Here’s an unfortunate story, which at a minimum should serve as a good reminder to international travelers. I’m still curious about how this traveler was targeted, though…
In this post:
Australia accuses traveler of providing false documents
Instagram user @skywardsfreak is a well-known frequent traveler, who jets off somewhere just about every weekend. To say that she’s an airline geek would be a severe understatement. She basically shares her life “live” and is very open, which I very much respect. While she usually shares her positive experiences, here’s a negative experience that she’s currently dealing with…
This weekend, she traveled from Doha to Perth in Qatar Airways’ A380 first class, dressed as Barbie (yes, really). It seemed like she had a great flight, but things took a turn for the worse when she landed in Australia.
Let me recap what happened, according to the Instagram Stories that @skywardsfreak published:
- As she got off the plane, and before even reaching immigration, two men in civilian clothing were walking in the opposite direction, and approached her
- This felt quite intimidating to her, and they got really close; they introduced themselves as officials and asked to see her passport and to retrieve her phone
- As they walked to immigration, they asked her several questions; she asked them if she was targeted because of how she was dressed, and they said they don’t profile based on appearance
- She was escorted to the immigration counter, and once there, the immigration officer pointed out that she hadn’t fully completed the landing card, and hadn’t ticked any of the “yes” or “no” boxes that are common on these forms, so she quickly did that
- At this point she was escorted to the x-ray, and her bag was inspected item by item; she wasn’t nervous, since she had nothing to hide
- She had actually gotten off the plane with a rose in her hand that she had received at the Qatar Airways lounge in Doha; she really loves airlines, and often keeps these and then dries them at home as a memory (she stresses that she made the decision to take the rose with her, so this was in no way the carrier’s fault)
- While nothing was found in her bag, it was then pointed out to her that she had ticked “no” to the question about whether she was bringing plants into the country
- At this point the officials accused her of “knowingly producing a false or misleading document in compliance or purported compliance with the biosecurity act”
- She was given a document informing her that she had committed a civil offense, and that she would be fined 1,878 AUD (~$1,200)
It goes without saying that this was an honest mistake on her part, and she had no intent of falsifying anything. The other interesting thing is that she could keep the rose in the end and enter Australia with it — the issue wasn’t the rose, but the lack of declaring it.
She has now written to Australia’s director of biosecurity to appeal this, as that’s apparently the official appeal method. Otherwise she may have to pay this amount before leaving the country in a couple of days.
What should we make of this story?
Every so often we hear a story of someone being fined a significant amount for failing to declare something basic. Sometimes it’s a person taking a piece of fruit with them that they were given on a plane, and sometimes it’s something like this. So in and of itself, a punishment for failing to declare an item is nothing unusual.
Now, personally I think it would be nice if immigration officials applied some logic to situations and considered intent. If someone innocently brings a rose into a country and fails to consider this isn’t allowed, you’d think you could let them off with a warning. I mean, she made no effort to hide her rose, since she exited the plane holding it. Those with intent to illegally bring something into a country would try to hide it, presumably.
What I find more interesting about this story, though, is why she was targeted. It seems to me like there was some specific reason they targeted her and not others. Was is that she was dressed like Barbie? Was it that she was carrying a rose?
It’s one thing if they were just standing there and monitoring people for a potential random search, but the fact that they immediately asked for her phone suggests she was targeted for some other reason, in my opinion (I could be totally wrong, but that’s my impression).
It almost seems to me like the reason they didn’t let her off with a warning is because they were convinced they were going to find something but then didn’t, so they figured they would at least have this fine to “show” for their work.
For what it’s worth, when my dad and I recently flew from Doha to Perth in Qatar Airways A380 first class, we also had the most thorough immigration experience that either of us have had in quite some time (though nothing to this level).
Bottom line
We hear all the time of immigration officers giving people a hard time for making an innocent mistake, and failing to declare something. In this case, a traveler arriving in Australia was seemingly targeted by immigration officials, and had her phone retrieved, and had every item of her luggage searched.
As it turns out, the thing she got “caught” for was failing to declare that she was bringing a plant into the country, leading to a $1,200+ fine. I can’t help but wonder about what caused her to be targeted, and feel like officials should have let her off with a warning, given the lack of any bad intent.
What do you make of this situation?
