A cargo vessel carrying cars and machinery has been ejected from Australian waters because bugs considered a danger to the country's horticultural industry were found onboard.
The Triumph, owned by Armacup, had come through multiple ports and will now go back to China.
"Department of Agriculture inspections found more than a hundred brown marmorated stink bugs (BMSB) and other bugs on the Triumph, which indicates a live population on the boat. These bugs eat everything from tomatoes to apples and broccoli to beans. They also gather in people's houses and stink to high heaven," said Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud.
"The risk to our industry was unacceptable. We directed the vessel to leave our waters, which it now has. I thank the shipping line and operator for openly cooperating with us on the issue."
The bug comes from Asia and is now wreaking havoc in parts of Europe.
The Federal Department of Agriculture put heightened surveillance for cargo vessels and additional pre-arrival reporting in place across extra exporting countries and goods this BMSB season.
