Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00015:section:3:p2
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2025C00015
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 3 (pt 2/3)
Character Range: 60207–63155

sediment of certain vessels in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It requires reporting of intended or actual discharges of ballast water in Australian territorial seas. Discharging ballast water is an offence, subject to a range of exceptions, and there is an offence of disposing of sediment. For an Australian vessel, these offences apply whether the vessel is in or outside Australian seas. For a foreign vessel, the offences apply only if the vessel is in Australian seas. The definition of Australian seas depends on whether the Administration of the foreign vessel is a party to the Ballast Water Convention. The Chapter also includes provisions for ballast water management plans and certificates, record‑keeping obligations and powers to ensure compliance.
      Chapter 6 deals with managing biosecurity risks (other than those covered by Chapter 3 or 4) posed by diseases or pests that may be in or on goods or premises in Australian territory. The Chapter provides for powers to be exercised to monitor, respond to and control those risks.
      Chapter 7 provides for arrangements to be approved authorising and requiring biosecurity industry participants to carry out biosecurity activities to manage biosecurity risks associated with goods, premises or other things for the purposes of this Act.
      Chapter 8 provides for the Governor‑General to declare biosecurity emergencies and human biosecurity emergencies. Part 1 gives the Agriculture Minister special powers to deal with biosecurity emergencies and provides for certain powers to be delegated to national response agencies. Part 1 also includes other modifications of the Act that apply during biosecurity emergencies. Part 2 gives the Health Minister special powers to deal with human biosecurity emergencies, including by giving effect to recommendations of the World Health Organization.
      Chapter 9 gives officers powers to ensure people are complying with this Act, to investigate non‑compliance and to enforce this Act by means such as civil penalties, infringement notices, enforceable undertakings and injunctions. In many cases this is done by applying the Regulatory Powers Act. The Chapter also provides for warrants for officers to enter premises and exercise powers for some other purposes relating to biosecurity, as well as powers for officers to enter premises and exercise powers there without a warrant or consent in some limited cases. Officers have certain obligations relating to their entry to premises (with or without a warrant or consent), and occupiers of premises have certain rights relating to the activities of officers on their premises. The Chapter also includes other provisions relevant to ensuring compliance with this Act, such as how to determine whether a person is a fit and proper person.
      Chapter 10 deals with matters relating to governance and officials. It includes provisions relating