A WOMAN convicted of illegally importing 62 tonnes of pork and other animal protein from Thailand has escaped a jail sentence, instead being given an Intensive Correction Order to be served in the community.
The foodstuffs, comprising pork meat – a high-risk source of Foot & Mouth Disease – plus prawns, frogs and insect-infested fruit and vegetables – were deliberately misdeclared in import documents. The produce was being sold on Sydney’s black market.
The offending included product substitution and the presentation of false and misleading documents to evade biosecurity controls, the court heard.
Samples from the 62t of illegally-imported pork, frog meat, prawns and produce that led to the woman’s convition
On 11 June, the Judge convicted the un-named woman on nine counts against the Biosecurity Act 2015 and she was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment, to be served by way of an Intensive Corrections Order. The NSW Corrective Services website describes an ICO as a custodial sentence of up two years that the court decides can be served in the community.
The offender was also ordered to serve 150 hours of Community Service.
A confidential source tipped off the Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries about the prolific amount of prohibited food from Thailand available on the black market in Sydney.
Operation Torch identified the woman, and the department intervened to ensure the goods were seized and the biosecurity risk was mitigated.
DAFF deputy secretary of biosecurity, compliance and operations, Justine Saunders said Australia’s biosecurity rules and practices were among the strictest in the world.
“Individuals can face up to ten years in jail and up to $1.6 million in fines if they breach our biosecurity laws,” Ms Saunders said.
The importation of such a large amount of food from Thailand, some of it infested with live pests, presented numerous biosecurity risks to Australia, she said.
“Australia is free from many of the pests, weeds and diseases that impact agricultural productivity and the environment in other parts of the world. Our biosecurity officers work tirelessly to keep these pests out.”
“Illegal activity can undermine Australia’s animal, plant and human health status and our excellent global reputation.”
Source: DAFF
That is a pathetic penalty. Do judges have active brains?
100% Mark, Yes this judgement and sentence should be appealed by DAFF and the Federal Department of Public Prosecutions.
Perhaps Farmers need to band together along with someone like Pauline Hanson to put pressure on the Government and appeal this ridiculous light sentence. Sue the law makers and judges. She committed fraud, federal fraud and importing an illicit product on massive scale, knowingly and willingly.
Obviously no-one has learnt anything from COVID-19, Bird Flu, Swine Flu, Foot and Mouth Disease, ect, ect. The next major outbreak is around the corner and God help us when it hits.
We have an incapable, inept, pathetic Government in power, who will not punish people because it is racist and not sensitive to their culture... What about food hygiene standards, bio security and sanitation concerns in Metro areas for processing this infested food in their homes? Just like killing Chicken's, Goats, Sheep and Dogs in their homes in Metro areas... Just disgusting. But the animal activists are happy to "raid" farms claiming animal cruelty, but ignore immigrants killing animals inhumanly in their homes.
Unfortunately a weak Government will let anything slide for more votes, from their core voter demographic. Most of whom don't speak English and vote how they are told to vote by others, in their community, not for the good of Australia.
Lock her up.
When you look at the extreme costs of conducting biosecure pig and poultry operations in Asia, you will be horrified.
To risk this on Australian food production is crazy.
Just reflect on the cost and availability to consumers of eggs during the nonsense campaign on bird flu quarantines and destruction of flocks for a moment.
Multiplying that out over pork and beef brings food security into focus.
Sharpen up our quarantine and then LOCK HER UP.
Absolutely disgraceful- no deterrent
why such a leaniant sentence 🤔. Surely we need to send a strong message to these people that this is not OK. Once again we let Australians down.
How did this woman get treated so lieniently for this porential disaster?
Perhaps she had an excellent lawyer paid for with funds from other imports.
Jail and fine her
Jail for 10 years and then deportation.
Glad she was caught, but like everyone else very disappointed with the sentence.
The sentence is ridiculous considering the the criminal sophistication and protracted nature of the crime, and the hideous potential consequences had it gone undetected.
