Cattle company fined for breaching biosecurity rules with ‘complete disregard’ for industry

A cattle company has been convicted and fined in the Darwin local court for three counts of breaching Northern Territory biosecurity regulations.

Bunderra Cattle Company has been fined $18,000 plus a $3,000 levy for taking cattle from Murranji Station to Queensland without treating the animals for cattle ticks on three separate occasions in July and August, 2020.

At the time, Murranji Station, 750 kilometres south-east of Darwin, was classified as an “infected zone”, meaning any cattle moved from the property to the south were required to be inspected or treated for ticks.

Cattle ticks are a pest that can reduce livestock production and also spread tick fever, which causes sickness and death in some affected animals.

The Animal Welfare Branch began investigating Bunderra’s movement of three loads of cattle, totalling 769 head, in December 2020, with the company initially denying any wrongdoing, the court heard.

Bunderra pleaded guilty in September, and during sentencing, the company’s lawyer said it was experiencing “trucking and administrative issues” at the time of the offending.

Judge Sarah McNamara said the breaches of restrictions “were knowingly carried out, and they were restrictions put in place for the wellbeing of an entire industry”.

“It was persistent offending … in my view, transport and administrative issues that the company was encountering at the time are no excuse,” Judge McNamara said.

“It is conduct that put at risk the spread of cattle ticks to restricted and free zones, and in turn that could have led to significant losses to innocent and compliant operators in the industry.

“It is conduct that demonstrated a complete disregard for members of what is a very hard-working community and industry.”

‘Warning to businesses’

Bunderra has since been working with the NT Department of Industry (DITT) to prove Murranji Station is free of ticks, and in October 2022 the property was re-classified from an “infected zone” to a “control zone”.

In a statement to ABC Rural, Bunderra said the breaches were “due to actions of an independent third-party trucking contractor who our company engaged to transport cattle”.

“It is a warning to other businesses that you can be held accountable for the actions and misconduct of an independent transport company,” the statement said.

“The stress this has caused our family is significant and we are very disappointed with the outcome.

“As a company we strive to be at the forefront of our industry and actively advocate for biosecurity on our properties.”

A DITT spokesperson said “any person or company found breaching requirements under Northern Territory legislation will be investigated and prosecuted where non-compliance is discovered”.

DITT said the Bunderra case was the first prosecution solely for contravening a tick line in the Northern Territory.