02 May Woman fined $7000 for illegal plant imports – AGAIN!
A woman has recently been caught deliberately concealing plant cuttings, seeds and bulbs as she returned to Australia via the Brisbane International Airport.
A baggage inspector discovered five bags of concealed plant materials as well as 21 bags of seeds as she returned from an undisclosed international location.
Visit www.daff.gov.au
“The Department of Agriculture assessed the plant cuttings and found that a number of them had exotic plant pathogens that aren’t present in Australia,” said Colin Hunter of the Border Compliance Division. He also said that the conviction reflected the serious risk involved with an attempt to circumvent Australia’s import requirements.
It is our geographical isolation and our diligent boarder security procedures that protects Australia from the many pathogen threats that exist in other countries which would have decimating effects our agriculture, horticulture and natural environment to the tune of billions of dollars.
Sadly this was not the first time the woman has been caught either! In 2008 she was fined $4000 for again attempting to import plants illegally.
More information on what can be bought into Australia can be found HERE
(source www.daff.gov.au)
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