Biosecurity Act 2019

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 – competing with other organisms for resources including food, water, nutrients, habitat and sunlight; or destroying or damaging the habitat of other organisms; or preying or feeding on other organisms; or transmitting disease to other organisms; or causing harm to other organisms through toxicity or disturbance; or reducing the productivity of any primary industry, or the value of any primary produce or commodity; or damaging infrastructure; or reducing the amenity or aesthetic value of premises; or harming or reducing biodiversity; or doing any other prescribed thing or having any other prescribed effect.

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.

For the purposes of this Act, a pest is an invasive pest in relation to Tasmania, or a specified part of Tasmania, if – before the discovery of the pest, the pest is not known to have been introduced to Tasmania or that part of Tasmania; or the pest is not otherwise known to be established in Tasmania or that part of Tasmania; or the pest is prescribed as an invasive pest.