Labor’s China Apple Deal Spells Disaster for North East Growers
01-July-2010
Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella MP has today slammed the Government’s decision to allow imported apples into Australia without proper consideration of the risks.
The decision to allow imported Chinese apple fruit into Australia follows the decision by China to ban Australian table grapes being exported to China.
“The Government has achieved the worst possible outcome. We have opened our doors to the threat of Chinese apple diseases and they have closed the door on our grapes. Our table grape growers have lost access to a $200 million market overnight.
“It begs the question, what does the Labor Party owe to China? Is it the fact that we have borrowed too much money from them? Why is the Government standing idly by while China floods our doors with potentially dangerous imports and at the same time blocks access to our grapes?
“The announcements were made by a Labor Party backbencher and not the Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke” Mrs Mirabella said.
“It just goes to show the feeling of guilt that the Minister must have right now, he doesn’t even have the courage to make the announcement himself”
“Tony Burke has been too busy playing factional warlord and political assassin to be bothered about his portfolio responsibilities. It is becoming abundantly clear that while Labor fiddles, we are suffering locally” Mrs Mirabella continued.
“The Coalition takes this issue seriously unlike the Government and as a result, we have moved to have an inquiry into the importation of apples from China.”
The inquiry will be working closing with industry bodies and stakeholders and will report back by 31 July 2010.