WHY is the woman unnamed?
Does that send the message that I can commit such crimes with anonymity?
Is she unnamed because she's not 'white'?
Frankly, this is a disgrace.
obviously that sentence will not deter the next and with just community sentence.will probably encourage others try their hand to make large profit for little risk
if the offender was a person who had been given PR or australian citizenship it would be a serios deterrent to others if the person had that status taken from them and they were deported- if they were australian born- they should go to jail, and their assets seized, sold $ put back into biosecurity protection of our country.
I agree with you. John Brennan.
It’s ok I will be putting RFID tags in all the lambs and goats born here this year and all the cattle so we will be safe from an exotic outbreak 👍🏻
Why have laws & biosecurity if it can be brought off!!!
Makes you think that way anyway. Nil respect for the process it talks the talk but doesn,t walk the walk.
Imagine if it was a farmer that did something like this. I feel sure the sentencing would be totally different.
Time for a change. Linda Oate
Well that'll certainly makes sure no one else tries importing 6 2 T O N!!! of contaminated food into AU hey!! Bit of community service? What a joke
6 2 T O N S!!!!!!!
Absolute Joke. These people should be locked up for the maximum term to send a very strong message. It shows how weak our judicial system is
I’m sorry but that seems to be very light repercussions for such a serious intentional defraud of import documentation and bringing Australia at serious risk in terms of bio security. Does not send a strong message regarding the risk to our agriculture and food security.
ha. what a "farken" crock. 62t of illegal products. so how much do you have to import to get 10 years or 1.6 million in fines? ag department is weak. let's not forget they allowed cattle to be injected in Armadale with syrum from illegal foetal cord blood from south America. the whole process went un prosecuted. just pathetic. it has to be a mere fluke that something major hasn't actually happened. why isn't deportation an option? be nice to see out representatives take this seriously. cheers Matthew Della Gola
Just adding to my earlier comment.
What would the sentence be for importing 62T of illicit drugs into Australia?
Maybe the sentencing judge should be asked how they would view that scenario?
This decision by the judge certainly shows that the jurisdiction does not support the biosecurity laws that are there to protect the integratory of Australia's agricultural health status and our global reputation.
This judgement and sentence should be appealed by DAFF and the Federal Department of Public Prosecutions.
The sentence is manifestly inappropriate considering the amount on the goods and also the huge risk to our biosecurity.
A severe message should be sent to anybody who wishes to flaunt Australia's biosecurity laws.
Totally agree Mark
The profit from the sale of this consignment would be significant.
The penalty imposed will not deter further illegal imports.
What a bloody joke!
The whole meat industry is at risk with people like this and they get off with nothing.
Where’s our bio-security people when all this is happening.
These people should be instantly deported and never allowed back in AUSTRALIA.
If you falsify documents to import 62 tons of pork and other animal protein products into Australia and not go to jail then it raises the question what do you need to do to incur a ten year jail sentence and $1.6 million dollar find.
Absolutely disgusting, pat her on he back for a good effort and let her go. What good are fines if you don't impose them. Make the fines 1 million it wont mater if you don't enforce the law, they know DAFF is all talk. Daff has slumped as low as you can get. Northern NSW rampant with ticks because of self inspections from Qld. Nothing is being done to ensure biosecurity these days. Get Trump or Elon Musk in. This department lets everyone off . Two 5th graders would have been tougher on this offender. Probably set up a bio security education grant and trauma counselling as well. Pathetic.
The lady in question put at risk thousands of Australian livelihoods for a malicious act with financial gain aforethought.
She is in the same category as drug smugglers.
Lock her up for 10 years and sell all her belongings to pay for the Border Force costs incurred in her conviction.
We don't need such people in our community.
This is a true reflection on how good border security is in this country. It took someone from the public to report this incident.
This shipment of illegal imported meat was only discovered because of a tip off by the public.
This demonstrates the failure of our border security and we should be concerned about how much illegal imports goes un detected.