AU: ABGC outraged over decision to lift quarantine

Australia’s peak banana industry body has expressed outrage over an unexpected decision by the Northern Territory Government to lift a quarantine restriction protecting the nation’s banana industry from the spread of the serious banana plant disease Panama Tropical Race 4.

The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) today said it was bitterly disappointed by the decision, announced yesterday and effective immediately, and would be taking all steps to rectify the decision.

ABGC President Doug Phillips said the ABGC was calling for the immediate reinstatement of quarantine restrictions so that proper consultation and negotiation could occur.

Mr Phillips said there had been no consultation on the decision to revoke quarantine declarations that had enforced quarantine areas in the Northern Territory.

“The decision by the Northern Territory’s Department of Resources to abandon the quarantine areas is outrageous and totally unacceptable,” Mr Phillips said.
“The quarantine areas were protecting the nation’s banana industry from the spread of Panama Tropical Race 4. This opens up a totally unacceptable threat to the $450 million national banana industry and banana farming in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales. This disease can easily be spread through the movement of soil carried on clothing and boots and on equipment, machinery and trucks.”

The ABGC is making immediate representations to the Northern Territory Government as well as State Governments in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales and the Federal Government.

Mr Phillips said the decision could set a dangerous precedent for the entire agriculture sector if any State or Territory Government felt it could lift a quarantine restriction that was protecting neighbouring jurisdictions.

The ABGC had actively pursued discussions with the Northern Territory’s Department of Resources in August 2011 when the ABGC Board visited the Northern Territory to discuss the quarantine restrictions. The Board was, and remains, opposed to the lifting of quarantine restrictions and had not been consulted on the removal of the restrictions that had existed under the Plant Health Act.

For more information:
Rhyll Cronin
Australian Banana Growers’ Council
Tel: +61 (0)7 3278 4786
Mob: +61 (0)428 038 330