Illegal pet import charges
Heard is charged with two counts of charges of illegally importing her pet dogs, Pistol and Boo, into Australia, and one count of producing a false document according to the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions. Australia has strict quarantine regulations to prevent diseases such as rabies. Bringing pets into the country involves applying for a permit and quarantine on arrival of at least 10 days. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a fine of 102,000 Australian dollars ($75,000). The false document charge carries a penalty of up to one year in prison and a fine of AU$10,200 ($7500). Agriculture Minister Joyce:
If we start letting movie stars — even though they’ve been the sexiest man alive twice — to come into our nation (with pets), then why don’t we just break the laws for everybody? It’s time that Pistol and Boo buggered off back to the United States…The law is the same for everybody. There is no preferential treatment here. You come into our nation, you have to abide biosecurity protocols
Heard is due to appear in court September 7.
Refused Australian visa
Australia’s immigration department issues a “notice of intention to consider refusal” which means that Brown cannot enter the country. Tickets for his December tour in the country are due to go on sale Sept 28. He has 28 days to appeal. Australia’s Minister for Women:
People need to understand, if you are going to commit domestic violence and you want to travel around the world, there are going to be countries that say to you, ‘You cannot come in because you are not of the character that we expect in Australia’.