Nick Sherry (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Superannuation and Corporate Law) Share 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)