The Greens are calling on the NSW Government to reconsider the importation of New Zealand apples and explore the possibility of declaring the state an exclusion zone.
The Greens spokesperson on agriculture, Jeremy Buckingham wants the NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson consider declaring the exclusion zone for New Zealand Apples on bio-security grounds.
"The Greens are very concerned that bio-security is being sacrificed on the alter of free trade," Buckingham said.
"The fact that leaf trash and an apple leaf curling midge were found in the first consignment of New Zealand apples vindicates the concerns of orchardists around bio-security.
"The Greens back calls from NSW Farmers and apple growers for the state government to protect orchards from pests by declaring NSW an exclusion zone for New Zealand apples.
"The WTO may have used free trade laws to force open the gates, but the NSW government should do all it can to protect our orchards from introduced pests and disease that could have a devastating impact on agricultural communities.
"The Greens also back calls for higher levels of inspection of imported fruit to 600 cartons.
“We should not be taking risks with bio-security."
Last week The Federal Opposition has slammed a consignment of New Zealand apples on their way to Australia, saying it validates the concerns of Australian growers about biosecurity risks.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, John Cobb, and Shadow Parliamentary Secretary Richard Colbeck released a joint statement this week to voice their concerns about the import of New Zealand apples into Australia.
“This event proves our apple and pear growers were right to raise concerns about the import requirements system, and that the Federal Government was wrong to ignore their advice,” Cobb said.
“It is particularly concerning to see a rejections just days after New Zealand apples were cleared for export to our shores, and given that less than a dozen consignments have been inspected to date it.
“It is a pretty damning rejection rate.”
Image: The Courier Mail