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Actor Navya Nair Fined Rs 1.14 Lakh For Carrying Gajra: What are the rules? Why the fine? Why is it prohibited? Australia airport rules explained
Navya Nair posed before the action. (Instagram)
Malayalam actor Navya Nair was stopped at the Melbourne airport in Australia and fined over Rs 1 lakh for carrying a 15-cm-long jasmine gajra. Nair was heading to the Onam celebrations organised by the Malayali Association of Victoria.
What are the rules? Why the fine? Why is it prohibited? Australia airport rules explained.
Why was Navya Nair fined?
During the event, Nair narrated the incident. “Before I came here, it was my father who bought jasmine for me. He cut it into two parts and gave it to me. He asked me to wear one in my hair from Kochi to Singapore, since it would wither by the time I reached. He told me to keep the second one in my handbag so I could wear it on the onward journey from Singapore. I put it in my carry bag,” she was quoted as saying in several media reports.
“What I did was against the law. It was a mistake I made unknowingly. However, ignorance is no excuse. For bringing a 15-cm jasmine string, officials asked me to pay a fine of AUD 1,980 (Rs 1.14 lakh). A mistake is a mistake, though it was not intentional. They told me the fine must be paid within 28 days,” she was quoted in media reports.
The Australia passenger arrival rules
The list of items you can and cannot bring into Australia have been listed by studyaustralia.gov.au website. It states that there are many items that you must declare on your Incoming Passenger Arrival Card when you land in Australia, including:
- All food, plant material and animal items
- Firearms, weapons and ammunition
- Currency amounts of A$10,000 (or foreign equivalent)
- Some medicines
- It is illegal to carry (or use) drugs, including marijuana, cannabis, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines, in and out of Australia.
“If unsure, declare your goods or ask an Australian Border Force officer for advice. Declaring goods does not necessarily mean your baggage will be examined,” it states, adding, “You should be aware that it is routine for Australian Border Force officers to ask travellers questions at any time. Trained dogs may also be used to detect illegal drugs or prohibited imports.”
Australia airport biosecurity rules are strict
The website further states:
“You cannot bring fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, poultry, pork, eggs, dairy products, live plants or seeds to Australia. These products could introduce serious pests and diseases into Australia, devastating our unique environment.
By law, you must declare any goods listed on your incoming passenger card, including certain food, plant material and animal products.”
The penalty
You can be penalised if you don’t declare goods or provide an incorrect declaration.
Fine: A$5,500.
Or cancellation of visa
Or refusal of entry into Australia
Or immigration detention pending departure from Australia.
At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies …Read More
At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies … Read More
September 08, 2025, 12:02 IST