I've undergone serious interrogation entering Australia, but I've always been scrupulously honest on forms and cooperated. All I've suffered are delays and having my boots taken away for a lengthy time for sterilization.
Some countries are serious about arrival cards and customs declaration forms, some are not.
I used to not care about these forms, so sometimes I don't fill them out completely or sometimes I don't write complete details, as I've noticed that most countires I went to the immigration and customs officials don't
even bother to look at the forms! They just take them and put them aside, till I visited Japan. At immigration...
Some countries are serious about arrival cards and customs declaration forms, some are not.
I used to not care about these forms, so sometimes I don't fill them out completely or sometimes I don't write complete details, as I've noticed that most countires I went to the immigration and customs officials don't
even bother to look at the forms! They just take them and put them aside, till I visited Japan. At immigration in Tokyo Haneda airport I've been taken to interrogation because I failed to write my home address properly. They kept asking me about my travel history and where I live, what I do for living, why I am coming to Japan, etc... At the end they asked me to correct my address and I was set to go. They were very polite though, also they apologized for taking my time.
Since that incident I learned that some countries are taking this matter of arrival and customs forms very seriously, so now I fill out the form thoroughly.
Many countries have very strict policies concerning invasive species; including food, plants, insects, animals, etc.
And yes, that declaration card you are requested to complete is to be taken seriously!!
On one of those Australian borders shows, I saw an American couple hit with a penalty for keeping an apple from the inflight meal service.
Traveller gets fined for doing the wrong thing- groundbreaking
We visit Australia and New Zealand at least once a year. Anyone that has been to either country knows how serious they are about biosecurity. Perhaps, she had experience with European customs & immigration, which is relatively lax (you just walk through the door marked "Nothing to Declare" and almost nobody is challenged. But, as others have mentioned, there are prominant signs and public address warnings throughout the arrivals area regarding biosecurity. It's understandable, they...
We visit Australia and New Zealand at least once a year. Anyone that has been to either country knows how serious they are about biosecurity. Perhaps, she had experience with European customs & immigration, which is relatively lax (you just walk through the door marked "Nothing to Declare" and almost nobody is challenged. But, as others have mentioned, there are prominant signs and public address warnings throughout the arrivals area regarding biosecurity. It's understandable, they don't want foreign weeds, pathogens, or diseases that can impact their agriculture. Sometimes, we bring some snacks that we'll use while hiking. Personally, we've always declared what we bring in, and they simply do a quick inspection then we proceed. Their form asks if you've been on a farm, and on the occasions that we have, they inspect our shoes and (in NZ) they've had us step in some solution to sanitize them. This woman didn't even fill out the form, which might have been a red flag for added scrutiny.
Many years ago, my wife brought an apple off an international flight into the US. US Customs found it and gave her a stern warning - but no fine for an initial offense. Years later, when she applied for Global Security, they mentioned it in her interview. Now, she declares everything, even pre-packaged protein bars. Bottom line is that the US expects foreign guests to follow our rules, and we should follow theirs.
There is NO excuse for not knowing the LAW of the country you intend to enter.
I'll be honest and forthright in saying that as, IMHO, "NazStralia" is a term I've used since fairly early on in the events of the preceding few years. They have though nothing of beating 7 bells of sh*t out of a 12 yr old girl for the 'high crime' of 'removing a face covering under 1 metre from...
There is NO excuse for not knowing the LAW of the country you intend to enter.
I'll be honest and forthright in saying that as, IMHO, "NazStralia" is a term I've used since fairly early on in the events of the preceding few years. They have though nothing of beating 7 bells of sh*t out of a 12 yr old girl for the 'high crime' of 'removing a face covering under 1 metre from a business premises" and trampling 70+yr olds with horses for the audacity of attending a demo which questioned the ( Australian) legality of restrictions.
All that aside. I couldn't give a fig for someone who, as per the article, fly's around the world every weekend. It is the person's responsibility to comply with local law. Australias bio-sec laws are not only widely known in their coverage but also in the severity. FFS there are literally multiple series of TV shows based on such and I'm not an Aussie. I'm a Brit so literally couldn't be further away on the planet but still know.
"Ohhhhh but muh travel influencer, muh keepsakes, muh oppression" GTF! Do your homework and cry me a river thinking you deserve a pass. Targeted or not. If she hadn't broken the local law then she'd not have fallen foul
I have to be honest here, Australia has such strict immigration and border security, and this is coming from an NZer where we have similar sorts of requirements. I guess we are so normalised to these thorough searches that it doesn't click that not everyone is subject to these.
