Barry O'Sullivan (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I start my contribution on the Biosecurity Bill 2014 and related bills, I would like to ask Senator Siewert if she would take the opportunity to correct a statement that she made in her contribution that was completely erroneous and has a capacity to impact adversely on a family farm in Tully in Queensland. Senator Siewert made the statement—Hansard will reflect—that there has been one farm in North Queensland affected by Panama Race 4 and that they will never grow bananas on their farm again. That is not true. I know the owners of this farm personally. I spent two days in the Tully district last week meeting with the quarantine professionals. That farm can continue to operate as a farm. The disease has been detected in five plants on one part of the farm and in one plant on another part of the farm. God willing, that will be the extent of the contamination of the disease on that plantation. That family has high hopes to continue to farm that land as they have done for a very long period of time. At some future opportunity, Senator Siewert, I would ask that you conduct your own inquiries, form your own view that present accurately—