Kippa-Ring wholesaler fined millions for selling fake Aboriginal art

A southeast Queensland wholesaler has been fined millions for selling fake Australian Aboriginal art across more than 200 retail outlets.

Birubi Art Pty Ltd claimed its merchandise was handpainted by Australian Aboriginal people, when it was in fact manufactured in Indonesia Picture: Supplied

A WHOLESALER found to be selling fake Aboriginal didgeridoos and boomerangs across Australia has been fined $2.3 million.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission had been seeking penalties in the Federal Court after Kippa-Ring based business Birubi Art Pty Ltd was found to have breached Australian Consumer law.

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The company pretended its didgeridoos and boomerangs had been handpainted by Australian Aboriginal people when they had in fact been made in Indonesia.

Redcliffe Peninsula Aboriginal artist and businessman Michael Connolly led the push against Birubi in October last year.

He has run Dreamtime Kullilla-Art, along with his family, on the Peninsula for 25 years.

Mr Connolly said the fine was a step in the right direction.

Clontarf indigenous artist Michael Connolly said the ruling was a step in the right direction for Aboriginal artists. Picture: AAP/ Sarah Marshall

He said he hoped it would act as a deterrent for other companies doing the same thing.

“It is a good win for Aboriginal artists,” Mr Connolly said.

Mr Connolly said the legal battle had taken its toll on his family and business but he hoped he would now be able to get his life “back on track”.

Justice Melissa Perry handed down the fine on Wednesday, noting that 244 retail outlets stocked the fake products between 2010 and 2017.

“I consider that penalties totalling $2.3 million are appropriate and just for Birubi’s conduct,” Justice Perry said.

The judge further ordered the ACCC was not to take steps against Birubi Art to enforce the monetary penalty or pay its legal costs without further leave of the court, to reflect the fact the wholesaler was in liquidation.