I recently flew to Australia from my home country and was eager to start exploring. Little did I know that I was about to experience the long arm of Australian law first hand. Australia is known for its zero tolerance policy when it comes to counterfeiting, and I was about to find out the hard way.
As I was departing the airport, I noticed one of the customs officers pulling several designer bags out of a traveler’s suitcase. I had the misfortune of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, and before I knew it an officer was asking me to unzip my own suitcase and pull out the supposedly ‘fake’ bags I had brought with me.
“What!?” I exclaimed, “these aren’t fake! They’re designer originals!” I had spent months contemplating which of my bags to take and I was sure that these were legit. To my dismay, the customs officer informed me that it was prohibited to bring any kind of fake bag into Australia and that I had to hand them over.
I felt so embarrassed and frustrated. It wasn’t my fault that the bags had been purchased from a less than reputable source. I had no way to prove the origin of the bags, and before I knew it, I was being told to pay a hefty fine or face criminal charges.
No matter how much I tried to explain, the customs officers refused to listen. After what felt like hours of questioning, I had to finally give in and admit defeat. I was allowed to keep my bags, but only after I paid a hefty fine for the “confiscated” merchandise.
In hindsight, I understand that this was an important lesson for me to learn. Fake items, which includes bags, handbags, wallets, and purses, are considered to be serious contraband in Australia and are heavily fined or seized. I now know that if I want to buy something that was produced outside of Australia, I’ll have to buy it from an authorized retailer.
Another way to ensure that I don’t get into trouble is by making sure I bring my receipts with me to Australia as proof of purchase. I have also realized that no matter what I do, the customs officers will always be on the lookout and I should be more careful about where and how I purchase items.
Additionally, I have learned that ignorance is no defense when it comes to Australia’s laws on counterfeiting. Even if I wasn’t aware that I was carrying fake items, it was still my responsibility to take all the necessary precautions and get a second opinion before I tried to bring it in the country.
Living in Australia also means knowing the law and respecting it. People who purchase or attempt to bring fake items into the country are not only committing a violation but are also damaging the reputation of legitimate businesses. That’s why it’s essential to understand the regulations and make sure I stick to them.
To be honest, I think that trying to bring fake items into Australia is not worth the effort or the risk. Depending on the country, goods that are made from genuine leathers or exotic can be extremely expensive in Australia. Therefore, it’s much better to wait until you arrive back home and try eBay or other reputable online retailers where the prices might be much lower and the luxury items more authentic than what you might find in the store.