Barry Haase (Kalgoorlie, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Roads and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

I believe that it is right to do what is right, and today and tomorrow is what is important to banana growers in Australia—t yesterday, quite frankly. I can include in that logic the member for Kennedy, because he is a logical fellow and he knows that, regardless of the cause and regardless of the conduit, what we need is a disease-free banana industry in Australia. To put that at risk, for any political or philosophical view, is simply not good enough. I do not care about yesterday; I care about my growers, their reputation and their sales in Australia tomorrow.

I know quite well a banana grower who has invested in Philippine banana production. He is also largely represented in Australian banana production. Even though it is his bananas that could be introduced from the Philippines into Australian markets, at possibly great profit, our green image is worth more to him, as an Australian banana grower—rather than to be opportunistic and import bananas from the Philippines to Australia, because a bird in the hand in this case is not worth two in the bush. He knows that our reputation, so bitterly fought for and so well deserved, could so quickly be lost. I, as I said, represent the expanding Ord River region—a potential additional banana growing area in Australia, and we need to keep that area pristine and green. There is no justification for relaxing quarantine protocol in Australia. (Time expired)

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