|
|
|
Kiwi apple plan turns sour
1 Jul 2004
A hearing into the potential threat posed by imports of New Zealand apples into Australia has turned into a slanging match. Two Government senators accused Biosecurity Australia of hanging Australian apple and pear growers out to dry over its handling of the proposal to import NZ apples. But NZ farmers hit back and accused Australian growers of running a scare-tactic campaign.
BA found the apples could be brought into Australia under strict conditions. But errors were later found in the draft import risk, which BA's chief Mary Harwood brushed off as "minor".
Liberal senator Jeannie Ferris said the mistakes and BA's failure to admit to them undermined BA's credibility.
John Corboy, chairman of the Australian apple and pear industry's fire blight task force, described the threat posed by the disease as "like a shotgun to the head ".
The Age, 30/6/04.
|
|
