A backpacker has been fined an eye-watering $2,664 for trying to bring food from McDonald’s into Australia.
The traveller jetted into Darwin following a near three-hour flight from Bali armed with a ham croissant as well as two egg and sausage McMuffins in their luggage.
The Maccy D’s contraband was quickly sniffed by out by the airport's new biosecurity detector dog Zinta, who flagged the illicit Golden Arches produce to border security personnel.
The traveller allegedly also provided a 'false and misleading document' and didn't properly declare their fast food cargo, news.com.au reports.
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And the backpacker is clearly not a fan of Nothing To Declare because if they were they’d know that failing to declare produce that may create biosecurity issues, which are provided on a form when entering the country, results in fines.
In this case, quite a hefty fine, $2,664 in fact, which must make it one of the most expensive McDonald’s in history. Not only that, but the fine is twice the price of the airfare to Bali, ouch.
Australia's border authorities are on high alert, especially for people coming from Indonesia, over fears of foot and mouth disease spreading through the country.
In light of the international fast food bust, Australian Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he had ‘no sympathy’ for the passenger ‘who choose to disobey' the country's ‘strict biosecurity measures’.
Commenting on the furore, Senator Watt began: "This will be the most expensive Macca’s meal this passenger ever has.
“This fine is twice the cost of an airfare to Bali, but I have no sympathy for people who choose to disobey Australia’s strict biosecurity measures, and recent detections show you will be caught.
“Australia is FMD-free, and we want it to stay that way.
“Biosecurity is no joke – it helps protect jobs, our farms, food and supports the economy. Passengers who choose to travel need to make sure they are fulfilling the conditions to enter Australia, by following all biosecurity measures.”
The Golden Arches breakfast bust comes weeks after foot and mouth disease was detected in Chinese pork products at a Melbourne supermarket.
Travellers coming back from Indonesia, particularly Bali, have been warned to either wash their shoes or bin them to avoid bringing the disease into Australia.
Minister Watt explained at the time that everyone needs to take this risk seriously as it could severely decimate the agriculture industry if there's an outbreak.
“It’s concerning that despite all of the commentary and all of the work from industry, the government and other people, to educate people about what needs to be done, that unfortunately we are still finding passengers do the wrong thing,” he told ABC News.
“Unfortunately, there are some people who haven’t heard the message and that’s why the tough fines are needed."
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Topics: Australia, Food and Drink, McDonalds
Lisa McLoughlin