Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

 

[kenrconn]

As an avid viewer of “Border Security “ I am often dismayed at the number of people who pack their bags with food items and do not declare them on their declaration cards. In many cases they are only fined for making a false declaration (usually around $200). Very often these is blatant disregard for the laws which protect us Australians. I am sure that these programs were filmed more than a few years ago and, maybe, the fines have been increased since then but there must be people who see these programs and think it is worth the risk. Nevertheless there is a huge difference between a sandwich and a whole suitcase of home cooked food. The fines should be more appropriate.

 

[Dennis]

Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

View attachment 35431

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

My eldest son who worked for the Immigration Dept said if we were flying anywhere and if you are not sure about an article always declare it, better to be safe and not try to get it through security and cop an huge fine and confiscation of article,

 

[Phantom36]

Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

View attachment 35431

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Yes people should be fined for breaking the law, when bringing anything into Australia that could bugger our agricultural industry. But after watching border security and border force it makes a mockery out of this when some people have suitcases stuffed full of undeclared high risk food items and no understand English either just get a caution of a lousy $340 fine. No consistency.

 

[wattorjw]

Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

View attachment 35431

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Ho

Yes people should be fined for breaking the law, when bringing anything into Australia that could bugger our agricultural industry. But after watching border security and border force it makes a mockery out of this when some people have suitcases stuffed full of undeclared high risk food items and no understand English either just get a caution of a lousy $340 fine. No consistency.

How pathetic you watch those airport shows on tv with people from overseas bringing in massive amountsof illegal food knowing the rules and acting all innocent it stinks they get a small fine i would refuse to pay them border force are anti australian just watch the illegal boat return now the weak border labor party are running the circus

 

[AlanQ]

Ho

How pathetic you watch those airport shows on tv with people from overseas bringing in massive amountsof illegal food knowing the rules and acting all innocent it stinks they get a small fine i would refuse to pay them border force are anti australian just watch the illegal boat return now the weak border labor party are running the circus

Ignorance is no excuse. These shows you choose to watch were made during the years of Tory govts in this country. Your 'assessment' is not quite the case, the SET amount of the fine is applied on the item being imported. Meat is one of the highest fines, dried herbs etc are low on the risk factor and just an admin fine is imposed. This woman brought in meat, as such the higher fine applies.

 

[Petra]

As an avid viewer of “Border Security “ I am often dismayed at the number of people who pack their bags with food items and do not declare them on their declaration cards. In many cases they are only fined for making a false declaration (usually around $200). Very often these is blatant disregard for the laws which protect us Australians. I am sure that these programs were filmed more than a few years ago and, maybe, the fines have been increased since then but there must be people who see these programs and think it is worth the risk. Nevertheless there is a huge difference between a sandwich and a whole suitcase of home cooked food. The fines should be more appropriate.

I watch them too, its very old episodes.

 

[Petra]

My eldest son who worked for the Immigration Dept said if we were flying anywhere and if you are not sure about an article always declare it, better to be safe and not try to get it through security and cop an huge fine and confiscation of article,

The lady forgot about the sandwich, therefore she didn't declare it.

 

[BillW41]

Let's have some humanity and commonsense in matters like this. Typical heartless Govt. Dept.

 

[wiskers50]

She should have said, me no understand, would have got a warning

 

[Luckyus]

Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

View attachment 35431

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Many years ago I went to sea on a British cargo ship that was on a MANZ run then went down the Med before getting back to the UK. Upon leaving the Aust coast, I purchased an automatic wrist watch which as a consequence never came off. When we finally reached the UK and having duly filled out the customs form 5, I was called back and questioned about a bonded purchase, it was only then that I realised I had forgotten to declare the watch as I had bought it over 7 months prior, anyway the customs pillock virtually called a me a liar, I mean it was a poxy five pound watch I had forgotten and not a bloody murder!. Anyway he told I had two choices I could pay the shoreside retail price plus a fine or hand it in. I told him the third option which as I was an Australian domicile was to keep the item under bond until I left the UK. He really got the shits when I told him I didn't know when would be leaving! or from which ship or port. I think at this point, he realised that it was their responsibility to get it back to me?. In the end he politely told me what to do with item, if I remember it was somewhere the don't shine.( Bloody hell that little anecdote was longer than the sermon on the mount?.)

 

[maggiej]

I too have watched the Border security shows and they do not have such heavy fines. I find it disgusting that the foreign people coming into Australia are bringing in case loads of food and other products. They should be made to make a declaration Before boarding

 

[Lesle]

Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

View attachment 35431

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Don’t people watch Border Force on television great show and shows you this, the stuff some people try to get past our borders without actually declaring it is beyond me, they try but don’t succeeded. I always get caught.

 

[roderickg@aussiebroadband]

My eldest son who worked for the Immigration Dept said if we were flying anywhere and if you are not sure about an article always declare it, better to be safe and not try to get it through security and cop an huge fine and confiscation of article,

And the article says 'she forgot about it'.

