The Coalition is demanding Labor stop its attack on Australian farmers, amid growing concerns that Labor could be putting Queensland\u2019s crucial pineapple industry at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leader of The Opposition Angus Taylor said it was deeply concerning to hear from farmers who are worried about Labor\u2019s new proposal to import pineapples from all areas of India and Indonesia into Australia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry\u2019s draft report now open for public consultation, until 14 September, Mr Taylor said it was important the concerns of local growers were heard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAustralia should support trade where it is safe and fair, however, new pineapple imports should not be approved until the science has been independently tested, the final conditions are clear and Australian growers are protected from biosecurity harm,\u201d Mr Taylor said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe Coalition will always back our crucial agriculture industry and ensure their voices are heard \u2013 that\u2019s why today\u2019s meeting with local growers in Hervey Bay is so important.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Leader of The Nationals Matt Canavan said Australia\u2019s pineapple industry is overwhelmingly dependent on the domestic market, with only about eight tonnes of fresh or dried pineapple exported in 2024.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrowers have told me today, they have no meaningful alternative market if additional imports displace Australian fruit or reduce domestic prices,\u201d Mr Canavan said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEven modest import volumes could have a commercial effect if they arrive during peak Queensland production, particularly when growers are already facing rising input, labour and freight costs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Member for Hinkler David Batt said all Australian pineapples are grown in Queensland, especially in the electorate of Hinkler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe pineapple industry is already experiencing higher labour, fuel, freight, fertiliser, electricity and compliance costs, and even modest import volumes could place further pressure on our growers,\u201d Mr Batt said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGrowers are also asking whether or not imported pineapples would face the same labour, chemical, environmental and compliance costs as Australian growers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pineapple Growers Association Australia chair Scott Maxwell said every year, more than 35 million pineapples are grown across Queensland, valued at around $80 million, so protecting the industry is crucial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe realise fair trade has to happen, but the issue we have is that they have identified numerous pests they have over there, and we no longer have the chemicals available to us in Australia to deal with those pests,\u201d Mr Maxwell.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey have identified mealy bugs, scale insects and thrips overseas, which an enormous concern. The biggest issue is that we don\u2019t have a chemical registered to control them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fraser Coast pineapple grower Col Hawken said being a small industry, local growers don\u2019t have the money or resources to stop pests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf pineapples come into Australia from overseas and we don\u2019t have chemicals to combat it, that\u2019s it, we will be finished,\u201d Mr Hawken said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt might be low risk, but to us, any risk, to any commodity, is simply too much risk to have.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Coalition is demanding Labor stop its attack on Australian farmers, amid growing concerns that Labor could be putting Queensland\u2019s crucial pineapple industry at risk. Leader of The Opposition Angus Taylor said it was deeply concerning to hear from farmers who are worried about Labor\u2019s new proposal to import pineapples from all areas of India … Continue reading “Australian pineapple growers fear import risks could cost them”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40174","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40174","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40175,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40174\/revisions\/40175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}