16Meaning of pest and invasive pest

16 Meaning of pest and invasive pest

(1)  In this Act, a non-indigenous animal, or non-indigenous plant, is a pest if it has an adverse effect on or is suspected of having an adverse effect on the environment, the community or the economy by –

(a) competing with other organisms for resources including food, water, nutrients, habitat and sunlight; or

(b) destroying or damaging the habitat of other organisms; or

(c) preying or feeding on other organisms; or

(d) transmitting disease to other organisms; or

(e) causing harm to other organisms through toxicity or disturbance; or

(f) reducing the productivity of any primary industry, or the value of any primary produce or commodity; or

(g) damaging infrastructure; or

(h) reducing the amenity or aesthetic value of premises; or

(i) harming or reducing biodiversity; or

(j) doing any other prescribed thing or having any other prescribed effect.

(2)  In addition to subsection (1) , a pest includes any thing, whether indigenous or non-indigenous, prescribed to be a pest for the purposes of this Act.

(3)  For the purposes of this Act, a pest is an invasive pest in relation to Tasmania, or a specified part of Tasmania, if –

(a) before the discovery of the pest, the pest is not known to have been introduced to Tasmania or that part of Tasmania; or

(b) the pest is not otherwise known to be established in Tasmania or that part of Tasmania; or

(c) the pest is prescribed as an invasive pest.