Biosecurity Act 2014

This section applies if an authorised officer seizes anything under this division unless—

the authorised officer reasonably believes there is no-one apparently in possession of the thing or the thing has been abandoned; or

because of the condition, nature and value of the thing it would be unreasonable to require the authorised officer to comply with this section.

The authorised officer must, as soon as practicable after seizing the thing, give an owner or person in control of the thing before it was seized—

a receipt for the thing that generally describes the thing and its condition; and

an information notice for the decision to seize it.

However, if an owner or person from whom the thing is seized is not present when it is seized, the receipt and information notice may be given by leaving them in a conspicuous position and in a reasonably secure way at the place at which the thing is seized.

The receipt and information notice may—

be given in the same document; and

relate to more than 1 seized thing.

The authorised officer may delay giving the receipt and information notice if the authorised officer reasonably suspects giving them may frustrate or otherwise hinder an investigation by the authorised officer under this Act.

However, the delay may be only for so long as the authorised officer continues to have the reasonable suspicion and remains in the vicinity of the place at which the thing was seized to keep it under observation.