Travellers planning to fly into Australia this festive season are being warned to declare all organic items that could pose a biosecurity risk to Australia's agricultural industries and unique environment, flora and fauna.
These precautions are vital protection for the nation, and Australia's world-leading biosecurity system includes significant fines for undeclared items.
The Albanese Labor Government is committed to a strong biosecurity system and has committed funding of more than $1 billion over four years.
This ensures that for the first time in Australia's history we have a sustainable biosecurity funding to protect our agricultural industry, our natural environment and our way of life.
Last festive season, a traveller from Timor-Leste was fined $3,756 for not declaring live citrus plant cuttings in luggage. Biosecurity officers made the discovery during routine screening of undeclared baggage at the Australian border.
Molecular diagnostics of the seized citrus cuttings confirmed the presence of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus, a bacterium that causes a crop-destroying disease of citrus called huanglongbing.
Huanglongbing - also known as yellow dragon disease and previously known as citrus greening - is one of the worst diseases of citrus in the world, causing the decline and death of infected trees. It's currently number six on the National Priority Plant Pests, and poses a significant threat to our $977 million citrus industry.
To help keep our country safe, follow biosecurity requirements when travelling or returning to Australia, and keep an eye out for any possible biosecurity risks as you travel and upon your return.
If you see something unusual or unexpected in imported items or luggage, secure it and report it to us immediately. You can:
- call our See. Secure. Report. hotline on 1800 798 636
- complete our online reporting form.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:
"This single act of not declaring the cuttings turned out to be far more than a technical breach of national biosecurity requirements. The disease it was carrying could have devastated our national citrus industries.
"All travellers arriving in Australia, whether by air or sea, must remember that biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and their actions could have devastating impacts on Australian producers, flora, fauna and economy.
"We want travellers to be spending their money at local small businesses and enjoying the festive season with family and friends, not paying the price for subverting our stringent biosecurity requirements."
