Keeping a skink in Canberra?

Thanks for the advice, I have already released it outside although I put it in the reserve. If I released it straight into the backyard my dog would have got it for sure, she loves to case them.

Reply

It’s illegal to take a skink from the wild without a collection licence (and these are only given for scientific or educational purposes). It’s also illegal to keep a skink without a licence.

Technically I don’t think a laundry in suburbia can be consisded ‘the wild.’

Possibly but luckily for the skink the Act doesn’t actually mention the animal being in the wild merely the taking of a native animal being an offence.
http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/a/1980-20/current/pdf/1980-20.pdf

Don’t worry though it’s only a $5,500 fine or 6 months in jail.

It’s illegal to take a skink from the wild without a collection licence (and these are only given for scientific or educational purposes). It’s also illegal to keep a skink without a licence.
http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/environment/licensing_of_plants_and_animals/reptile_policy

Do yourself a favour, buy a blue-tongue lizard from a breeder rather than taking this skink from the wild.

TAMS Reptile Policy

The PP is correct, you can’t keep wild-caught reptiles. Free the skink!

Legally you can’t keep it. Check out http://www.tams.act.gov.au/live/environment/licensing_of_plants_and_animals/reptile_policy for more information.
Even though it came into your house, it is a wild skink (ie was not purchased from a breeder). Also it would depend on the type of skink as it may be a restricted spiecies.
Having said that, if you do intend to keep it anyway, make sure you do a lot of research on keeping a skink. You will need a good food source, good substrate, a basking spot, as well as a heat lamp and a UV B bulb.
I am a reptile keeper and they can take a lot of work to look after, more so than a cat or a dog. As Disinformation suggested, go and see the friendly staff at canberra exotics (aka Reptiles Inc) and they will be able to get you setup legally and with less chance of killing the reptile.

By that logic, you should be able to keep anything that wanders in your door of it’s own accord.
I can see a small problem with that.
All the advice that google can provide tends to suggest that you cannot take any reptiles as pets from the wild and that all must be purchased from licensed suppliers.
Do yourself and the skink a favour. Put it outside.
If you don’t know beforehand how to look after it and what to feed it, you’re likely to kill it while finding out. Go to http://www.canberraexotics.com.au/ and do everything legally and with the correct advice.