Busloads fight blight

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
BUSLOADS of Yarra Valley apple growers will be making the trek to Shepparton this week to voice their objections to the lax rules on New Zealand apple imports.
Apple growers say they have no quarrel with competition from New Zealand apples, but their objections were based on the danger that fire blight posed for apple and pear growers.
They have only weeks left to convince policy makers that Australia needs strict measures to protect its agricultural industry.
Last year the World Trade Organisation ruled Australia’s proposed quarantine measures on New Zealand apple imports as unjustifiable, which resulted in Biosecurity Australia revising its importation policy and earlier this year issuing a draft report for comment.
Farmers are waiting for the final biosecurity policy for the importation of New Zealand apples on or before 17 August.
Fire blight leaves fruit with blackened pustules, similar to the damage caused by exposure to naked flames.
Growers held a peaceful protest in Melbourne last Friday, which will be followed by a National Apple Rally in Shepparton this Thursday.
Brad Fankhauser, an apple grower and member of Fruit Growers Victoria, was at St Paul’s forecourt at Federation Square on Friday handing out apples as a peaceful protest.
He and other growers were informing city dwellers about the risks of fire blight.
“We’re quite open to trade, we believe we’re as competitive as most countries around the world,” he said.
“Our argument is the quarantine issue; if we get fire blight in the country we will lose our pear industry and potentially 30 to 40 per cent of the apple industry.
“Our livelihood and our communities are at risk of being wiped out should fire blight enter the country.”
Victorian Senator Bridget McKenzie has also been mustering political support for the industry.
“Fire blight damages apple trees and ruins the fruit, but it is even more devastating in pear orchards,” Senator McKenzie said.
“As well as losing an infected crop, orchardists have to rip out trees and find the finance for expensive re-plantings. This risk is on top of over 10 years of drought.”
Last week the Nationals’ Shadow Agriculture Minister John Cobb moved an amendment to quarantine legislation which would force a review of the science behind the Federal Government’s decision to allow the apple imports.
Yarra Valley growers and their staff will be joining the National Apple Rally in Shepparton on Thursday 28 July as a final attempt to show how many people could be affected by fire blight.
The Mail will be following the fight against fire blight over the coming weeks.