New laws will be introduced so people contaminating strawberries face more jail time, the Prime Minister has announced.
Scott Morrison has described those who have hidden needles in fruit as “cowards” and “grubs”, urging people to continuing buying strawberries with care.
Contaminated strawberries have been found across five states and investigations are ongoing, with the West Australian Government offering a $100,000 reward for information.
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said about 100 people had reported contaminated strawberries, although many of these may be hoaxes or false alarms.
He urged people thinking it may be funny to share images of needles in fruit on social media to delete their posts, warning it was distracting police from the real crime.
Mr Morrison said new laws were needed urgently to dissuade any copycat offenders, including increasing the maximum jail time for contaminating food from 10, to 15 years.
The Morrison Government will also introduce a new offence of recklessly contaminating fruit, which will carry a similar jail time.
‘It’s not a joke, it’s not funny’
The Prime Minister said the laws would be drafted today with an intent to pass them through Parliament this week.
“It’s not a joke, it’s not funny,” Mr Morrison said.
“You are putting the livelihoods of hard-working Australians at risk and you are scaring children, and you are a coward and a grub.
“Some idiot, for his own reasons, has engaged in an act of sabotage it would seem, and that has put all of that risk for these people out there having a go.”
Mr Porter said the new laws would send a massive deterrent to anyone who would further cripple the industry.
“This is a very important addition to our criminal offences, which is why the Prime Minister is going to insist that it be passed by the end of the week.”
Shadow Agriculture Minister Joel Fitzgibbon has given conditional support for the new laws.
“Labor will work with the Government on supporting farmers and stopping these despicable acts,” Mr Fitzgibbon said.
“We haven’t been briefed on today’s announcement, but on the face of it, it looks reasonable and we are glad the Government has listened to Labor’s calls for more support.”
Fake social media posts under fire
Senior ministers said the new laws would also cover those who make false statements about contamination of food on social media.
“Even if they did not intend that to be consumed by someone, you are potentially engaging in a very serious behaviour,” Mr Porter said.
Australian Federal Police commissioner Andrew Colvin warned those sharing fake posts on social media could face prosecution.
“If there’s anyone that thinks … it’s anyway appropriate or amusing to take a photo of fruit they may already had, and to put an object into it and put it on Facebook or Twitter and to spread it around and contact health authorities, they are seriously deluded,” Mr Dutton said.
“They are potentially committing serious criminal offences.”
The Federal Government has already announced $1 million to help deal with the crisis, fast-track product recalls and to detect contamination. ABC / SBS news
