Government’s Lack of Action Delivers Blow to Local Apple Growers
30-November-2010
Tuesday, 30 November 2010
Federal Member for Indi, Sophie Mirabella MP has today slammed the Federal Government over a Word Trade Organisation decision to allow New Zealand apples into Australia.
The WTO decision will remove long standing bio-security regulations that prevent disease ridden apples from New Zealand entering Australian borders.
“This decision poses a huge threat to our local apple industry,” Mrs Mirabella said.
“Our apple growers have had to put up with enough over the last few years and this is a blow they cannot afford to take.
“New Zealand apples are notorious for fire-blight and a range of other pests and diseases. All it takes is one disease ridden apple to cross Australian borders and our entire domestic industry is at threat.”
The Federal Government lodged an appeal to the WTO’s original ruling in October, but the appeal has fallen on deaf ears.
“Labor has been stripping away funds and resources from the Department of Agriculture and this has diminished our ability to challenge the WTO decision. Its little surprise the appeal has failed because the Government doesn’t care about bio-security,” Mrs Mirabella continued.
“One of the consequences of this decision is that it sets a precedent for other types of imported produce. I can assure you that other countries across the globe are looking at this decision and drooling at the prospect of being able to export their disease ridden fruit to Australia. I have no doubt this will lead to challenges to other bio security arrangements we have in place.
“When the decision making process is taken out of our hands and given to an international agency, we lose our sovereignty.
Bio-security arrangements between Australia and New Zealand will be reviewed and renegotiated before any apple shipments begin.
“I will be working closely with my Coalition colleagues to ensure our local growers are given every possible protection against this decision,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.