Political of Zoo in Australia

Australia Zoo and Related Legislation • Contents • Introduction and Overview • List of Legislation (collected so far) • Accreditation, Australian style

Australia Zoo and Related Legislation Introduction and Overview The material in this introduction was taken from an Essay written by this Editor for the Encyclopaedia of the World’s Zoos (see complete citation below). I had enormous help with information and interpretation from Matthew Crane, John Baker, Jonathan Wilken and Christine Hopkins. Unfortunately there was no mechanism to thank them in the Encyclopaedia and also we were constrained by space limitations. In the material below I have padded the Essay with material from these helpful colleagues which had been left out or short-shrifted earlier. I have also listed them by Institution and email in case further questions arise. Sally Walker Australia is one country but in terms of zoo legislation, each state and territory – with its own legislature and responsibilities and legislation – is such a distinct entity that we might be describing different countries. In fact, the Australian government consists of 5 States, 2 Territories and the Commonwealth, each, indeed, having its own legislature, e.g. Parliament and responsibilities under a national constitution. National issues are dealt with by the Commonwealth Government, e.g national security, quarantine, customs, international treaties, such as CITES. At the Commonwealth level, zoos principally have to comply with the Quarantine Act and the Wildlife Protection (Regulation of Imports and Exports) Act 1982 (Baker, in litt). There is seperate state legislation regarding wildlife protection, vertebrate pests and animal welfare. The States are responsible for native plants and animals – conservation, utilisation, harvesting, etc. such that do not conflict with the national constitution and its powers, or where the Government has responsibilities as a result of International Treaty such as CITES.. The import and...