She doesnt have to pay.
Just dont plan on visiting Australia anytime soon!
After seeing the social media story it does seem that the staff saw an easy target that day but hey if you have travelled enough, specifically internationally, isn't it a given that you know that you need to be prepared for what potentially awaits you in any customs hall regardless of what country it is in.
Arrival cards are usually provided on board and I do believe the questions are quite clear, it's a...
After seeing the social media story it does seem that the staff saw an easy target that day but hey if you have travelled enough, specifically internationally, isn't it a given that you know that you need to be prepared for what potentially awaits you in any customs hall regardless of what country it is in.
Arrival cards are usually provided on board and I do believe the questions are quite clear, it's a yes or no response that is required to a number of questions (food, plant matter, money etc).
The whole deplaning moment was filmed with rose in hand.
Any publicity is good publicity says it all I think.
As usually kind as Australians are, they take the whole bio security thing way overboard. Come on, you try to live in the virgin bubble but it’s such a farce and completely wasteful. This is nearly the same thing as the Covid shot. It’s not a vaccine because it doesn’t prevent Covid. Australia’s bio security measures don’t prevent a darn thing. It’s a pure money grab, as one not-to-be-named immigration and customs official confided with me.
As an Australian, I have to agree. They have the most surly and unpleasant individuals working in the border force. With how cash strapped our government is, I’m sure many more stories like this will come out.
What do I make of it? Government regulation run amok. But this is what you get when people quietly accept the constant and growing over regulation of our lives.
Based on her travels and insta she can afford the fine
australia is strict af
I’ve flown LH F about 60-70 times. When flying to Germany, I always took the rose to my aunt. When flying home, my Mother got the rose - she remembers getting the rose on LH in the 1950s and 1960s.
I guess my declarations were false!
If she is a frequent traveller as, claimed she should be aware the regulations. No sympathy for stupidity
Our (Canadian) family was vacationing in Fiji and on our way to Auckland, New Zealand, my mom had forgotten that she had taken an apple from the resort's breakfast buffet before departing for the airport. She stuffed it into her backpack and had forgotten about it. When immigration officers x-rayed her backpack, they found the apple and despite her trying to explain to the officer that it was a honest mistake, they fined her NZD...
Our (Canadian) family was vacationing in Fiji and on our way to Auckland, New Zealand, my mom had forgotten that she had taken an apple from the resort's breakfast buffet before departing for the airport. She stuffed it into her backpack and had forgotten about it. When immigration officers x-rayed her backpack, they found the apple and despite her trying to explain to the officer that it was a honest mistake, they fined her NZD $400 for not declaring it. The apple was also confiscated.
Australia is a country that runs a protection racket for Qantas. That imprisoned its citizens and locked those overseas out for several years. That taxes individuals but grovels for elitists and corporations. And where politicians love to divide individuals.
Democracy by name, dictatorship in nature.
Okay QTard lol. You should go to seppo-land or Russia.
Pretty sure she was being targeted- certainly reeks of it
Australia is the country that prohibited its OWN citizens from LEAVING the country. Enough said... who wants to be in an uptight police state, where the populace is ruled by fear.... no thank you.
There's a lot wrong with this drama queen influencer's account of what purportedly went down on arrival.
Not least the amount she says she was fined. Since you have shown the amount of $AUD in brackets, I assume the nice round figure of $1,200 is $US. Sorry, that just wouldn't happen. Whatever fine she got would have been in Australian dollars. Once she sets foot in Australia US dollars are foreign currency and not...
There's a lot wrong with this drama queen influencer's account of what purportedly went down on arrival.
Not least the amount she says she was fined. Since you have shown the amount of $AUD in brackets, I assume the nice round figure of $1,200 is $US. Sorry, that just wouldn't happen. Whatever fine she got would have been in Australian dollars. Once she sets foot in Australia US dollars are foreign currency and not legal tender.
Oh, and as every influencer knows, if there is no photo (of the paperwork mentioned) it didn't happen!
