Sunshine Coast seller pays the price for illegal plant sale

• Seller fined over sale of restricted plants
• Laws in place to prevent invasive plants from damaging environment
• Offending plants destroyed in joint operation

Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Regional Council recently joined forces to stop the illegal selling of regulated plant species on the Sunshine Coast.

A Sunshine Coast plant seller was fined $718 for selling white and kahili ginger, which is banned from sale in Queensland.

As well as the fine, 142 plants were seized and destroyed through the joint operation.

The most common type of plant seized from growers is regulated cactus.

Anyone who grows and sells plants needs to do their research on what they can and cannot sell.

If you are unsure contact your local government or Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.

For more information and a list of restricted plants go to: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/biosecurity/plants/invasive/restricted

Quotes attributable to Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner:

“The reason these plants are regulated is to try to stop them spreading throughout Queensland and threatening our environment.

“Not knowing what plants you cannot sell is not an excuse. You risk getting a fine.

“This is not the first person we have issued a fine to on the Sunshine Coast and won’t be the last.”

ENDS

Media contact: Martin Philip 0407 675 008