Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

QUARANTINE ACT 1908 - SECT 78A

             (1)  In this section:

"installation" means:

                     (a)  an Australian installation; or

                     (b)  a resources installation which is in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming attached to the Australian seabed; or

                     (c)  a sea installation which is in Australian waters for the purpose of becoming installed in an adjacent area or in a coastal area.

"internal waters" , in relation to a State or an internal Territory, means the area comprising the waters of the sea within the limits of the State or the internal Territory and includes the space above or below that area.

"vessel" means:

                     (a)  an Australian vessel; or

                     (b)  a Cocos Islands vessel; or

                   (ba)  a Christmas Island vessel; or

                     (c)  an overseas vessel that is:

                              (i)  in the coastal area or the internal waters of a State or an internal Territory; and

                             (ii)  is travelling to a port or a place in the Commonwealth; or

                     (d)  a vessel in any port or other place in the Commonwealth.

             (2)  If a quarantine officer believes, on reasonable grounds, that a vessel or installation is in an insanitary condition, or is likely to be carrying diseases or pests, the quarantine officer may give a direction to the owner or master of the vessel or installation requiring a specified process to be carried out in respect of the vessel or installation in the manner specified in the direction.

             (3)  Without limiting subsection (2):

                     (a)  the process that may be specified in a direction given under that subsection includes:

                              (i)  subjecting the vessel or installation to specified treatment; and

                             (ii)  storing, discharging, removing, treating or disposing of refuse, organic waste, dunnage, sweepings from the hold or ballast water; and

                            (iii)  keeping food in a hygienic condition; and

                            (iv)  treating any thing on the vessel or installation; and

                             (v)  moving any people on the vessel or installation to a different part of the vessel or installation or causing them to disembark; and

                            (vi)  embarking people on to the vessel or installation; and

                           (vii)  moving or securing any goods on the vessel or installation or causing them to be unloaded; and

                          (viii)  loading goods on to the vessel or installation; and

                            (ix)  producing samples of, or exchanging or treating, ballast water in the vessel; and

                     (b)  the direction may specify where the specified process is to be carried out.

             (4)  A person is guilty of an offence if:

                     (a)  the person is given a direction under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  the person fails to comply with the direction.

Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.