She got it in Australian dollars, dumb-dumb. The author is based in the US and converted so international readers have an idea of the amount. Plus, why do you think she's a drama queen? They found nothing in her bags or phone and the rose was taken from the airplane. You're just jealous she gets to fly 1st class around the world and you have never set foot in another city.
Poor Greg can't recognise a internet drama queen when he comes across one! Poor sod.
Oh, and FYI Greg, I've done more international First flights than you've had birthdays; way more.
Mainly by keeping in the miles 'n points loop, which makes it all the sweeter.
Anymore snarky comments to share?
You sound like a small petty person who has to be rude online to make up for shortcomings in their life. P.S. pretty sure I've flown more than you and sailed more being prior service.
I'm sure they sell a good salve at a chemist which will get rid of the itch, don't worry mate.
Stupidity has no limits! just because you travel a lot doesn't mean you have common sense or you are intelligent. Who on earth is carrying a bloody rose entering Australia! the biosecurity agents here are famous for being ruthless. I have no sympathy for this traveler.
As stated, she was given it by the lounge staff in Dubai. Did you even read? I have no sympathy for this commenter and their ability to read.
I read it, and still I think she was stupid. There are more than PLENTY of warnings about the biosecurity procedures when you come to Australia. I guess you need to travel a bit more - oh, wait! she travels a lot and she didn't understand it... not sure you will either!
I work at Australian Border Force
We knew she was coming and decided to give her a hard time. We take joy in humiliating these obnoxious influencers
She was most likely targeted due to her travel pattern, not the pandering to her social media audience.
Back when I was traveling regularly between the US and Asia, I was twice pulled aside for secondary screening right around the time a new iPhone came out. Friends who worked at HKIA and CX told me that's probably what was being searched for, with my arrival frequency from so far away being cause for suspicion....
She was most likely targeted due to her travel pattern, not the pandering to her social media audience.
Back when I was traveling regularly between the US and Asia, I was twice pulled aside for secondary screening right around the time a new iPhone came out. Friends who worked at HKIA and CX told me that's probably what was being searched for, with my arrival frequency from so far away being cause for suspicion. Whether this is true or not, I'll never know. But any pattern that isn't "normal" can raise red flags at immigration, much like unusual spending can trigger credit card transaction denials.
All I can say is “WOW”. Surely she was profiled ??? And getting intercepted would have been frightening for anyone. Clearly an honest mistake.
Entering PVR I forgot I grabbed some hard boiled eggs at the Denver United Club. Dog caught me. Guards Asked me to throw them away, then secondary screening to enter MX (x-ray). No time was I challenged for not declaring it
Traveling in first class, dressed as Barbie! Australia should have turned her around and sent her back. She then could have chronicled that on her Insta. We have enough narcissists already. This is news, because?
$1,200 is basically a drop in the bucket when you consider the millions of dollars in damage to agriculture pests can bring in.
Reminds me of this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpzj1IvEhTA
I just looked at her Instagram stories (she’s at least getting attention from her experience, I guess!) and she seems like a nice enough lady but I had to roll my eyes at some of her melodramatics.
She’s claiming that she was the victim of “biased, unfair and discriminatory practices”. I’m not sure how she was “discriminated” against or on what basis she made that claim, and she also claimed to be “innocent” which...
I just looked at her Instagram stories (she’s at least getting attention from her experience, I guess!) and she seems like a nice enough lady but I had to roll my eyes at some of her melodramatics.
She’s claiming that she was the victim of “biased, unfair and discriminatory practices”. I’m not sure how she was “discriminated” against or on what basis she made that claim, and she also claimed to be “innocent” which is ambiguous IMO. She evidently made and “innocent” mistake but she wasn’t actually “innocent” technically.
Let’s not forget the blaring full volume Biosecurity message played over the PA and on every IFE screen for 5 mins before arrival into Australia. Don’t Risk it, just declare it! The fine is for making a false declaration not for the rose itself. The landing card is a legal declaration and there are warnings everywhere how can you be so stupid to miss all the signs?
Correct.
She lied on a government form.
And biosecurity and plant-based pets are a thing.
If she had declared it, it would have been fine. They would have inspected it.
For example, I had a wooden item that was given to me as a gift while travelling. I declared it. It was important as I had the chance to fumigate it and treat the item.
If I hadn't: sure, I might have slipped it in...
Correct.
She lied on a government form.
And biosecurity and plant-based pets are a thing.
