South Australia
Forestry Act 1950
An Act to provide for the creation and management of State forests and other related matters.

Contents
Part 1—Preliminary
1	Short title
2	Interpretation
Part 2—Declaration of forest reserves and native forest reserves
3	Forest reserves and native forest reserves
Part 3—Administration
8	Minister may delegate
8A	Forest wardens
8B	Identity cards
8C	Powers of forest warden
8D	Seizure and forfeiture of things used in or furnishing evidence of offences
8E	False representation
8F	Immunity from liability
Part 4—Management of forests and disposal of products
9	Control of forest reserves
9A	Management of native forest reserves
10	Leases of forest reserves
11	Licences and other interests in forest reserves
12	Planting and milling of timber
13	Sale of timber
16	Forest reserves cannot be sold
17	Prevention of fire
18	Injury to forest reserves
Part 5—Miscellaneous
19A	Evidentiary
21	Regulations
Legislative history

The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:
Part 1—Preliminary
1—Short title
This Act may be cited as the Forestry Act 1950.
2—Interpretation
	(1)	In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, or some other meaning is clearly intended—
Corporation means South Australian Forestry Corporation established under the South Australian Forestry Corporation Act 2000;
Crown lands means Crown lands as defined in the Crown Lands Act 1929;
forest reserve means land declared by proclamation under this Act to be a forest reserve;
forest warden means—
	(a)	a person appointed to be a forest warden under this Act; or
	(b)	a member of the police force;
native forest reserve means a forest reserve, or part of a forest reserve, declared by proclamation under this Act to be a native forest reserve;
property means real and personal property.
	(2)	A reference to the Conservator of Forests in any Act, regulation, rule, by-law, document or writing of any kind is to be read, where the context admits, as a reference to the Corporation.

Part 2—Declaration of forest reserves and native forest reserves
3—Forest reserves and native forest reserves
	(1)	The Governor may, by proclamation—
	(a)	declare any Crown lands to be a forest reserve; or
	(b)	for purposes relating to the conservation, development and management of land supporting native flora and fauna, declare a forest reserve, or part of a forest reserve, to be a native forest reserve; or
	(c)	assign a name to a forest reserve, or native forest reserve.
	(2)	A proclamation declaring a forest reserve or part of a forest reserve to be a native forest reserve must contain a statement of the purposes for which the native forest reserve is established.
	(3)	The Governor may, by subsequent proclamation, vary or revoke a proclamation under subsection (1).
	(4)	If, by virtue of a proclamation under this section, land that constitutes the whole or a part of a native forest reserve ceases to be such a reserve or to be within such a reserve, the Minister must cause a copy of the proclamation and a statement of the reasons for making the proclamation to be laid before both Houses of Parliament.
	(5)	A proclamation to which subsection (4) applies does not have effect—
	(a)	until fourteen sitting days of each House of Parliament have elapsed after a copy of the proclamation is laid before each House; and
	(b)	if, within those fourteen sitting days a motion for disallowance of the proclamation is moved in either House of Parliament—unless and until that motion is defeated or withdrawn, or lapses.
	(6)	Land that ceases to be native forest reserve does not, by reason only of that fact, cease to be forest reserve, but if land ceases to be forest reserve it will (if it was formerly native forest reserve) cease also to be native forest reserve.

Part 3—Administration
8—Minister may delegate
	(1)	The Minister may delegate any of his or her functions, powers or duties under this Act (except this power of delegation)—
	(a)	to a particular person or body; or
	(b)	to the person for the time being occupying a particular office or position.
	(2)	A delegation under this section—
	(a)	must be by instrument in writing; and
	(b)	may be absolute or conditional; and
	(c)	does not derogate from the power of the delegator to act in any matter; and
	(d)	is revocable at will by the delegator.
8A—Forest wardens
	(1)	The Minister may, by instrument in writing, appoint any person to be a forest warden under this Act.
	(2)	A forest warden will be appointed for such term as may be specified in the instrument of appointment.
	(3)	The Minister may, in the instrument of appointment, authorise the forest warden to exercise powers in respect of the whole, or any specified portion, of the State.
