APPLE GROWERS DEMAND FAIR GO
28-July-2011
Sophie Mirabella has congratulated the organisers of the Australian apple industry rally in Shepparton today.
Local growers in Northern and North East Victoria are right to be furious with the Gillard Government relying on the New Zealand apple industry to verify that New imported apples are free from fire blight.
Mrs Mirabella said Australian growers and the Australian apple industry expect that their Government and Biosecurity Australia do their job and represent the interests of Australians. It is inexcusable that the Gillard Government would relinquish its responsibilities for bio security and outsource it to another country.
Ms Gillard was so desperate for applause when she visited New Zealand recently that without a blink, she tried to sell Australia’s sovereignty for a few claps.
The industry does not want protection it just wants the Government to do all in its power to prevent diseases like fire blight from entering Australia and decimating our clean, green apple and pear.
Agriculture Minister, Joe Ludwig, and Ms Gillard are paid to do a job if they want New Zealand to do it for them they should resign and get elected in New Zealand.
It may be apples today, but this sets a very dangerous precedent for bio security in other agricultural industries.