Western Australia gives the reason in one line: pets and many other animals, and the vehicles and gear used to move them, can carry pests and diseases that may threaten biosecurity. Tasmania says it is free from many animal pests and diseases present on the mainland because of its sea barrier, and that its requirements on importing animals are very strict.
Animal by animal
| Animal | Into Tasmania | Into Western Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs | Proof of worming treatment, and a tick check in the last 24 hours. See the dog’s label below. | No inspection and no specific import entry requirements. |
| Cats | No restrictions on importing cats. The page asks that your cat be healthy enough to travel and up to date with its vaccinations. | No inspection and no specific import entry requirements. |
| Rabbits, guinea pigs and other small pets | Guinea pigs and rabbits are allowed. No seed, fresh fruit or grains as bedding or feed; shredded newspaper is the recommended bedding. Declare them, and they will be inspected. | Domestic and commercial breeds of rabbit, plus guinea pigs, ferrets, rats and mice, have no specific entry requirements but are inspected. Any straw, hay, seed or plant material, and any fresh fruit or vegetables, must be taken out of the cage first. Brown, wild-type rabbits are prohibited. |
| Birds | Domestic birds listed as “Domestic Stock” in the Animal Biosecurity Manual are allowed, with common and scientific names on the transfer cage. No fruit, bird seed or plant material as feed or bedding. Declare them; inspection required. | All birds are inspected on arrival and birdseed must be removed from cages. Many non-native species are prohibited and need an import permit; a prohibited animal, pet birds included, without a permit is refused entry. |
| Reptiles and frogs | Not covered in this guide; see Tasmania’s animals page. | Many are prohibited and others need a permit. Check the animal’s status with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Western Australian Organism List before importing, and declare it on arrival. |
| Aquarium fish | The container must be labelled as live fish with common and scientific names, and some species are restricted. | All live fish are inspected on arrival and must be free from aquatic snails; some species are banned. |
A dog going to Tasmania
This is the rule most households meet, so here it is in full, in the order you would do it.
Into Tasmania
- Within 14 days before entry, treat the dog with praziquantel at a dose rate of 5 mg per kilogram of body weight.
- Keep proof: a statement or certificate from a vet, a statutory declaration by the owner, or the empty pill packet and proof of purchase with the treatment date written on the package.
- Within the last 24 hours, check the dog and find it free from brown dog tick and apparently healthy. This applies to all dogs, assistance dogs included.
- Have the paperwork ready: Biosecurity Tasmania’s animals page links a Declaration by Owner or Importer for the Entry of Dogs into Tasmania beside the treatment rule.
Three cases differ. A puppy 12 weeks and under needs proof of its age. Handlers of accredited assistance dogs present the accreditation documents on arrival and complete a biosecurity declaration, which exempts the dog from the worming requirement. A Tasmanian dog returning within 14 days needs evidence it has been away no longer than that, such as travel tickets that clearly describe the dog.
Two rules apply once you live there. Tasmania’s page says every dog must be microchipped once it is 6 months old, with exceptions for racing greyhounds, hunting and working dogs, and dogs a vet has found it unsafe to chip. Under the Cat Management Act 2009, cats over four months old must be desexed and microchipped, and owning more than four cats needs a multiple cat permit.
Dingoes, foxes and wolves are prohibited.
Arriving in Western Australia with an animal
Most animals are inspected on arrival in WA, birdseed, fodder and bedding have to come out of cages, and inspection fees and charges may apply. WA’s Import Requirements Search lists the permitted animals that need no import or keeping permit. Its page advises checking whether your animal is exempt from permits before you reach the checkpoint, because inspectors check each species’ identity and permits.
Two lookups come up again and again on WA’s page: the Quarantine WA Import Requirements Search and the Western Australian Organism List.
Everywhere else
This guide quotes Tasmania and Western Australia because both publish pet entry rules on pages it could check. For a move into another state or territory, the rules vary: look up its biosecurity agency through the Australian Interstate Quarantine site, and ask your vet what the trip itself needs.