Queensland, 19th March 2020

TO THE AUSTRALIAN QUARANTINE INSPECTION SERVICE

We just arrived to Mackay from The Solomon Islands in our catamaran after 8 sailing days. As we know how restrictive the Australian Quarantine rules are and important to mention that we agree with that, we left The Solomons with just what was needed for the passage. After the last 2 days of rough sea and not good visibility we arrived safe on the 10th March.

On the same day Customs went onboard and on the 11th we had the AQIS inspection.
The AQIS Officer was very polite, efficient and also seemed to be happy on how the boat was clean and tidy. He removed any suspect item (in our case not more than 2 kg all together, flour, rice, onions and capsicum), collected the fee (AUD$ 285) and authorised us to remove the quarantine flag.

What was our surprise when we got into the Marina and they asked us to pay AUD$ 485.00 fee for the Quarantine rubbish! When did this fee start? Why was it implemented? How was it publicised?

As we do not have the answers for these questions neither from the AQIS’s Officer nor from the Marina’s workers we would like to state the following protest.

An official protest about the new cost retrieval process on taxpayer funded services.

Since the introduction of cost retrieval protocols by the Australian Government AQIS has covered the cost of disposal of potentially damaging biological items from yachts and ships. This cost has now been forced on Port Authorities and Marinas at Customs Clearance Ports. There has been no consultation with concerned authorities and no publication of the resultant fees.

At the contact point of AQIS clearing a vessel there is no mention of this fee.
AQIS Officers are polite and efficient. They remove any suspect item, collect the fee and authorise the client to remove the quarantine flag. It is not until entering the Marina Office that demand for fees are mentioned.

I protest that this fee is unjustified and ill-advised for the following reasons:

1. It encourages dumping at sea prior to arriving anything that might be removed by the AQIS inspector thus attempting to ensure zero removal of items and zero fees. This is not recommended practice as dumping at sea is illegal in Australian Waters and is not a desired outcome even in international waters.
2. Total lack of industry consultation.
3. No publicity of the new fees.
4. Total lack of control by AQIS of the waste disposal process.
5. Encouragement of dumping at sea.
6. Discouragement of ships and yachts entering Australian waters.
7. Discouragement of visiting vessels hence less spending in the marine and tourism industry.

Gavin Prescott,

Master and Owner of the Australian Registered Sailing Vessel Chemistry