Before pulling that rabbit out of your hat...

Prohibited matter and restricted matter will replace the declared pest classes under Queensland’s Biosecurity Act 2014. While prohibited biosecurity matter is illegal and not found in Queensland, restricted biosecurity matter may already be widely spread across Queensland but still needs to be contained. There are seven restriction categories.

Category 1 includes insects such as red imported fire ants, electric ants and Asian honey bees, and certain animal and plant diseases, aquatic diseases and pathogens. This restricted matter must be reported to an inspector within 24 hours on 13 25 23 of you becoming aware of its presence.

Category 2 includes certain noxious fish, weeds and pest animals such as spotted gar, Miconia weed and red-eared slider turtle. This restricted matter must also be reported to an authorised person within 24 hours on 13 25 23 of you becoming aware of its presence.

Category 3 includes certain noxious fish, weeds, pest animals and insects. Examples of this category of restricted matter are gambusia, parthenium weed and foxes. You must not supply to another person or release into the environment this category of restricted matter.

Category 4 includes specific noxious fish, weeds and pest animals such as the giant cichlid, bitou bush and feral pig. You must not move this restricted matter to ensure that it does not spread into other areas of the state.

Category 5 restricted matter includes certain noxious fish, weeds, pest animals such as carp, Mexican feather grass and rabbits. You must not possess or keep this restricted matter under your control. These pests have a high risk of negatively impacting on the environment.

Category 6 includes certain invasive animals such as feral deer, foxes, rabbits, and wild dogs and noxious fish such as carp, gambusia and tilapia. You must not feed this category of restricted matter. Feeding for the purpose of preparing for or undertaking a control program is exempted.

Category 7 restricted matter includes the noxious fish carp, weatherloach, climbing perch, gambusia and tilapia. If you have these noxious fish in your possession you must kill the restricted matter and dispose of it by burying the whole carcass (no parts removed) in the ground above the high tide water mark or placing it in a waste disposal receptacle.

Multiple categories may apply to restricted matter, and in such cases you would need to follow the requirements of all categories for these restricted matter listings. For example, the Act lists rabbits as category 3, 4, 5, and 6 restricted matter.

You may apply for a permit to deal with restricted matter for scientific research, commercial use or biological control purposes. Other legislation regulating the exhibited animal industry allows rabbits to be kept under permit for exhibition purposes including for use in magic acts and by zoos. You must comply with the requirements of each category for restricted matter unless otherwise authorised by a regulation or a permit.