Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Nick Sherry, the Minister representing the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Could the senator inform the house of the biosecurity risks from the importation of bananas from the Philippines?

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you very much, Senator Joyce, for the question. I acknowledge that both you and, I think, Senator Boswell on previous occasions have raised the issue of biosecurity and quarantine assessment in respect of bananas. In fact, I can recall this matter going back at least to 1996 when we were in government and the issue was under consideration. Australia’s Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine has made a policy determination—and this is an update with new material since I responded to Senator Boswell, I think, about two months ago—establishing a stringent quarantine policy for the importation of bananas from the Philippines consistent with Australia’s conservative approach to quarantine. In line with the final import risk analysis report issued last November, the Philippines will be required to demonstrate to Australia’s satisfaction that risk management measures can be achieved under commercial conditions on an ongoing basis with the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service involved in ensuring compliance on the ground.

The Philippine government has reacted to Australia’s banana quarantine policy, describing it as ‘very stringent, expensive and trade restrictive’, and claiming it will delay any exports. Philippine quarantine officials said that Biosecurity Australia’s clearance of their bananas was almost useless because of these stringent conditions. The Philippine agricultural undersecretary is also apparently concerned. (Time expired)

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I was hoping the minister might go into the effects of the importation of mealie bugs, black sigatoka, moko virus et cetera. Is the minister aware of the statement by Minister Burke on 4BC on 5 March:

Well the way the law works on this, once the process is started—and it started under Warren Truss eight years ago—then it gets handed through a scientific process and the opportunity for the Minister to intervene doesn’t come up until that process has ended.

Now the process has ended, is the minister going to intervene to stop the importation of Philippine bananas?

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Joyce for the question. I am glad you raised black sigatoka and moko. I am not sure you mentioned freckle, as we also have to take into account freckle and the insidious threat it could pose to bananas. The IRA found that the seven groups of pests and diseases of concern required quarantine measures to achieve Australia’s appropriate level of protection. Most notable of those are moko, black sigatoka and freckle, as well as other pests not present. I have every confidence that the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Mr Burke, has handled this matter appropriately.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Does the minister acknowledge that with the importation of Philippine bananas comes the chance and, over time, the likelihood of the importation of these diseases and, in fact, the inevitability of these diseases coming into Australia and decimating the banana industry, which is an employer of up to 5,000 people in North Queensland, as well as decimating millions upon millions of dollars of industry in North Queensland?

Ian Macdonald (Queensland, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Northern Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You just don’t like North Queensland.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do not have anything against North Queensland, Senator Macdonald. In fact I might point out that there is an issue of apple imports relating to Tasmania. So whatever part of the country you live in—

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They are very fine bananas. I have a banana from Queensland every morning for breakfast and for lunch I have an apple from Tasmania.

Barnaby Joyce (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of order, Mr President, in relation to relevance. He is talking about apples from Tasmania and we are talking about bananas from North Queensland, and he is completely and utterly ignoring the importance of this issue.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Abetz interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Sherry, I draw to your attention the fact that you have 28 seconds to respond to the second supplementary question that has been asked by Senator Joyce.

Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

This is a serious issue. I was pointing out that wherever you live in Australia there are products produced that may or may not be scrutinised in respect of an IRA and their possible importation into Australia. Obviously the issue of bananas is of concern to you. I enjoy my Australian bananas. I know that Senator Abetz interjected and did not want to know the contents of my lunchbox, but I enjoy my Australian bananas for breakfast and I enjoy my Tasmanian apples for lunch.

Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask that further questions be placed on the Notice Paper.