Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 1992 - SECT 83

    (1)     Subject to this section, if an authorised officer believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to do so for the purposes of this Act, the officer may—

        (a)     enter any premises the officer believes on reasonable grounds is being used for—

              (i)     the purposes of research, or teaching, using animals; or

              (ii)     the acquisition, breeding or keeping of animals for such purposes; and

        (b)     exercise any power—

              (i)     under section 84; or

              (ii)     for the purposes of section 85.

    (2)     For subsection (1), an authorised officer may enter premises mentioned in subsection (1) (a)—

        (a)     at any time with the consent of the occupier of the premises; or

Note     The procedures for obtaining consent are set out in s 88.

        (b)     in accordance with a warrant under section 90; or

        (c)     at any time if the officer believes on reasonable grounds that serious and urgent circumstances require the immediate exercise of any of the officer's powers without a warrant.

    (3)     An authorised officer who enters premises under subsection (2) (c) may have reasonable assistance and use reasonable force to enter the premises.

    (4)     An authorised officer who enters premises under this section may take into the premises any people, equipment or material the officer reasonably needs for exercising a power under this Act.

    (5)     If a power is exercised in accordance with subsection (1) in relation to a vehicle, the relevant officer may stop and detain the vehicle for the purpose of the exercise of that power.