A Queensland woman has been sentenced to six months in prison for importing illegal cacti and other plants in packages falsely labelled as containing lingerie and shoes. Kirsten Mae Fearn pleaded guilty to 14 biosecurity charges at Brisbane Magistrates Court in July after repeatedly importing prohibited plants to sell online.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry officers uncovered the scheme when packages arriving from Hong Kong between February 2021 and March 2024 were inspected. The parcels, declared as lingerie and shoes, were found to contain 57 cacti and succulents. A subsequent search of Fearn's home nursery in Brisbane uncovered an additional 50 illegal succulents.
Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance, Justine Saunders, said Fearn had been repeatedly warned about her behaviour but continued the illegal activity. 'The department elected to deal with this via criminal prosecution because of the seriousness of the matter,' Saunders said. 'Our biosecurity laws are vital to the health of Australia’s economy and environment.'
Fearn admitted to making ongoing false declarations and importing the plants for sale through her online business. She faced a maximum penalty of 10 years' imprisonment and a $600,000 fine. After pleading guilty, she was sentenced to six months' imprisonment but released immediately on a recognisance release order, requiring her to comply with court conditions.
Saunders said the case should serve as a warning to others who import biosecurity threats. 'We protect this through education and targeted regulation. We all need to play our part in keeping Australia safe,' she added.
