An Indian actress has been fined $2,000 after failing to declare a garland of flowers she brought with her on a flight into Australia.
Navya Nair was given two jasmine gajras by her father for the two legs of her journey from Kochi, India, to Singapore, and then onto Melbourne.
She wore one of the garlands for the first leg and was given the second because her father knew the flowers would wither on the long flight.
'He told me to keep the second one in my handbag so I could wear it on the onward journey from Singapore,' Nair said.
'I put it in my carry bag.'
Nair landed in Melbourne on Saturday morning, the ABC reported.
Airport officials found the 15-centimetre-long string of flowers in her luggage and immediately fined the actress as she had not declared them.
She was fined almost $2,000.
Navya Nair was given a garland of flowers to wear for the first leg of her journey from Kochi, India, to Singapore, and another garland for the second leg to Melbourne
Nair failed to declare the second garland of flowers and was fined almost $2,000
'What I did was against the law. It was a mistake I made unknowingly. However, ignorance is no excuse,' she said.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) says fresh-cut flowers can be brought into Australia on an aircraft or a cruise ship, but they must adhere to strict rules.
Travellers can bring in up to six shoebox-sized boxes, florist packages or bouquets, but they must be declared.
'Declared risk goods will be inspected by a biosecurity officer,' the website states.
'They may direct the goods for treatment, export or destruction. Goods that do not pose a biosecurity risk will be returned to you.'
Restrictions on importing flowers and live plants help to prevent the entry of exotic insects, plant diseases and other biosecurity risk material into Australia.
Travellers who provide false or misleading information, or fail to declare items, will be fined.
The maximum fine for biosecurity breaches is $6,600, but criminal charges can also be laid.
Nair was invited to Melbourne by the Malayalee Association of Victoria
Nair flew to Australia as part of celebrations for an Onam event organised by the Malayalee Association of Victoria.
Onam is a 10-day harvest festival with roots in the Indian state of Kerala.
Nair was invited to join in with the range of celebrations for the festival, including boat races and performances.
