Biosecurity Act 2025

An owner or occupier of land may detain any stray livestock—

that is present on the land or in the vicinity of the land; and

that—

is known to be a biosecurity risk; or

the owner or occupier has reason to suspect is a biosecurity risk.

If livestock is detained under this section—

the owner or occupier must manage the livestock in accordance with requirements prescribed by the regulations; and

if the livestock poses a biosecurity risk, the owner or occupier must comply with any requirements of this Act that apply in the circumstances; and

the owner or occupier must take steps to identify and make contact with the owner of the livestock as required by the regulations; and

if the owner or occupier cannot identify or make contact with the owner of the livestock within a period prescribed by the regulations, the owner or occupier may, in circumstances prescribed by the regulations, sell or destroy the livestock; and

the owner or occupier may recover their reasonable costs and expenses of acting under this section from the owner of the livestock after taking into account the proceeds of any sale under paragraph (d) (which proceeds the owner or occupier may retain to the extent necessary to cover their reasonable costs and expenses).