With all the changes, if we werent part of this group and didnt talk to other herpers, How in gods name are we supposed to know about the new regulations?? I only found out about the new movement permit situation by talking to a breeder I know. I was given a turtle last week and i didnt even know that I required to submit a movement advice!!!! The guy I got it from knew nothing about it either. Imagine if NPWS did a check on me this week??? They would be asking me questions!!!
I rang them up yesterday and required about a few things. They are getting rid of specialist licences and so it is either recreational or commercial. A specialist licence will now be a rec licence with a clause stating that you have their permission to keep restricted reptiles. They guy on the phone checked and told me that if you make money off your herps, you are allowed to sell them, but it is not allowed to be your main source of income. So to me that means if you have a job that you earn more money from per annum, thats ok. He agreed but suggested I check with the ATO.
I also asked them whether they were sending out the new regulations + legislation to all licence holders, he said no, just the new applicants.
Rec Licences are now $50/5 years
There are no more 6 monthly-yearly returns... it is up to the keeper to ensure that their bookwork is up to date. NPWS will know how many herps you should have from the movement advices you have submitted. They are now $2.50 and you dont have to show your licence or tell them the number over the phone. It is the same price for everyone.
For more info go to:
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/ecoaccess/plants_and_animals/
Sorry about the long winded post
