Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

QUARANTINE ACT 1908 - SECT 67

Basic illegal importation offence

             (1)  A person is guilty of an offence against this subsection if:

                     (a)  the person imports, introduces, or brings into any port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island any thing; and

                     (b)  the person knows that the thing is:

                              (i)  a disease or pest; or

                             (ii)  a substance or article containing a disease or pest; or

                            (iii)  an animal, plant or other goods; and

                     (c)  the importation, introduction or bringing in of the thing is in contravention of this Act.

Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.

Strict liability applies to paragraph (1)(c)

             (2)  For the purposes of an offence against subsection (1), strict liability applies to paragraph (1)(c).

Aggravated illegal importation offence

             (3)  A person is guilty of aggravated illegal importation if:

                     (a)  the person imports, introduces, or brings into any port or other place in Australia, the Cocos Islands or Christmas Island any thing; and

                     (b)  the person knows that the thing is:

                              (i)  a disease or pest; or

                             (ii)  a substance or article containing a disease or pest; or

                            (iii)  an animal, plant or other goods; and

                     (c)  the importation, introduction or bringing in of the thing is in contravention of this Act; and

                     (d)  the person obtains, or is likely to obtain, a commercial advantage over the person's competitors or potential competitors.

Maximum penalty:

                     (a)  if the offender is an individual--imprisonment for 10 years or a fine of 2,000 penalty units, or both; and

                     (b)  if the offender is a body corporate--a fine of 10,000 penalty units.

Examples of commercial advantage

             (4)  The following are examples of a commercial advantage as referred to in subsection (3):

                     (a)  the avoidance of business costs associated with obtaining an import permit or meeting quarantine requirements; or

                     (b)  the avoidance of delays necessarily involved in compliance with applicable quarantine measures.

Strict liability applies to paragraph (3)(c)

          (4A)  For the purposes of an offence against subsection (3), strict liability applies to paragraph (3)(c).

Illegal removal offence

          (4B)  A person is guilty of an offence against this subsection if:

                     (a)  the person removes any thing:

                              (i)  from a part of Australia to another part of Australia; or

                             (ii)  from a part of the Cocos Islands to another part of the Cocos Islands; or

                            (iii)  from Australia to the Cocos Islands; or

                            (iv)  from the Cocos Islands to Australia; or

                             (v)  from a part of Christmas Island to another part of Christmas Island; or

                            (vi)  from Australia to Christmas Island; or

                           (vii)  from Christmas Island to Australia; or

                          (viii)  from Christmas Island to the Cocos Islands; and

                     (b)  the person knows that the thing is an animal, plant or other goods; and

                     (c)  the removal of the thing is in contravention of this Act.

Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.

Strict liability applies to paragraph (4B)(c)

          (4C)  For the purposes of an offence against subsection (4B), strict liability applies to paragraph (4B)(c).

Non-compliance with condition of permit granted under Proclamation

             (5)  A person is guilty of an offence if:

                     (a)  the person fails to comply with a condition or restriction set out in a permit granted under a Proclamation made in accordance with subsection 13(2A); and

                     (b)  the person is reckless as to whether or not the condition or restriction is complied with.

Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.

Hindering compliance with Act

             (6)  A person is guilty of an offence if the person:

                     (a)  does any act that hinders or prevents another person from complying with this Act; and

                     (b)  is reckless as to whether or not the doing of that act hinders or prevents the other person from complying with this Act.

Maximum penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.