If she had declared it, it would have been fine. They would have inspected it.
For example, I had a wooden item that was given to me as a gift while travelling. I declared it. It was important as I had the chance to fumigate it and treat the item.
If I hadn't: sure, I might have slipped it in to the country, but equally, I could have copped a large fine and destruction of the item.
And there are dozens of warnings on arrival into Oz. The plane IFE messages, the warnings not to take food from aircraft, the huge signs walking from the plane to baggage claim. The disposal bins for plant matter and fruit/food/vegetables.
Oh, and the damn form which has a huge warning that this is a legal declaration.
Need I go on.
Social influencers who cannot pick up repeated messages means one thing: they are self-absorbed in their little bubble, not paying any attention to anything they need to actually be aware of.
As we say in Oz: "Suck it up, princess!"
This is the kind of thing that would discourage me from visiting Australia. I totally understand not wanting invasive species, but this is way overboard for an innocent first offense.
Imagine not going on a trip because of this.
People like who doesn't read and ignore and respect the law should not fly and should only stay home.
Imagine if you researched the tough line people get entering the US!
No sympathy whatsoever. It's not like the biosecurity laws are a secret in Australia. And "targetted" ? She was carrying a rose! Also I highly doubt that she was allowed to keep the rose; it would have taken away for destruction.
I stopped reading after "She basically shares her life 'live' and is very open". It's sad that people can't travel anymore without needing to get attention for it.
In Australia we have a unique biodiversity situation in that we are largely protected from the infections that are problematic throughout the rest of the world. And we wish to protect that. If I travel to any other country in the world I research their entry requirements and respect them. All we ask is that visitors show us the sane courtesy. It’s all in the public domain . https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/while-youre-away/biosecurity-border
Quite a bizarre story. I was on her side but I audibly LOL'd after she posted a selfie with her, the rose, and a quote with Dr. Martin Luther Kings Jr's famous saying "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."
It is exceptionally odd that they would fine a first-time offender for failing to declare an item that was not confiscated. I always thought it was common knowledge that Oz and NZ are pretty strict about these things, so it was a silly mistake to bring a plant into the country. For what it's worth, most countries with declaration forms will ask if you have food. Unless you are absolutely positive you have no snacks...
It is exceptionally odd that they would fine a first-time offender for failing to declare an item that was not confiscated. I always thought it was common knowledge that Oz and NZ are pretty strict about these things, so it was a silly mistake to bring a plant into the country. For what it's worth, most countries with declaration forms will ask if you have food. Unless you are absolutely positive you have no snacks tucked away in your backpack, check the yes box. No one cares about your granola bar, but I have heard similar stories of woe for those who checked "nothing to declare" but had a bag of chips and caught the officers on a bad day.
She was not targeted. She was carrying the rose. Australia is big on biosecurity. It was not an honest mistake, it says it everywhere you cannot bring plant material in Australia. She played Russian roulette and lost.
I was caught by Australia bringing in a small packet of snack mix that the airline gave out in flight. I was not fined.
I wonder if it's cheaper to declare one has food and just say that Ì forgot what food I had. I do have hair and some people eat their own hair.
Maybe everyone has forgotten about the 2 young female influencers who were busted as drug mules? They took advantage of their looks and first class travel arrangements to get past suspicion at security checkpoints. Some would consider it unfair, but that event probably causes Australia’s border agents to be suspicious of that “demographic”…
https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/infamous-cruising-influencer-cocaine-babe-breaks-her-silence-about-a-major-drug-bust/00acb048-1ba6-423a-b55c-b9a8ddb29804
Maybe everyone has forgotten about the 2 young female influencers who were busted as drug mules? They took advantage of their looks and first class travel arrangements to get past suspicion at security checkpoints. Some would consider it unfair, but that event probably causes Australia’s border agents to be suspicious of that “demographic”…
https://9now.nine.com.au/60-minutes/infamous-cruising-influencer-cocaine-babe-breaks-her-silence-about-a-major-drug-bust/00acb048-1ba6-423a-b55c-b9a8ddb29804
I know this is not the point of the article - but I am curious what exactly did they do with her phone. Was she required to unlock it? Did they go over her photos/social media/mail?
If it’s on they don’t need her to unlock it. They have cellebrite machines that can extract all the data (including cached passwords) in about an hour. As long as the phone is on and has already been unlocked by Face ID or passcode.
