No,
Owning a monkey in Australia is prohibited under federal and state wildlife protection laws, with exceptions nearly impossible to obtain. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) classifies non-human primates as “prohibited” wildlife, barring private ownership. State-based regulations, such as New South Wales’ Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and Queensland’s Nature Conservation Act 1992, reinforce these restrictions, requiring permits only for scientific or conservation purposes. Recent 2026 compliance shifts under the National Wildlife Trade Regulations have tightened enforcement, with penalties reaching up to $1.1 million for illegal possession.
Key Regulations for Owning a Monkey in Australia
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Federal Prohibition: The EPBC Act lists all non-human primates as “prohibited” under the List of Specimens Suitable for Live Import, effectively banning private ownership. Import permits are issued only for zoological or research institutions with rigorous justification.
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State-Level Enforcement: Jurisdictions like Victoria (Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988) and Western Australia (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016) criminalize possession without a wildlife license, which is unattainable for private individuals. Inspections by state agencies (e.g., NSW Office of Environment and Heritage) are increasing under 2026 compliance audits.
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Exemption Criteria: Exemptions require proof of “special conservation needs,” typically limited to wildlife rehabilitation or education programs. Applications undergo multi-agency review, including the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW), with approval rates below 0.1%.