NSW Farmers demand tougher penalty for United Airlines after biosecurity law breaches

NSW Farmers have slammed the government’s soft approach to United Airlines after multiple breaches of biosecurity laws.

Australia’s largest state farming organisation has slammed the “weak response” of the federal government to United Airlines’ breaches of biosecurity laws, pointing out that jaywalkers get harsher treatment.

On two occasions in 2022 and 2024, United Airlines failed to declare there were assistance dogs on board flights into Sydney and Brisbane.

In addition, the US carrier was found not to have met “disinfection measures” — or procedures to control or kill the insect carriers of human diseases and agricultural pests.

After an investigation, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry said United had voluntarily agreed to meet a number of requirements over the next 15 months, and would be monitored by the department.

“These include revising their internal processes, systems, and training,” said a statement from DAFF.

“The enforceable undertaking is one of the tools used by the department to ensure Australia’s robust biosecurity requirements are met.”

But NSW Farmers said the actions of United Airlines warranted a much tougher response than an enforceable undertaking, which was akin to a “slap on the wrist”.

Biosecurity committee chair for NSW Farmers Tony Hegarty said Aussies copped “a bigger penalty for jaywalking or littering than United Airlines had been dealt and that was not good enough”.

“It is unbelievable that our response to an international airline not only repeatedly breaching biosecurity rules, but also refusing to hand over information to authorities, is an enforceable undertaking,” Mr Hegarty said.

“This is the equivalent of promising not to do it again after doing it again and again.

“The federal government needs to take breaches seriously and ensure companies like United Airlines also take it seriously, not just give them a slap on the wrist.”

DAFF deputy secretary for biosecurity Justine Saunders said enforceable undertakings helped avoid lengthy court proceedings, and ensured long-term compliance with biosecurity requirements in a “collaborative and more cost-effective manner”.

Pistol and Boo leaving Australia in 2015.

A United Airlines spokesman declined to comment on the department’s action.

In 2015, the pets of actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were seized after authorities learned the then-couple had smuggled Pistol and Boo into Queensland from the US on the private jet of Mick Doohan.

Depp and Heard faced charges for the illegal importation of the Yorkshire terriers but escaped with a fine and an agreement they would release a video apologising for their actions.

Pistol and Boo were returned to the US but only after then-Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce threatened to destroy them.

In another case of international “dog smuggling” American basketballer Lamar Patterson managed to bring his french bulldog Kobe on a Qantas flight from Los Angeles without anyone noticing until they arrived in Brisbane in late 2018.

The dog was seized by biosecurity officers and sent back to the US while Patterson faced a fine.

Basketball star Lamar Patterson and his pet dog Kobe.

Ms Saunders said the unchecked importation of live animals posed an “unacceptable biosecurity risk”.

She said Australia was currently free of many exotic pests and diseases such as rabies, which could be transmitted from dogs to humans.

“The entry, spread and establishment of rabies would have devastating impacts in Australia,” Ms Saunders said.

Originally published as NSW Farmers demand tougher penalty for United Airlines after biosecurity law breaches