24Reasonable suspicion – carriers

24 Reasonable suspicion – carriers

(1)  For the purposes of this Act, an animal, plant or other thing may reasonably be suspected of being a carrier of biosecurity matter if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that –

(a) biosecurity matter is present in or on the animal, plant or other thing; or

(b) the animal, plant or other thing is or has been in or with a flock, group or herd, or is travelling or has travelled on any land or place, or in a vehicle, on or in which there is or was an animal, plant or other thing that was a carrier of the biosecurity matter; or

(c) there is present, in or on the place where the animal, plant or other thing is kept, a vehicle, or other thing, that has been in or on another place when the biosecurity matter or a carrier of the biosecurity matter was present in, or on, that other place.

(2)  For the purposes of this Act, a place may reasonably be suspected of being a carrier of biosecurity matter if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that –

(a) biosecurity matter is present in or on the place; or

(b) there is present, in or on the place, a vehicle or other thing that has been in or on another place when the biosecurity matter or a carrier of the biosecurity matter was present in or on that other place.

(3)  It is not necessary, in order to form a reasonable suspicion under this section that an animal or plant is a carrier of biosecurity matter, for the animal or plant to be exhibiting signs of infection or contamination or other signs that it is a carrier.

(4)  Nothing in this section prevents the Secretary, an authorised officer or any other person from using any other evidence or consideration available to the Secretary, authorised officer or other person to form a reasonable suspicion that an animal, plant, place or other thing is a carrier of biosecurity matter.