Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Agriculture and land
    Agriculture and land Building stronger and more sustainable agriculture, fisheries, forestry and land care.
    • Animal health
    • Climate change and agriculture
    • Drought, disaster and rural support
    • Farming, food and drought
    • Fisheries
    • Forestry
    • Levies and charges on agricultural products
    • Mouse infestation advice
    • Plant health
    Xylella

    Protect against unwanted plant pests

    Our biosecurity system helps protects us. Everyone has a role in supporting our biosecurity system.

    Find out more

  • Biosecurity and trade
    Biosecurity and trade
    • Aircraft, vessels and military
    • Biosecurity policy
    • Cats and dogs
    • Exporting
    • Importing
    • Pests, diseases and weeds
    • Public awareness and education
    • Trade and market access
    • Travelling or sending goods to Australia
    • Report a concern
    Brown marmorated stink bug

    BMSB Seasonal Measures

    Australia has strengthened seasonal measures to manage the risk of BMSB.

    View our seasonal measures

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES)
    • Plant Innovation Centre
    Abares

    ABARES Insights

    Get 'snapshots’ of agricultural, forestry and fisheries industries, or analysis of key issues.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We enhance our agricultural industries and trade, and manage the threat of biosecurity risks to Australia.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Contact us
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • Payments
    • People and jobs
    • Publications
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Budget 2025-26

    Budget 2025-26

    The 2025–26 Portfolio Budget Statements were released on 25 March 2025.

    Find out more

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Agriculture

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. About us
  3. News and media
  4. Attempted biosecurity breach earns traveller a $3,300 penalty and visa cancellation

Back to news - AWE

  • Back to news

Attempted biosecurity breach earns traveller a $3,300 penalty and visa cancellation

  • Media release
  • Biosecurity
19 May 2023

Stiff penalties and refusal of entry into Australia await those who attempt to avoid our border biosecurity measures.

On Sunday 7 May 2023, biosecurity officers conducted an inspection on an incoming passenger at Perth International Airport who had declared nothing on their incoming passenger card.

Upon inspection, biosecurity officers found the passenger had over 1.8kg of pork sausage and 360g of donkey glue, with both products posing a huge biosecurity risk.

Biosecurity officers issued the passenger with a $3,300 infringement notice and referred the passenger to the Australian Border Force for visa cancellation.

Department Secretary and Australia’s Director of Biosecurity, Andrew Metcalfe AO said our biosecurity officers are working tirelessly to ensure that we keep foot and mouth and other diseases out of our country – everyone entering Australia needs to remember this.

“Our message is loud and clear – if you are in doubt, declare your items. It’s the safest option. We will be checking, and we are grateful that the vast majority of travellers do the right thing” Secretary Metcalfe said.

“The consequences of attempting to circumvent our biosecurity laws are severe. In this case the visitor was hit with a large infringement notice and turned around at the airport – so they don’t even get to experience Australia.”

Deputy Secretary, Biosecurity and Compliance Group, Dr Chris Locke said that travellers who have their visa cancelled are removed from Australia on the earliest available flight and can face an exclusion period of three years before they are able to reapply for a visa.

“Not only has this passenger been turned around at the border and has wasted a trip – they have been given an infringement of $3,300 for intentionally trying to circumvent our biosecurity laws, said Dr Locke.

“The threat of foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease haven't gone away - the threats that we face at our borders are real and the work our biosecurity officers do every day prevents these diseases and pests from coming into our country.”

Pictures of the items seized.

Find out more about your responsibilities when travelling to Australia.

Fast facts:

  • On 1 January this year, Australia increased penalties for biosecurity breaches from $222 per penalty point to $275 per penalty point.
  • Previously, a 12-point penalty infringement was $2664. It is now $3,300.
  • Travellers who have their visa cancelled are removed from Australia on the earliest available flight and can face an exclusion period of 3 years before they are able to reapply for a visa.
  • When travelling to Australia, know what you can bring in and always fill out your Incoming Passenger Card truthfully. Find out more about your responsibilities when travelling to Australia: www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecurity-trade/travelling/to-australia.
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Email
  • Copy link

Contact us

media@aff.gov.au

(61 2) 6272 3232

Related

Image of 12 eggs, two partly wrapped in white plastic or paper, with a ruler at the bottom of the image

Be a good egg this Easter and bring chocolate only

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
14 April 2025
Image of seeds in a petrie dish, with a ruler in the background

Don’t let seeds cost your pocket and Australia’s environment

  • Newsletter
  • Biosecurity
09 April 2025
Image of an assortment of shipping containers and a machine being used to unload them

Updating industry on our biosecurity import clearance reforms

  • News
  • Biosecurity
08 April 2025
Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip
Page last updated: 19 May 2023

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI

© Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Facebook X LinkedIn Instagram