minister for home affairs media release

Massive increase in the seizure of illegal lasers - 24 January 2010

Close to 6,000 laser pointers have been seized over the past six months, the Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, announced today, as Customs and Border Protection issued a warning that bringing illegal laser pointers into Australia can lead to a fine of up to $110,000.

There has been a marked increase in seizures of illegal laser pointers through mail and air cargo coming into Australia, with 5875 lasers seized between July and December last year compared to 6518 in the entire 2008-09 financial year.

A laser pointer is a device that uses a highly focused beam of light. They are used as a tool for pointing out objects from a distance and as professional tools in a range of industries, including astronomy, engineering and manufacturing. Laser pointers have been known to cause effects such as temporary blindness and disorientation if a beam is pointed directly at the eyes.

Mr O’Connor said people bringing laser pointers into Australia from overseas or ordering over the internet need to be aware that they risk breaking the law.

“Anyone who brings in these devices without a permit will have wasted their money because their goods will be seized and destroyed. Individuals can also face prosecution,” he said.

“It is essential that we raise awareness of the possible dangers laser pointers can pose to the community.”

Customs and Border Protection National Director of Trade Division, Sue Pitman, said that under Customs regulations, hand-held laser pointers with an emission level greater than one milliwatt (1mW) are prohibited unless prior written permission has been granted.

“The public should also be warned that some retailers selling laser pointers on the internet advertise them as being under the 1mW threshold, when in fact they are many times over that limit and therefore illegal in Australia without a permit. Advertised items that require multiple AAA batteries to operate or that have a visible beam are often above the 1mW threshold.”

Mr O’Connor said Customs and Border Protection frontline officers are very skilled at detecting such goods and have special equipment to test emission outputs of laser pointers, which they encounter when checking incoming mail, cargo and passengers.

“Customs and Border Protection will detect attempts to bring in laser pointers and stop them. If members of the public are unsure of whether an item they are considering bringing in is allowed, they should contact 1300 363 263,” he said.

Images of laser pointers can be found in the image gallery on the Customs and Border Protection website www.customs.gov.au.

Media enquiries: For further details contact Robert Ayling (Minister O’Connor’s office) 0410 478 445 or Customs and Border Protection Communication and Media (02) 6275 6793