Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for Kennedy for his question. I also thank him for his advocacy on behalf of banana farmers. I know he takes seriously the challenges faced by that industry. Those challenges include continuing matters which must be dealt with in the area of quarantine. As the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry indicated to the House most recently, the government is seized of the challenges which are presented to the industry at present. As a result, various determinations have been made by Biosecurity Australia.

Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine has made a biosecurity policy determination for the importation of bananas from the Philippines. Biosecurity Australia advised stakeholders on 3 March 2009 the policy determination had been made. Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine has made a policy determination in establishing a quarantine policy for the importation of bananas from the Philippines. This decision is in line with the final import risk analysis report issued last November. I again draw honourable members’ attention to the fact that this regime was established a long time ago, under the previous government.

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