	(4)	Where the authority of a forest warden is limited by the instrument of appointment to any specified portion of the State, the powers conferred on him or her are exercisable only within that portion of the State.
8B—Identity cards
The Minister must issue to each person appointed by the Minister to be a forest warden under this Act an identity card stating the name of the person and that he or she is a forest warden under this Act.
8C—Powers of forest warden
	(1)	Subject to this section, a forest warden may for the purpose of the administration and enforcement of this Act—
	(a)	require any person whom he or she finds committing, or whom he or she suspects on reasonable grounds of having committed, an offence against this Act, to state his or her full name and usual place of residence; or
	(b)	require any person whom he or she finds committing, or whom he or she suspects on reasonable grounds of having committed, an offence against this Act on forest reserve to leave that forest reserve; or
	(c)	enter and search any land, building, structure, vehicle, vessel or place in which he or she suspects on reasonable grounds that there is anything that is likely to afford evidence of an offence against this Act and, for the purpose of making any such entry and search in relation to a vehicle or vessel, require the person in charge to stop the vehicle or vessel; or
	(d)	require any person whom he or she suspects on reasonable grounds of having done any act for which that person is required to hold a permit under this Act to produce the permit.
	(2)	A forest warden cannot exercise the powers conferred by subsection (1)(c) except upon the authority of a warrant issued by a justice unless he or she believes upon reasonable grounds that in the circumstances of the case urgent action is required.
	(3)	A person must not fail to comply with a requirement made of him or her by a forest warden under this section.
Maximum penalty: $2 500.
	(4)	A person must not hinder a forest warden in the exercise of powers or functions under this Act.
Maximum penalty: $2 500.
	(5)	A person must not use abusive, threatening or insulting language to a forest warden exercising powers or functions under this Act.
Maximum penalty: $2 500.
	(6)	A person must not assault a forest warden exercising powers or functions under this Act.
Maximum penalty: $10 000 or 2 years imprisonment.
	(7)	A forest warden may arrest without warrant any person—
	(a)	who fails to comply with a requirement lawfully made of that person by a forest warden under subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b); or
	(b)	who hinders or assaults a forest warden in the exercise of powers or functions under this Act.
	(8)	Upon arresting any person in pursuance of this section, a forest warden must forthwith convey the person, or cause him or her to be conveyed, to the nearest police station.
	(9)	A forest warden must upon demand by any person in relation to whom the warden is exercising or proposing to exercise powers under this Act produce his or her identity card or, where the forest warden is a member of the police force not in uniform, his or her certificate of authority, for inspection by that person.
	(10)	A forest warden may, if he or she believes upon reasonable grounds that in the circumstances of the case the assistance of another person is needed and that it is not practicable to obtain the assistance of another forest warden, request any other suitable person to assist the warden in the exercise of powers under this Act.
	(11)	A person, while assisting a forest warden in response to a request for assistance by the forest warden, has, and may exercise, all such powers of a forest warden under this Act as are reasonably necessary for the purpose.
8D—Seizure and forfeiture of things used in or furnishing evidence of offences
	(1)	A forest warden may seize anything that the warden suspects on reasonable grounds—
	(a)	has been used in the execution or furtherance, or intended execution or furtherance, of an offence against this Act; or
	(b)	furnishes evidence of the commission of an offence against this Act.
	(2)	If a living animal is seized under this section, it may be released from captivity.
	(3)	If anything has been seized under this section and—
	(a)	proceedings are not instituted for an offence against this Act that is related to the thing seized within three months of its seizure; or
	(b)	proceedings have been so instituted, but the thing seized is not ordered to be forfeited to the Crown,
the person from whom it was seized is entitled to recover it, or, if it has been destroyed or damaged or has deteriorated, to recover from the Minister, by action in any court of competent jurisdiction, compensation for the loss suffered.
	(4)	A court, on convicting any person of an offence against this Act may, if it thinks fit, in addition to imposing any penalty, order that anything seized under this section that related to the commission of the offence be forfeited to the Crown.
