AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
ANIMAL DISEASES ACT 1993
DECLARATION OF STOCK
DETERMINATION NO. 295 OF 2001
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Part 4 of the Animal Diseases Act 1993 (the Act) contains provisions for the control of
endemic stock diseases, including provisions relating to quarantine, movement of
stock and destruction of infected stock. The Minister is empowered to make
directions and take various actions to control the spread of an endemic stock disease.
The animals that can be affected by these actions depend in part on what animals are
defined as stock for the purposes of the Act. The powers of the Minister are limited to
actions in relation to diseases declared to be endemic.
Previously, stock has been declared by reference to a list of types of stock. Every time
farming practices have changed in the Territory, a new declaration has been required,
which has the potential to weaken the ability of government to take action in relation
to a disease outbreak. The approach taken now is to define very broadly what counts
as stock, so that the government response to an outbreak will not be limited in this
way. This approach also brings the ACT into line with other Australian jurisdictions,
particularly NSW.
The declaration defines all vertebrate animals except humans as stock. This will
include fish. Molluscs and crustaceans are included to catch all relevant aquaculture.
Bees are included to cover the bee keeping industry.