15 January 2019
Who does this notice affect?
Importers of goods that are subject to biosecurity control and who receive directions from the department to manage or deal with those goods.
Prosecution details
A transport company and its owner were recently convicted in court for failing to comply with directions issued by the department. The matter concerned the failure of the operator to move and store biosecurity risk goods at an approved arrangement site sanctioned by the department. In this instance the owner received a 12 month suspended jail sentence and was fined $20,000. The company owned by the person involved received a further fine of $100,000.
This conviction serves as a timely reminder that directions issued by the department must be followed and any departure from these requirements may have significant personal and corporate consequences.
Further information
Additional information in relation to obligations of biosecurity industry participants operating classes 19.1 and 19.2 approved arrangements to ensure biosecurity directions are complied with can be found in industry advice notice 183-2018.
More details about the recent prosecution can be found in the department’s media release.