Pastoral firm hit with record biosecurity fine after cattle smuggling

A pastoral company has been slugged with a record $45,000 fine for moving thousands of cattle across state lines without proper documentation, marking the largest penalty ever imposed under Queensland's Biosecurity Act 2014.

The Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) prosecuted the case after discovering the company transported livestock from New South Wales into Queensland without the mandatory movement records and biosecurity registrations between June and September 2023.

Serious compliance failures uncovered

The company representative pleaded guilty to 22 separate offences, including:

• Failing to provide prescribed livestock movement information
• Failure to maintain accurate biosecurity records
• Failure to register as a biosecurity entity

The DPI has declined to publicly identify the company, its home state, or the court that handed down the penalty, citing legal constraints. However, investigators traced the unauthorised movements along stock routes through Goondiwindi, a major pastoral region on the Queensland-NSW border.

"Anyone doing the wrong thing will be held accountable," the Queensland Department of Primary Industries stated in response to the case.

Growing concern over livestock traceability

The penalty underscores escalating enforcement around Australia's livestock movement protocols, which form the backbone of the national biosecurity framework. Proper documentation and traceability systems are essential for preventing the spread of animal diseases, protecting herd health, and maintaining market access for Australian pastoral exports.

The case highlights vulnerabilities in cross-border cattle movements, particularly along the Queensland-NSW frontier where large pastoral operations frequently shift livestock between states. Without proper records, authorities cannot quickly trace animals if disease outbreaks occur, potentially jeopardising entire regions' livestock industries.

Biosecurity enforcement tightens

The record fine signals Queensland's commitment to strengthening biosecurity compliance across the pastoral sector. The Biosecurity Act 2014 grants regulators substantial powers to inspect livestock movements, audit records, and prosecute operators who circumvent registration and documentation requirements.

This case represents a significant escalation in penalty levels. The previous benchmark for biosecurity breaches under the Act had been considerably lower, suggesting Queensland authorities are prepared to impose substantial financial consequences on repeat offenders or companies demonstrating systemic non-compliance.

For the broader pastoral industry, the judgment serves as a stark reminder that biosecurity obligations are non-negotiable, regardless of operational scale or experience. Companies operating across state boundaries must maintain meticulous documentation and ensure all livestock movements comply with each jurisdiction's specific requirements.

Source: ABC News