She won’t be apples

By Mara Pattison-Sowden
THE fight for stricter quarantine rules on apple importations has grown to a national agriculture threat, according to those in the industry.
Yarra Valley growers from Three Bridges, Gruyere, Launching Place and Hoddles Creek were among almost 4000 drivers, growers and packers who converged on Shepparton for last week’s National Apple Rally.
The rally came about because growers are unhappy with new rules that lower the standard required for New Zealand growers to supply to Australia.
Growers say the matter is no longer just for apple growers, but that Australia’s entire agriculture industry is now at threat.
Three Bridges orchardist Kevin Sanders said the politicians didn’t seem to be aware of what was going on.
“It’s more than just apples at risk, it’s the biosecurity of the nation,” he said.
“If they continue with what they’ve got, they’ve got a disaster on their hands.”
Farmers are waiting for the final biosecurity policy for the importation of New Zealand apples on or before 17 August.
Mr Sanders said the trouble would come later when he believes other countries would seek “equivalence in trade” under Australia’s laws.
“Once they let New Zealand set the circumstances (for trade), other countries can take it on,” he said.
“In 12 months China can apply for equivalence and those same less stringent rules.”
“People have more trouble walking through quarantine at the airport, than putting a whole shipload of apples onto Australian land.”
Mr Sanders said the streets of Shepparton came to a standstill when a convoy of more than 1.2km of semi-trailers moved through the main street last Thursday.
“It was pretty impressive to watch all that tunnel past us,” he said.
Mr Sanders and his brother Robert drove 14 packing staff to Shepparton to join the rally and convince policy makers that Australia needs strict measures to protect its agriculture industry.
A spokesperson from Minister of Fisheries, Joe Ludwig’s office replied in a statement that the Australian Government understood the community’s concerns about the potential importation of apples from New Zealand.
“However, the Australian Government maintains and defends strict biosecurity measures to protect human, animal and plant health,” the statement said.
“The measures recommended in the draft review are based on technically rigorous science-based analysis.
“The review concludes there is no evidence to support the hypothesis that fire blight can be transferred from mature apples or from apple waste to a host in Australia.”