Floral arrangements sent by Facebook to three locations in Tasmania - including the offices of two federal politicians - were found to contain plants of concern, the state's biosecurity agency says.
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Quarantine officials within the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Environment and Water are continuing investigations into how the three Australian native wreaths made it to their destinations earlier this month, with no decisions made on what compliance measures the social media giant may face.
The first floral arrangement arrived at the office of Independent Clark MHR Andrew Wilkie on November 4, who promptly alerted Biosecurity Tasmania out of concern it may be in breach of the state's strict biosecurity laws and contain "serious pests and diseases".
Officials were quick to act in seizing the flowers, though Mr Wilkie thought more may have been inbound in the mail.
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This turned out to be the case, with a further wreath arriving at the Launceston office of Liberal Bass MHR Bridger Archer the following day. It is unclear where the third package was sent.
Facebook has said it sent the package to Mr Wilkie to "spread some festive cheer" and share information about a business in his electorate featured in their 2019 Gift Guide.
"The floral arrangements were sent to three locations in Tasmania and each of them has been confiscated by the Department," a DPIPWE spokesperson said
"The arrangements were found to include plants that are not permitted to be brought into Tasmania without appropriate treatment."
"All the circumstances are still being investigated and no decisions have been made regarding compliance measures at this stage."
The state has strict controls on what can be imported - including by mail - to stop the spread of pests, weeds and diseases from outside the island.
To enforce this, Biosecurity Tasmania has agreements in place with other states and producers, along with border checks by staff who investigate and respond to reported incursions.
The agency's Plant Biosecurity Manual states that packages containing plants and plant products sent by postal service or courier must be accompanied by details of the items and "be marked for the attention of Biosecurity Tasmania".
Plants imported outside of quarantine laws may be destroyed or treated if of significant value. The importer may also face a fine.
Biosecurity has been on the mind of many in the state recently after fruit fly larvae found on Flinders Island sparked months-long efforts to return the state to pest free status.
A live Queensland tree frog found its way to Scottsdale with a bunch of bananas in August last year.
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