	(5)	Anything forfeited to the Crown will be disposed of in such manner as the Minister may direct, and, if sold, the proceeds of the sale must be paid into the Consolidated Account.
8E—False representation
A person must not, by words or conduct, falsely represent that he or she is a forest warden.
Maximum penalty: $2 500 or 6 months imprisonment.
8F—Immunity from liability
	(1)	No personal liability attaches to a forest warden, or a person assisting a forest warden, for an act or omission in good faith and in the exercise or discharge, or the purported exercise or discharge, of powers or functions under this Act.
	(2)	A liability that would, but for subsection (1), lie against a forest warden or person assisting a forest warden lies instead against the Crown.

Part 4—Management of forests and disposal of products
9—Control of forest reserves
Subject to this Act, the Corporation has the control and management of every forest reserve.
9A—Management of native forest reserves
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, the Corporation must manage a native forest reserve having regard to the purposes for which it was established and must endeavour to ensure that no operations are undertaken on the reserve that are inconsistent with those purposes.
10—Leases of forest reserves
The Corporation may grant, on such terms and conditions as the Corporation thinks fit, a lease of the whole or any part of any forest reserve, being land which is not required for operations carried on by the Corporation under this Act.
11—Licences and other interests in forest reserves
The Corporation may grant, on such terms and conditions as the Corporation thinks fit, a licence, easement or any other interest in or over the whole or any part of a forest reserve.
12—Planting and milling of timber
The Corporation may—
	(a)	plant any forest reserve with trees;
	(b)	take any action necessary or convenient to be taken to protect any trees in a forest reserve and ensure their proper growth;
	(c)	establish, maintain, and operate mills, plant and machinery for the milling and treatment of such trees and timber.
13—Sale of timber
The Corporation may sell or otherwise dispose of any trees or timber produced in forests under the control and management of the Corporation and any mill products produced in the milling or treatment of those trees or timber.
16—Forest reserves cannot be sold
Nothing in this Act authorises the Corporation to sell a forest reserve or part of a forest reserve.
17—Prevention of fire
	(1)	In this section—
authorised person means the Corporation, or any person authorised by the Corporation to take action under this section.
	(2)	For the prevention of fire, an authorised person may cut down, destroy or remove trees, scrub or inflammable material of any kind on any road adjoining a forest reserve.
	(3)	Before taking any action under subsection (2) on a road within the area of a council, the authorised person must give the council notice of intention to do so, and must consider any representations made to the authorised person by the council within one month after the giving of the notice.
	(4)	Compensation is not payable to a council or any other person for any tree, scrub or material cut down, destroyed or removed under this section.
	(5)	The authorised person must make good any damage caused by the authorised person to any fence or other property by anything done under this section, and must remove from the road or otherwise dispose of any logs, branches or debris arising from action taken under this section.
18—Injury to forest reserves
	(1)	A person who without the consent of the Corporation injures, destroys or interferes with any property belonging to, or under the control or management of, the Corporation is guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: $2 500 or 6 months imprisonment.
	(2)	If any such property is injured or destroyed by an animal, the owner of the animal will be taken to have injured or destroyed that property unless he or she proves that the injury or destruction was caused by the wilful or negligent act of some other person.
	(3)	The court by which a person is convicted of an offence against this section may order that person to pay to the Corporation compensation for the damage done.

Part 5—Miscellaneous
19A—Evidentiary
	(1)	In any proceedings for an offence against this Act, any permit under this Act and the conditions to which the permit is or was subject may be proved by production of a copy of the permit.
	(2)	In any proceedings for an offence against this Act, an apparently genuine document purporting to be a copy of a permit granted under this Act and to be signed by an officer authorised to grant such a permit will be taken to be a copy of such a permit in the absence of proof to the contrary.
	(3)	In any proceedings for an offence against this Act, if it is alleged—
	(a)	that a person was at the relevant time a forest warden; or
	(b)	that the act or omission subject to the charge related to or took place on specified forest reserve land,
the matter alleged will be taken to be proved in the absence of proof to the contrary.
21—Regulations
	(1)	The Governor may make such regulations as are contemplated by, or necessary or expedient for the purposes of, this Act.
