AGY-1801 | Fauna Protection Panel

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The Fauna Protection Panel was constituted under the Fauna Protection Act, 1948 (Act No.47, 1948) which received assent on 24 December 1948. (1) The Act commenced from 1 July 1949. (2) Prior to this matters relating to birds and animals protection were handled by the Colonial Secretary's Department. (3) The purpose of the Act was to provide for the protection and preservation of fauna, while permitting the destruction and control of those species which were harmful to primary producers. (4) The Act applied to all fauna whether native or introduced. (5) The Fauna Protection Panel constituted by the Act consisted of the Chief Guardian who was the Chairman and thirteen appointed members. These were to include officers of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry Commission, Department of Conservation, Chief Secretary's Department, Australian Museum, Department of Education, Department of Lands, and Ministry of Tourist Activities and Immigration. There was also to be a nominee from the Senate of the University of Sydney, a person 'engaged in grazing or agricultural pursuits in New South Wales' and three persons nominated by 'organisations the constitutions of which include specific or general objects in relation to the preservation, conservation, protection or scientific investigation of fauna'. (6) The first Fauna Protection Panel appointed were: Francis James Griffiths (Chief Guardian of Fauna) as Chairman; Robert Jackson Noble; Harold Ernest Messer; Frederick Manson Bailey; Cecil Jones Buttsworth; William Wallace Jones; James Roy Kinghorn; Arthur Robert William Littlewood Jones; Harold Edwin Best; Patrick Desmond Fitzgerald Murray; Roger Bede Nott; Edward John Lees Hallstrom; Ellis Le Geyt Troughton and Allen Axal Strom. (7) The duties of the Panel were to advise the Minister on all matters relating to the Act; to engage in educational activities to awaken and maintain an appreciation of the value of fauna; to control and manage fauna reserves; to co-operate with other bodies in the care and development of reserves for fauna; to form or approve the formation of local fauna societies; to conduct scientific and biological research in connection with the care and protection of fauna; to issue licences to landholders to destroy protected species on their property; to declare open seasons for hunting approved species; to proclaim sanctuaries for the protection of wildlife; to proclaim rare fauna species. The Panel was responsible for licensing a range of activities related to the protection of wildlife including for the import and export of fauna, scientific licences, licences to deal in fauna and the skins of protected fauna. (8) In 1967 the Fauna Protection Panel amalgamated with the Parks and Reserves Branch of the Department of Lands to form the National Parks and Wildlife Service. (9) The Fauna Protection Panel was officially abolished by the National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1967 (Act No.35, 1967). (10) Endnotes:
(1) Fauna Protection Act, 1948 (Act No.47, 1948), s.5 (1).
(2) NSW Government Gazette (No.121), 1 July 1949, p.1839.
(3) Concise Guide to the New South Wales State Archives, 3rd ed., Colonial Secretary. E. Birds and Animals Protection http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/cguide/c1/colsec18.htm#E55E10 (cited 20 August 2007).
(4) Fauna Protection Panel; NRS 1107, Miscellaneous papers, 1949-50 [12/1600.1].
(5) Ibid.
(6) Fauna Protection Act, 1948, s.5.
(7) NSW Government Gazette (No.121), 1 July 1949, p.1842.
(8) Fauna Protection Act, 1948, s.6; Fauna Protection Panel; NRS 1107, Miscellaneous papers, 1949-50 [12/1600.1].
(9) Concise Guide to the New South Wales State Archives, 3rd ed., Lands. A.t. Miscellaneous Branch, later Parks and Reserves Branch http://www.records.nsw.gov.au/cguide/lo/lands017.htm#E26E30 (cited 20 August 2007).
(10) National Parks and Wildlife Act, 1967 (Act No.35, 1967), s.50; NSW Government Gazette (No.103), 22 September 1967, p.3445.