Always best to turn your phone off while going through customs.
After watching lots of episodes of Border Patrol Australia i was careful not to bring in anything verboten. Even before landing remember Singapore Airlines repeating that you shouldn't take the last piece of fruit with you.
The last 2 times to SYD & MEL i wasn't stopped.
While it's interesting that she was directly stopped, unfortunately the fine is as australian as it gets.
Nothing out of the ordinary here, and every person should know you can't bring any sort of plants to a foreign country that is an island or remote (Hawaii). It is no secret that Australia is very strict with what you bring in, especially food and plants. Hell there was even an entire TV series about the boarder patrol and was filmed primarily in the airports. You can even watch it on YouTube. Being what...
Nothing out of the ordinary here, and every person should know you can't bring any sort of plants to a foreign country that is an island or remote (Hawaii). It is no secret that Australia is very strict with what you bring in, especially food and plants. Hell there was even an entire TV series about the boarder patrol and was filmed primarily in the airports. You can even watch it on YouTube. Being what you see on that show, and this story, this woman is not necessarily telling the full truth. They usually just confiscate it and not fine you. She did something to warrant that (an attitude, something else she isn't mentioning)? I wouldn't rush to defending her or saying border patrol should make exceptions. They shouldn't make exceptions, and this may hav happened before (which is basically guaranteed a fine).
If they let you keep it, they won't fine you for it. You'll get a lecturing about filling your card properly but that's it. If it's worth fining you, they *always* confiscate the violating goods because it y'know poses an actual quarantine risk. And in this case, the rose was fresh, which, if the offender actually possessed it, had no chance of keeping it past quarantine.
In fairness she’s just wearing a pink dress as opposed to going all Barbie. James Asquith is another one who dresses up on flights making a fool of himself
Making a fool of one’s self judging someone for making a fool of themselves. Quite the irony.
Searches of electronic devices are usually pre planned. Australia operates very much like CBP and has access to a ton of intelligence data.
Two plain clothes officers waiting for her and escorting her to secondary is far from random.
A single rose that she was allowed to keep? Now I understand the recent hysteria that seems to have engulfed what was a land of common sense people.
What “hysteria”? I live in Australia and find people here generally far more laid back and laconic than most places. The country is strict about biosecurity the same way that several countries in South East Asia are strict about drug importation; it’s been that way as long as I remember and seasoned travellers should be aware of it.
An innocent mistake can be costly but I think you have to be almost wilfully obtuse...
What “hysteria”? I live in Australia and find people here generally far more laid back and laconic than most places. The country is strict about biosecurity the same way that several countries in South East Asia are strict about drug importation; it’s been that way as long as I remember and seasoned travellers should be aware of it.
An innocent mistake can be costly but I think you have to be almost wilfully obtuse to ignore the many, many warnings that occur prior to arrival.
Australia is pretty strict. When we were there in June, my husband's golf set and golf shoes were very thoroughly inspected at custom to make sure there were no soil residue. Good thing, our friends arrived a few days before and went through the same procedure and warned us so hub has cleaned all of his equipments.
Being targeted or not, she didn't declare something she should have. The country she was traveling into required it, she didn't do it, it got noticed and she got fined. A costly mistake perhaps, but I think it is a stretch to say it's because she was targeted for being dressed as a Barbie. To mitigate it with "intent" softens the country's enforcement of their own rules. There was intent - she was carrying the...
Being targeted or not, she didn't declare something she should have. The country she was traveling into required it, she didn't do it, it got noticed and she got fined. A costly mistake perhaps, but I think it is a stretch to say it's because she was targeted for being dressed as a Barbie. To mitigate it with "intent" softens the country's enforcement of their own rules. There was intent - she was carrying the rose, therefore the intent to bring it into the country. It was on her to make sure to tick the right box on the form (especially in a country known to be strict about bio threats), or leave the rose on the plane.
I've been questioned about contents of my bags in customs, and even a bag looked at, in several countries (including my home country). I don't think it had anything to do with what I was wearing or what I looked like. It's customs doing their jobs. The only concern I'd have is the plain clothes officer, but your article is silent as to if they had a badge/ID or how they identified themselves.
Written like an Aussie nanny-state bureaucrat.
I think a fine was warranted for putting false information on the form. But $1200 is absurd.
