Biosecurity fines and penalty notices

Biosecurity Queensland can issue fines called penalty infringement notices (PIN) for a range of offences, including:

• moving livestock without carrying a movement record
• moving a fire ant carrier within or out of a fire ant biosecurity zone without following movement restrictions
• acting under a biosecurity permit without carrying the permit.

A PIN can be issued on the spot, or sent by email or post.

The infringement notice contains information about the alleged offence and fine amount.

Paying the fine

When issued with an infringement notice, you have 28 days to either:

• pay the whole fine according to the instructions on the notice
• enter into a payment plan with the State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER).

You can pay your fine:

• online using your credit card
• over the phone by phoning 13 25 23 with your notice and credit card
• at a customer service centre
• by mailing a cheque and the notice to the department.

Payment plan

If you cannot pay the full amount by the due date, and the fine is $200 or more, you may be eligible for a payment plan with SPER.

To apply, you must make an upfront payment of $60 by the due date using one of the payment methods listed above.

Once we receive your partial payment of $60, we will refer your outstanding debt to SPER, who will tell you what to do next.

If you disagree with the PIN

If you believe you have a valid reason to object to the fine, you can either:

• dispute it with the department by contacting the customer service centre on 13 25 23
• ask to have the offence heard by a court by completing Option 2: Election for court hearing on the back of the PIN and returning the PIN by mail to the specified address within 28 days of the PIN being served.

If you do not pay or dispute the PIN

If you do not act by the due date on your infringement notice:

• the department can refer it to SPER, who will issue an enforcement order. The order includes an additional registration fee and a new due date. If you do not act by the due date on the enforcement order, SPER will take one or more enforcement actions against you
• you may be prosecuted in a Magistrates Court.