LABOR HAPPY TO IMPORT DISEASED FRUIT
05-May-2011
Bio-security Australia’s decision to place no additional quarantine requirements on imported apples from New Zealand threatens Australia’s fruit growing industry, says Sophie Mirabella MP, Federal Member for Indi.
The Government decision will effectively give control of Australia’s pest and disease management to New Zealand, despite the fact that New Zealand is a known carrier of the devastating fire blight disease.
“The Government has all but handed over control of our bio-security arrangements to a country that has demonstrated a complete failure to manage pests and diseases. The commercial practices of apple growers that have led to the rampant spread of Fire Blight in New Zealand will be good enough for apples to be imported into Australia according to Labor,” said Mrs Mirabella.
“This is a very concerning development because if there is an outbreak of disease, we simply do not have the resources to contain it. We all saw what happened with the outbreak of the Asian Honey Bee, Labor just rolled over and gave up. If Fireblight made it to our shores, it could spell the death of our domestic industry.
“Local apple growers are absolutely petrified. When the decision was made to allow New Zealand Apples into Australia, Labor gave an assurance that all steps would be taken to ensure the risk of disease outbreak would be minimised – clearly this has not happened. I fear that the outbreak of Fireblight will soon be just another of Labor’s growing list of failures. This time Julia Gillard won’t be able to blame The Greens.” Mrs Mirabella concluded.