(1) The Wildlife
Conservation Fund is established.
(2) The fund consists
of—
(a)
money derived by the Minister from any donation or grant made for the purposes
of the fund; and
(b)
money provided by Parliament for the purposes of the fund; and
(c)
money arising from any sale that the Minister is authorised to make in
pursuance of powers conferred by this Act; and
(ca)
money arising from the sale of an animal, or the carcass or eggs of an animal,
surrendered to the Minister, the Director or the Department; and
(d) fees
paid for permits under Part 5A; and
(e) fees
and royalties to be paid into the fund under any other provision of this Act;
and
(f)
interest and accretions arising from investment of the fund.
(3) Subject to this
Act, the Minister may apply any portion of the fund towards—
(a) the
conservation of wildlife, and land constituting the natural environment or
habitat of wildlife, in such manner as the Minister may, upon the
recommendation of the Parks and Wilderness Council, determine; and
(b) the
promotion of research into problems relating to the conservation of wildlife;
and
(c) any
other purpose for which the fund may be applied under this Act.
(4) The Minister may
invest any money of the fund that is not immediately required for the purposes
of the fund in such manner as is approved by the Treasurer.