	(2)	Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may—
	(a)	provide for the control, management and protection of forest reserves and all other property belonging to, or under the control or management of, the Corporation;
	(b)	prohibit or regulate access to, use of or conduct on land belonging to, or under the control or management of, the Corporation;
	(c)	provide for the grant by the Corporation of permits to enter or use land belonging to, or under the control or management of, the Corporation and for the revocation of such permits;
	(d)	provide for the imposition of conditions on permits and the variation of such conditions;
	(e)	fix fees for permits;
	(f)	fix expiation fees (not exceeding $105) for alleged offences against the regulations;
	(g)	impose penalties (not exceeding $750) for offences against the regulations.
	(3)	Regulations under this Act—
	(a)	may be of general application or limited application;
	(b)	may make different provision according to the matters or circumstances to which they are expressed to apply;
	(c)	may provide that a matter or thing in respect of which regulations may be made is to be determined according to the discretion of the Minister or the Corporation.

Legislative history
Notes
	•	Amendments of this version that are uncommenced are not incorporated into the text.
	•	Please note—References in the legislation to other legislation or instruments or to titles of bodies or offices are not automatically updated as part of the program for the revision and publication of legislation and therefore may be obsolete.
	•	Earlier versions of this Act (historical versions) are listed at the end of the legislative history.
	•	For further information relating to the Act and subordinate legislation made under the Act see the Index of South Australian Statutes or www.legislation.sa.gov.au.
Principal Act and amendments
New entries appear in bold.
Year	No	Title	Assent	Commencement	
1950	17	Forestry Act 1950	2.11.1950	2.11.1950	
1956	27	Forestry Act Amendment Act 1956	15.11.1956	15.11.1956	
1974	119	Forestry Act Amendment Act 1974	5.12.1974	29.5.1975 (Gazette 29.5.1975 p2083)	
1981	84	Forestry Act Amendment Act 1981	3.12.1981	21.1.1982 (Gazette 21.1.1982 p152)	
1994	34	Forestry (Abolition of Board) Amendment Act 1994	2.6.1994	9.6.1994 (Gazette 9.6.1994 p1668)	
2000	58	South Australian Forestry Corporation Act 2000	20.7.2000	1.1.2001 (Gazette 16.11.2000 p3196)	
2003	44	Statute Law Revision Act 2003	23.10.2003	Sch 1—24.11.2003 (Gazette 13.11.2003 p4048)	
2009	84	Statutes Amendment (Public Sector Consequential Amendments) Act 2009	10.12.2009	Pt 64 (s 159)—1.2.2010 (Gazette 28.1.2010 p320)	
Provisions amended since 3 February 1976
	•	Legislative history prior to 3 February 1976 appears in marginal notes and footnotes included in the consolidation of this Act contained in Volume 4 of The Public General Acts of South Australia 1837-1975 at page 312.
New entries appear in bold.
Entries that relate to provisions that have been deleted appear in italics.
