Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Regional Council recently joined forces to stop the illegal sale of regulated plant species.
A Sunshine Coast plant seller was fined $718 for selling white and kahili ginger, which is banned from sale in Queensland. In addition to the fine, 142 plants were seized and destroyed through the joint operation.
The most common type of plant seized from growers is regulated cactus.
“The reason these plants are regulated is to try to stop them spreading throughout Queensland and threatening our environment,” said Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities, Mark Furner.
“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,” he said.
