GILLARD SNUBS APPLE GROWERS CONCERNS

16-February-2011

Julia Gillard has today belittled a long running dispute over the importation of New Zealand apples, comparing the World Trade Organisation (WTO) decision to a sporting match.

“These flippant comments have justly angered local apple growers,” said Mrs Mirabella, Federal Member for Indi.

The comments follow a recent WTO ruling that will allow the importation of New Zealand grown apples into Australia.

“Ms Gillard’s comments show she is out of touch with country Australia.

“We now face increased risk of fireblight through the import of New Zealand Apples because Labor cutbacks and chronic under funding in Australia’s quarantine and bio-security systems meant we could not mount an adequate case to the WTO.

“The WTO ruling to allow the importation of New Zealand apples into Australia poses a serious threat to our local apple growing industry. For the Prime Minister to laugh it off and compare it to a sporting battle just proves she does not value our disease free agricultural industry and doesn’t understand the concerns of local growers."

Mrs Mirabella called on the Government to provide more funding for Australia’s Quarantine and Biosecurity systems.

“In the last year alone, the Government has effectively opened up our borders to potentially disease ridden apples from China and New Zealand. If we don’t build up our scientific base and employ skilled scientists to put the scientific rigor in place to protect our borders, then we risk destroying our status as a clean, green, disease free producer of food,” Mrs Mirabella concluded.