Biosecurity Act 2019

For the purposes of this Act, an animal, plant, place or other thing may reasonably be suspected of being infested with a pest if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting – that the pest is present in or on the animal, plant, place or other thing; or that there is present, in or on the place or other thing, a vehicle or other thing that has been in or on another place when the pest was present in or on that other place.

It is not necessary, in order to form a reasonable suspicion under this section that an animal, plant, place or other thing is infested with a pest, for the animal, plant, place or other thing to be exhibiting signs of infestation with the pest.

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 infested with a pest.