitor still meets minimum exhibition requirements and the enclosure meets required standards.
- The committee recommends that the Bill be amended by removing clause 76(4) in relation to the minimum three hour on each occasion restriction.
- The committee recommends that the Bill be amended at clauses 76(2) and (3) to reduce the minimum annual hours to 50 hours in each calendar month and 600 hours in the year.
- The committee recommends that the Bill be amended to provide exemptions to clauses 75 and 76 for reasonable circumstances where an animal is temporarily not suitable for exhibit or where exhibit may impact on relevant risks.
- The committee recommends that the department considers alternative licensing requirements such as a tiered 'proportionate to risk' application and approval process, and considers limiting the regulatory impact of the management plan requirement.
- The committee recommends that the department clarifies the use of 'significant relevant risks and adverse effects' and 'relevant risks and adverse effects' within the Bill, and develops application guidelines to assist authority holders.
Committee report tabled
▸Second Reading21 May 2015View Hansard
Vote on a motion
The motion was rejected.
A formal vote on whether to accept a proposal — this could be the bill itself, an amendment, or another motion.
▸Show individual votesHide individual votes
Ayes (42)
Noes (44)
▸14 members spoke14 support
Supported the bill for consolidating six overlapping licensing frameworks into a single scheme, reducing regulatory burden on exhibitors while ensuring animal welfare, biosecurity and safety risks are managed through risk-based licensing and management plans.
“I support the bill before the House because I believe that it achieves the desired objectives of providing for exhibiting and dealing with exhibited animals, while ensuring the relevant risks and relevant adverse effects associated with such activities are prevented or minimised.”— 2015-06-03View Hansard
As Minister for Agriculture, moved the second reading and outlined the government's response to committee recommendations, including amendments to allow mobile exhibition of low-risk category C1 animals and reduce minimum exhibition hours.
“I want to assure members that the Queensland government is committed to ensuring a bright future for the exhibited animals industry.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill for streamlining regulations to protect animals, the community and the environment while supporting growth in a $100 million industry. Highlighted the bill's potential to create jobs and boost tourism.
“This bill replaces six licensing schemes and parts of four acts with a single licensing scheme under a single act. Simplifying the licensing system is a big win for exhibitors.”— 2015-06-03View Hansard
Supported the bill as reflecting the LNP bill introduced in the previous parliament by Dr John McVeigh, praised the committee recommendations particularly around mobile exhibitors and management plans, and emphasised the importance of the exhibited animals industry to Queensland.
“The LNP remains committed to this important industry—ensuring that in Queensland it can grow and become more prosperous.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
As minister, replied to the debate welcoming bipartisan support. Noted the bill built on the previous LNP government's bill with improvements, and foreshadowed amendments to create a category C1 subcategory for lower-risk exotic species and reduce minimum exhibition hours by one-third.
“This bill is based on a bill that was introduced to the House by my predecessor, the member for Toowoomba South, the Hon. John McVeigh, in 2014; however, it incorporates improvements.”— 2015-06-03View Hansard
As committee chair, spoke in support of the bill, outlining its purpose to consolidate fragmented regulation, introduce risk-based licensing, and improve animal welfare, biosecurity and public safety standards.
“This Exhibited Animals Bill 2015 is an important piece of legislation. It brings together several components around the exhibition of animals into one consolidated bill.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill as deputy chair of the committee, noting it will reduce red tape, ensure new opportunities for the industry and deal with community expectations of risk, while acknowledging the minister's acceptance of committee recommendations.
“Queensland needed a consistent approach to the laws applying to the management of exhibited animals.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill for streamlining regulation of animal exhibits, consolidating multiple licensing schemes into a single coherent framework, and introducing risk-based licensing through management plans.
“The Exhibited Animals Bill 2015 will streamline regulation of animal exhibits. Currently, laws regulating animal exhibition are spread across several acts. This bill will create a single coherent framework for regulating the exhibited animals industry. That is why I am standing here today in support of the bill.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill as a committee member, praising the passion of exhibited animals industry stakeholders and noting the committee's recommendation to reduce minimum exhibition hours from 900 to 600 per year.
“Queensland is in the enviable position of having the best animal exhibition industry in Australia.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
As Minister for Environment, supported the bill and outlined how it would bring the David Fleay Wildlife Park, Walkabout Creek Visitor Centre and Daisy Hill Koala Centre under the new licensing framework.
“As the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection and Minister for National Parks and the Great Barrier Reef, I take my responsibilities for the management of native wildlife protected under the Nature Conservation Act very seriously.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill as former minister for environment, commending the minister for reintroducing the bill. Raised concerns about ensuring codes of practice consultation involves only government and affected industry, and urged reduced regulatory burden of management plans for large zoos.
“I am pleased—and commend the minister for reintroducing the bill—to finally see it come into legislation because, ultimately, it will bring together several pieces of legislation and some very convoluted regulation and subordinate legislation that are hard for the industry to navigate.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill as a committee member, emphasising its importance for regulating animal welfare, biosecurity and public safety, and defending Australia's biosecurity against exotic pest establishment.
“This legislation addresses a real need in our community and our fragile continent to regulate special types of animals that are used in exhibitions throughout this state.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill for creating a single regulatory structure for licensing and monitoring exhibited animals, emphasising the importance of biosecurity and the industry's $100 million contribution to the Queensland economy.
“A single regulatory structure for the licensing and monitoring of exhibited animals will streamline the required governance process and strengthen protections within Queensland.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
Supported the bill for removing regulatory complexity and consolidating six fragmented licensing schemes into a single act, while maintaining animal welfare, biosecurity and safety standards.
“This bill will create new opportunities for Queensland businesses by ensuring that future licensing decisions are based on risks, not lists.”— 2015-05-21View Hansard
▸In Detail3 June 2015View Hansard
Government amendments 1-22 to clauses 1-282: Created a new category C1/C2 subdivision for exotic animals, allowing lower-risk category C1 species (prescribed by regulation) to be exhibited without being restricted to fixed exhibits or special exhibition approvals. Reduced minimum exhibition hours for category C2 animals by one-third (from 75 to 50 hours per month and 900 to 600 hours per year for fixed exhibits; from 450 to 300 hours per year for mobile exhibits). Also clarified management plan requirements to focus on 'significant' risks and adverse effects, and made minor drafting corrections.
Government amendments 23-26 to schedules 1-3: Added dictionary definitions for the new category C1 and C2 subdivisions, expanded the definition of 'court' to include cost recovery proceedings under section 238, and clarified the definition of 'serious injury or illness' regarding treatment following exposure to substances transmitted from an animal.
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