Provision	How varied	Commencement	
Long title	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
Pt 1	heading inserted by 44/2003 s 3(1) (Sch 1)	24.11.2003	
s 2			
s 2(1)	s 2 redesignated as s 2(1) by 84/1981 s 3(d)	21.1.1982	
the board	deleted by 34/1994 s 3(a)	9.6.1994	
Chief Executive Officer	inserted by 34/1994 s 3(a) 	9.6.1994	
	deleted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
the Conservator	deleted by 84/1981 s 3(a)	21.1.1982	
Corporation	inserted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
Crown lands	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
the Director	inserted by 84/1981 s 3(b)	21.1.1982	
	deleted by 34/1994 s 3(b)	9.6.1994	
forest reserve	substituted by 84/1981 s 3(b)	21.1.1982	
forest warden	inserted by 84/1981 s 3(b)	21.1.1982	
	substituted by 34/1994 s 3(c)	9.6.1994	
the Minister	deleted by 34/1994 s 3(d)	9.6.1994	
native forest reserve	inserted by 84/1981 s 3(c)	21.1.1982	
s 2(2)	inserted by 84/1981 s 3(d)	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 s 3(e), Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
ss 2A—2C	deleted by 84/1981 s 4	21.1.1982	
Pt 2	heading inserted by 44/2003 s 3(1) (Sch 1)	24.11.2003	
s 3	substituted by 84/1981 s 4	21.1.1982	
s 3(2)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 3(4)	substituted by 34/1994 s 4	9.6.1994	
s 3(5) and (6)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 3(7)	deleted by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
ss 4 and 5	deleted by 34/1994 s 5	9.6.1994	
s 6	amended by 84/1981 s 5	21.1.1982	
	deleted by 34/1994 s 5	9.6.1994	
s 7	amended by 84/1981 s 6	21.1.1982	
	deleted by 34/1994 s 5	9.6.1994	
Pt 3	heading preceding s 8 deleted and Pt 3 heading inserted by 44/2003 s 3(1) (Sch 1)	24.11.2003	
s 8	amended by 84/1981 s 7	21.1.1982	
	substituted by 34/1994 s 6	9.6.1994	
	substituted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 8A	inserted by 84/1981 s 8	21.1.1982	
s 8A(2)—(4)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 8A(5)	deleted by 34/1994 s 7	9.6.1994	
s 8B	inserted by 84/1981 s 8 	21.1.1982	
	substituted by 34/1994 s 8	9.6.1994	
s 8C	inserted by 84/1981 s 8	21.1.1982	
s 8C(1) and (2)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 8C(3)	amended by 34/1994 s 9(a), Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 8C(4)	amended by 34/1994 s 9(b), Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 8C(5)	amended by 34/1994 s 9(c), Sch 	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 8C(6)	amended by 34/1994 s 9(d), Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 8C(7)—(11)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 8D	inserted by 84/1981 s 8	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 8E	inserted by 84/1981 s 8	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 s 10, Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 8F	inserted by 34/1994 s 11	9.6.1994	
Pt 4	heading preceding s 9 deleted and Pt 4 heading inserted by 44/2003 s 3(1) (Sch 1)	24.11.2003	
s 9	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 9A	inserted by 84/1981 s 9	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 10	s 10(1) amended and redesignated as s 10 by 34/1994 s 12(a), Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 10(2)	deleted by 34/1994 s 12(b)	9.6.1994	
s 11	amended by 84/1994 s 8 	1.1.2001	
	substituted by 34/1994 s 13	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 12	amended by 34/1994 s 14	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 13	amended by 84/1981 s 11	21.1.1982	
	substituted by 34/1994 s 15	9.6.1994	
	substituted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 14	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
	deleted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 15	deleted by 34/1994 s 16	9.6.1994	
s 16	amended by 34/1994 s 17, Sch	9.6.1994	
	substituted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 16A	inserted by 84/1981 s 12	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
	deleted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 17			
s 17(1)			
authorised person	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 17(3)	substituted by 34/1994 Sch 	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 17(4)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 17(5)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 18			
s 18(1)	amended by 34/1994 s 18	9.6.1994	
	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 18(2)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 18(3)	amended by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 19	amended by 84/1981 s 13	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 s 19, Sch	9.6.1994	
	deleted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
Pt 5	heading preceding s 19A deleted and Pt 5 heading inserted by 44/2003 s 3(1) (Sch 1)	24.11.2003	
s 19A	inserted by 84/1981 s 14	21.1.1982	
s 19A(2) and (3)	amended by 34/1994 Sch	9.6.1994	
s 20	deleted by 34/1994 s 20	9.6.1994	
s 21	amended by 84/1981 s 15	21.1.1982	
	amended by 34/1994 s 21, Sch	9.6.1994	
	substituted by 58/2000 Sch 2	1.1.2001	
s 22	deleted by 84/1981 s 16	21.1.1982	
Transitional etc provisions associated with Act or amendments
Forestry (Abolition of Board) Amendment Act 1994
22—Transitional provision
The assets and liabilities of the Minister of Forests are vested in the Minister.
Historical versions
Reprint No 1—1.7.1991		
Reprint No 2—9.6.1994		
Reprint No 3—1.1.2001