[Carleen]

One would have to wonder with watching the TV programme Border Security Australia why the fines are pitiful for people who appear to deliberately try to sneak goods in compared to this lady in the article

 

[meighLeigh]

Long, long ago I came back from an overseas holiday and ticked the box on the customs and quarantine card to say I had something to declare. A lesson learned - always tick that box, always have something to declare, and have it readily available. Something you can sacrifice, like the half-eaten apple from the flight. And approach the matter with good humour. I was the only person who 'had something to declare' and was sent to a specific counter. Young man asked what I had.
A straw hat, extremely battered.
He burst into laughter - but the card did say ANY PLANT MATERIAL
I was even allowed to keep the hat.

 

[meighLeigh]

One would have to wonder with watching the TV programme Border Security Australia why the fines are pitiful for people who appear to deliberately try to sneak goods in compared to this lady in the article

I agree wholeheartedly. My attitude is that whatever is not declared but is found should encounter a fine - per item. So the people who try to bring in suitcases full of food get massive fines - and so many do try to bring in suitcases full of food, some of it is a definite quarantine risk to Australia!
Alternatively - all the food is confiscated and destroyed. Anything of quarantine risk is fined - per item of quarantine risk, of course.

 

[Thecla]

I declare absolutely everything I have , have had , have done, even if I farted on the plane. Once I brought in a box of Kellogg banana corn flakes, like this was back in 2001 didn’t think anything of it but was caught. They were confiscated my details taken thankfully no fine so now as I said I declare declare declare

 

[DerekKMartin]

Long, long ago I came back from an overseas holiday and ticked the box on the customs and quarantine card to say I had something to declare. A lesson learned - always tick that box, always have something to declare, and have it readily available. Something you can sacrifice, like the half-eaten apple from the flight. And approach the matter with good humour. I was the only person who 'had something to declare' and was sent to a specific counter. Young man asked what I had.
A straw hat, extremely battered.
He burst into laughter - but the card did say ANY PLANT MATERIAL
I was even allowed to keep the hat.

I always do this, you can even get through customs quicker doing this

 

[darrellh]

I do the same and have everything handy for them to look at that may be a problem, lollies from NZ or wood things etc. Have never had tomoay, dispose but always let them know and usually write on the customs card and just get waved through.

 

[Towing]

You have to get permission to transport plants from Qld to SA too. I know somebody who had to have a tiny palm tree seeding certified.

 

[DLHM]

One would have to wonder with watching the TV programme Border Security Australia why the fines are pitiful for people who appear to deliberately try to sneak goods in compared to this lady in the article

I like watching Border Security Australia too. Incredible the amount of (disgusting looking) food that people try to bring in, as well as other items that have bugs crawling around.

The fines are indeed pitiful for those trying to sneak their “goods” into Australia. Many are only $220 whether there’s one suitcase or four. All fines for being deceptive need to be higher to get the message through. Especially for those who plead ignorance. They need to be taught a lesson.

 

[Veggiepatch]

An acclaimed Indian actress....

That's where I stopped reading.

@DLHM and myself occasionally watch Border Security Australia and we just have to laugh at the outlandish excuses that tourists conjure up in an attempt to allow prohibited articles into this country, including illicit drugs, foodstuffs and plant materials.

 

[Wombat2u2004]

She should of stuck the flower up her bum.
That's how they smuggle stuff in prison.