 

[Phantom36]

No

Ignorance is no excuse. These shows you choose to watch were made during the years of Tory govts in this country. Your 'assessment' is not quite the case, the SET amount of the fine is applied on the item being imported. Meat is one of the highest fines, dried herbs etc are low on the risk factor and just an admin fine is imposed. This woman brought in meat, as such the higher fine applies.

No Tory government in Australia and the programs we are watching are not all that old. Some people get charged $220, some $340 some just a caution, yes for the same goods.

 

[Dennis]

No

No Tory government in Australia and the programs we are watching are not all that old. Some people get charged $220, some $340 some just a caution, yes for the same goods.

No one has mentioned that they lose all their stuff as well as getting fined, they say Australia a terrible place we never come again, good we do not want them.

 

[Singomate]

Sometimes, mistakes can have life-changing results.

For one woman, what she thought would be a minor mistake when flying to Brisbane ended up taking a large chunk out of her hard-earned pension.

So, what happened?

In May this year, June Armstrong, 77, was at Christchurch Airport early morning and wanted something for her three-and-a-half-hour flight to Brisbane.

She bought a muffin and a gluten-free chicken and lettuce sandwich, ate the muffin and put the sealed sandwich in her backpack to eat during the flight.

View attachment 35431

June was apprehended and fined at the airport for her minor mistake. Credit: Unsplash

She ended up falling asleep on the plane and completely forgot about the sandwich in her bag.

When she filled out the customs declaration form, she forgot to declare the chicken sandwich.

But when June was confronted by Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries biosecurity officers at Brisbane Airport who went through her bag, she realised her costly mistake.

Even though the sandwich was a harmless purchased item, by not declaring it on the customs form, June had broken the law.

The penalty was a fine of $3,300 for failing to declare the chicken sandwich.

June tried to appeal the fine within the 28-day payment period, but after a series of automatic responses, she ended up having to pay the fine to meet the deadline.

She burst into tears when she was slapped with a huge fine.

'I was just sobbing and said, “$3,300 for a little sandwich?”’ she said.

‘My husband kept saying, “Just pay it”. I said, “It's our pension, we can't afford this,”’ she explained.

June is still contesting the massive fine after six months, as it took a physical and mental toll on her.

In her submission to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, she wrote, ‘I think of it night and day, I now am on sleeping tablets.’

‘I am consumed by how much this fine was and how much it will affect our lives,’ she added.

June still hasn’t received any response from the Australian authorities and has come to terms with the possibility that the fine won’t be overturned.

However, she still hoped that her ordeal would serve as a warning to other travellers.

‘I should let it go, and my husband says I should, but they just don't give me any answers,' June said.

'Everybody I show the fine to is dumbfounded. They just can't believe it.’

Travellers bringing food items into Australia need to declare them on their incoming passenger card, and bread products can be brought into Australia for personal consumption as long as they don't contain meat or uncanned animal products.

According to the Australian Border Force website, ‘Biosecurity officers may need to inspect some of the food you're bringing with you.’

If a traveller fails to declare items that pose a 'high level of biosecurity risk', an infringement notice can increase to 12 points (worth $3756) 'depending on the risk of the goods'.

In a similar story, a woman flying back home to Australia ‘basically’ spent $2,664 on a sandwich in Singapore because she forgot to declare two ingredients during her flight. She shared that it was her mistake for not declaring it. Read more about the story here.

Key Takeaways

• June Armstrong was fined $3,300 for failing to declare a chicken sandwich she brought into Australia.
• June had forgotten the sandwich was in her backpack and failed to declare it on her customs form.
• She has spent the last six months contesting the fine, which she paid in order to meet the deadline, but has not yet received any response from Australian authorities.
• The incident is a warning to other travellers about the need to declare any food items when entering Australia, as failing to do so can result in hefty fines.

Have you or someone else experienced the same situation as June? What do you think of the fines imposed on these kinds of items? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

I have been next an Indian couple quite sometime ago and tried to get away with multiple food and fruit items claimed they forgot to declare got A$275.00 fine, bloody ridiculous 3 thousand fine fight it all the way to Court get legal aid which you are entitled to.

 

[MariaG]

I am often amused at the kind of food that is sometimes brought in.
We do have fruit and vegetables in Oz. Why stuff the suitcase full of everyday stuff that you can get here.
The fine that lady had placed against her sounds to me like a border security team member being overly enthusiastic. Or, it might be like parking officials ... on a daily revenue target.

 

[Dennis]

No just doing their job, I have been in a queue twice where a dog as sat down beside a passenger.

 

[relljube]

Just ask the bee keepers who have a decimated apiary industry due to some mongrel smuggling in some fruit or similar with an alien bee attached. Or any other primary producer who has been affected by illegal entry of produce which was not caught at the border. No excuses - sorry