Western Australian here. $1,200 is normal and warranted.
Western Australia in particular is very strict on biosecurity. You can expect to be checked by sniffer dogs at the airport - they're not necessarily looking for drugs, but rather for any raw meat or plant material. We even have biosecurity on flights from the rest of Australia, due to our unique environment.
People think it's ridiculous to have a large fine for bringing in an apple,...
Western Australian here. $1,200 is normal and warranted.
Western Australia in particular is very strict on biosecurity. You can expect to be checked by sniffer dogs at the airport - they're not necessarily looking for drugs, but rather for any raw meat or plant material. We even have biosecurity on flights from the rest of Australia, due to our unique environment.
People think it's ridiculous to have a large fine for bringing in an apple, for example. But if that one apple contains an invasive pest, such as a fruit fly, it could do millions of dollars of damage to our agricultural industry, or devastate rare native flora or fauna.
Australia makes everyone watch a bio security video prior to landing. The video basically says ‘if it was ever alive you have to declare it’. It even specifically mentions that things you’ve received on board are still considered foreign and have to be declared. Maybe she wasn’t paying attention during the video…
The part that seems really suspicious here is that they normally catch you after baggage claim when you’re sent down one of the...
Australia makes everyone watch a bio security video prior to landing. The video basically says ‘if it was ever alive you have to declare it’. It even specifically mentions that things you’ve received on board are still considered foreign and have to be declared. Maybe she wasn’t paying attention during the video…
The part that seems really suspicious here is that they normally catch you after baggage claim when you’re sent down one of the inspection lanes. Like she was still in a part of the airport where they have bio security garbage bins and could have plausibly thrown the rose out in full compliance with the rules. Maybe the officers saw her openly carrying an obvious violation and asked her “cute flower, what are you gonna do with it?”
My cotton pants? My leather belt? Where's the line?
If you are unsure, just declare it. It’s that simple you won’t get fined even if you have contraband as long as you declare it
Something stinks about this story and tbh I am doubtful of the social media 'victims' account. And to be fair it is ONLY her account of 'the rose story' that we will hear as I doubt the Australian govt officials will comment.
The very fact that she was TARGETED before even reaching immigration speaks volumes.
I travelled to Australia a few months ago and was randomly selected for a secondary search and had two un-declared...
Something stinks about this story and tbh I am doubtful of the social media 'victims' account. And to be fair it is ONLY her account of 'the rose story' that we will hear as I doubt the Australian govt officials will comment.
The very fact that she was TARGETED before even reaching immigration speaks volumes.
I travelled to Australia a few months ago and was randomly selected for a secondary search and had two un-declared restricted items in my carry on - some restricted medication and some beef jerky. The quarantine officer took away my passport and a few minutes later returned it to me and said he had logged a 'warning' and off I went - no fine.
Anybody traveling internationally in a disguise should be thoroughly searched upon arrival, and more importantly upon departure.
A”disguise”? Wtf are you talking about. It’s not like she was trying to convince anyone she was Barbie. If the person isn’t trying to pass security based on a false identity why should it matter if they are dressed up to look different from usual. How would security even know if someone is in “disguise”? If I grew a mustache since my passport picture from 5 years ago, does that count?
Anyhow… dumb comment.
Clearly you haven’t seen a picture of what she was wearing.
It’s most likely that her pattern of travel, and possibly yours drew Border Force’s attention to you/her. Short regular international trips are also the hallmarks of travellers for nefarious activities.
Another social media narcissist.
Ben, was the landing card electronically submitted ahead or was it in paper form in her hand?
The landing card is paper.
Each person has to filled out one. They give it to you on the plane.
They probably saw her walking with the rose and viewed it as an opportunity to fine someone. If she was holding it as she was walking out of the plabe they could have easily reminded her that the rose needs to be claimed/reported. It definitely cones off as deliberate. Maybe they have a quota to meet. Either way it's not in good faith and feels like abuse of power.
I was fined $400 for bringing an apple into New Zealand that the airline provided as part of my inflight meal. I had gone to the "things to declare" line to declare a bunch of equipment, forgetting about the apple.
"had her phone confiscated"
It was confiscated? Not given back?
@ Argus Tuft -- Perhaps that wasn't the right word, as it was indeed given back eventually. Post updated.