Commentary on Sections Section 22 - Enforcement: wildlife inspectors
Section 22 strengthens the powers available to the Department’s Wildlife Inspectors.
It gives powers of entry to investigate whether certain offences involving wildlife have been committed, but this does not permit entry to a dwelling house. Power of entry to any premises including a dwelling house is permitted in order to facilitate the processing of applications for licences and to check for on-going compliance with licence conditions. A wildlife inspector may be accompanied by a veterinary surgeon if it is believed such a person will be needed for the purpose of taking samples. A wildlife inspector must produce evidence of his authority, if asked to do so.
It is an offence for any person to impersonate a wildlife inspector or to obstruct a wildlife inspector undertaking inspections.
There is provision to give wildlife inspectors powers to take samples, similar to the powers available to the police under Section 21. The same controls also apply.