The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is urging people to resist the temptation to steal a fresh Christmas tree this year, and to go instead to their local nursery.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development, Mark Furner said stories went around every year about people trying to cut down and steal a free Christmas tree, but it wasn’t worth the risk.
“It is a breach of the Forestry Act 1959 to remove trees or timber from State Forest areas, including State plantation areas, without authorisation,” Mr Furner said.
“On most designated plantation areas, particularly those in the Sunshine Coast region, the right to remove trees or timber lies exclusively with the plantation licensee.”
Mr Furner said the fines for illegally removing trees from a plantation area were significant, and could put a nasty hole in a family’s Christmas or holiday budget.
“Under the Forestry Act, the maximum penalty for the unlawful removal of trees from a plantation area is a fine of $14,375 for a first offence and then up to $28,700 for a subsequent offence,” he said.
“Far better to support the wonderful business people and hard workers supporting our plant and nursery industry by buying a suitable live plant or tree to be the centre of your festive activities.”
He said the nursery industry was a key part of the State’s horticulture industry with a $1 billion contribution to the economy and support for up to 6,000 jobs.
