Argyle Foods Pastoral Fined $45,000 for Biosecurity Breaches in Queensland
In a landmark penalty under Queensland's Biosecurity Act 2014, Argyle Foods Pastoral Pty Ltd has been fined $45,000 for moving thousands of cattle into the state without proper documentation.
The New South Wales and ACT-based company, operated by brothers Bryce and Lachlan Graham, pleaded guilty to 22 offences in November 2025.
"The prosecution submit that whilst human error is accepted, this doesn't diminish the responsibility of the company to have proper process in place to ensure compliance." — Acting Magistrate Maryanne May
Investigation Triggered by Company Enquiry
The case began when the company itself contacted the Queensland Department of Primary Industries (DPI) with an enquiry. During that interaction, DPI officials identified a range of potential offences, prompting a full investigation.
The investigation uncovered significant failures in the movement of livestock between June and September 2023. During this period, the company engaged a drover to move several thousand head of cattle along stock routes in Queensland before transporting them to agistment properties.
Specific Offences Admitted
Lachlan Graham, appearing on behalf of the company, admitted to:
- Failing to provide prescribed livestock movement information
- Failing to maintain accurate records
- Failing to register as a biosecurity entity
The company also failed to notify appropriate entities, including the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) — a critical tool for tracking animal movements and disease outbreaks.
While the cattle were later found not to be carrying any diseases, the breaches were taken seriously due to the potential risks involved.
The Rationale for Strict Enforcement
DPI chief biosecurity officer Rachel Chay emphasized why such violations are treated seriously:
"There is risk of carrying cattle tick, there is risk of disease and parasites, there is also risk of movement or carriage of weeds and seeds."
The court accepted that Lachlan Graham did not deliberately disregard the Biosecurity Act and that he had genuine welfare concerns for the animals. No conviction was recorded against the company.
Penalties and Precedent
While the $45,000 fine is the largest recorded under the Biosecurity Act 2014, the law allows for significantly higher penalties. Corporations can face fines of up to $2.5 million for serious biosecurity offences, while individuals risk fines of up to $500,000 and three years imprisonment.
Background: A Family Business Under Pressure
The Graham brothers are fifth-generation farmers who registered Argyle Foods Pastoral in 2017. By 2023, the broader Argyle Foods Group was facing considerable financial strain due to falling cattle prices and a loss of customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company's financial difficulties have continued:
- In 2025, creditor Secover moved to bankrupt the Graham brothers over an unpaid $6.1 million court judgment.
- In January 2025, Argyle Foods Group sold its assets to ABL Co.
- The Graham brothers proposed a personal insolvency agreement to settle almost $37 million in debts, but it failed to gain creditor support.
- A revised proposal is currently before the federal court, with a hearing date not yet set.