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Senate misled over banana imports risk
27 May 2004
Biosecurity Australia's controversial plan to allow Filipino banana imports has been further undermined by an official's admission that she misled a Senate committee on experts' opinions about the disease risks.
BA's executive manager Mary Harwood conceded this week that the seven members of its import risk analysis panel did not all agree with the contents of a report recommending the imports. On May 13 she had stated that all members agreed with the report.
Ms Harwood said this week that some panel members held "minority views" and her May 13 response could have suggested all agreed with the report in its entirety. But she restated that all agreed with its release.
Two members of the panel have said over the recent months they disagreed with aspects of the report, which did not include a statement to this effect.
Tony Heidrich, CEO of the Australian Banana Growers' Council, said Ms Harwood's evidence indicated a "lack of transparency".
Australian Financial Review, 27/5/04.
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