Surveillance Devices Bill 2015

The Surveillance Devices Bill 2015 (‘the Bill’) will regulate the use of optical surveillance, data surveillance and location tracking devices.

It is the Government’s view that optical surveillance, data surveillance and location tracking devices need to be regulated. In a time of rapidly developing technology, to simply leave this area of law open to abuse is too dangerous.

The Government believes that animal welfare issues are public interest issues and rightly deserve publicity.

The proposed legislation does not seek to specifically restrict the filming of animal cruelty, and several exemptions have been included to ensure that legitimate public interest issues are not adversely impacted by the Bill. Similar legislation has been in place in other States and Territories for several years without adverse consequences.