Travelers to Australia, declare your rendang or face huge fine and deportation

Beef rendang. Photo: Flickr
Beef rendang. Photo: Flickr

We have a cautionary tale for anyone wishing to travel to Australia courtesy of an Indonesian man who appeared to be oblivious to how seriously the folks Down Under enforce biosecurity measures at their borders.

As reported by Perth Now, an Indonesian man was fined AUD2,664 (US$1,704) and had his visa revoked for failing to declare that he brought 1.4 kilograms of rendang (beef slow-cooked in coconut milk and spices) into the country.

In addition, the traveler also brought in his luggage 3.1 kilograms of duck meat, 500 grams of frozen beef, and 900 grams of chicken.

He had ticked “no” in his pre-arrival passenger card when he was asked if he was bringing meat or poultry into Australia. He reportedly sought to distribute the rendang to a community of Indonesians in Australia.

One may recall that Australia considered suspending travel to and from Indonesia earlier this year amid a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in the Asian country. Officials Down Under feared the disease may bring huge economic losses to Australia’s agricultural sector.

At one point, authorities in Australia told travelers to leave their shoes behind in Bali as they may have been in contact with soil contaminated with the FMD virus.

Fair dinkum, then, we totally get the huge fine and deportation for not declaring rendang and uncooked meat into Australia. In addition, the traveler may face an exclusionary period of three years, during which he may not apply for an Australian visa.

Also read

Macca-scuse me? Australian fined AUD2,664 over undeclared McMuffins bought in Bali

‘The audacity!’: Indonesian officials chastise Aussie senator Pauline Hanson for insulting Bali amid FMD fears



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