A fine has been issued and scores of plants have been seized as part of a joint operation clamping down on the illegal selling of regulated plants on the Sunshine Coast.
A local plant vendor 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, by Biosecurity Queensland and Sunshine Coast Council.
The Queensland Government issued a media release that said the most common type of plant seized from growers is regulated cactus.
It said that anyone who grows and sells plants needed to do their research on what they can and cannot sell.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said illegal plants were invasive.
“The reason these plants are regulated is to try to stop them spreading throughout Queensland and threatening our environment,” he said.
“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.”
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 Restricted Invasive Plants.
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