(1)  Subject to subsection (2) , a person is not guilty of an offence under this Act in respect of conduct if –

(a) the person is a permit holder with a valid permit; and

(b) the permit authorises the conduct; and

(c) the person is acting in accordance with the permit when engaging in the conduct.

(2)  A permit does not authorise conduct in contravention of an emergency order or emergency biosecurity direction unless –

(a) the permit is an emergency permit granted in respect of the relevant emergency; and

(b) the conduct of the person is in accordance with the emergency permit.

(3)  Nothing in this section, or a permit, authorises a permit holder to contravene the provisions of any other Act.

(4)  For the avoidance of doubt, compliance with a permit in respect of a dealing may not, of itself, discharge the general biosecurity duty in respect of any dealing engaged in in accordance with the permit.

(5)  A permit is of no effect while it is suspended.