❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the potential impact of New Zealand apple imports into Australia on Western Australia's apple industry, focusing on disease control and market competition.
AnsweredQoN 698Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NEW ZEALAND APPLES - IMPORTATION
My question is without notice. (1) Has New Zealand taken Australia to the World Trade Organization regarding apple importation? (2) If so, how will this formal action taken by New Zealand at the World Trade Organization to get Kiwi apples into Australia affect Western Australia? If it is upheld, will New Zealand apples then be allowed into Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE
My question is without notice. (1) Has New Zealand taken Australia to the World Trade Organization regarding apple importation? (2) If so, how will this formal action taken by New Zealand at the World Trade Organization to get Kiwi apples into Australia affect Western Australia? If it is upheld, will New Zealand apples then be allowed into Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(1) Has New Zealand taken Australia to the World Trade Organization regarding apple importation? (2) If so, how will this formal action taken by New Zealand at the World Trade Organization to get Kiwi apples into Australia affect Western Australia? If it is upheld, will New Zealand apples then be allowed into Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(2) If so, how will this formal action taken by New Zealand at the World Trade Organization to get Kiwi apples into Australia affect Western Australia? If it is upheld, will New Zealand apples then be allowed into Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(1) Has New Zealand taken Australia to the World Trade Organization regarding apple importation? (2) If so, how will this formal action taken by New Zealand at the World Trade Organization to get Kiwi apples into Australia affect Western Australia? If it is upheld, will New Zealand apples then be allowed into Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(2) If so, how will this formal action taken by New Zealand at the World Trade Organization to get Kiwi apples into Australia affect Western Australia? If it is upheld, will New Zealand apples then be allowed into Western Australia? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
I thank Hon Robyn McSweeney for the question, which is very interesting. (1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(1) No, not yet, but New Zealand has threatened to. The member will be aware that Australia has acceded to New Zealand’s request to import apples into Australia. However, the accedence was on the basis of a range of conditions. People involved in New Zealand agriculture have said that those conditions are too onerous, and it is the conditions that New Zealand has threatened to take to the WTO. (2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
(2) The direct effect on WA will be nil, because even if New Zealand apples were able to be imported into Australia, they could not be imported into Western Australia. The issue that has held up New Zealand apples coming into Australia has been a disease called fire blight. However, Western Australia’s apple industry is free of not only fire blight, but also codling moth and apple scab, both of which are endemic pathogens in eastern Australia. Western Australia is, I think, the only apple-growing area in the world that is free of those three key apple diseases. Therefore, even though New Zealand apples will, I think, ultimately come into Australia, they will not come into Western Australia. That is the direct effect. However, apple growers have indicated that there will be an indirect effect, and that is because the eastern states of Australia are a significant market for Western Australian apples at some times of the year, and in the event that New Zealand apples came into the Sydney and Melbourne markets, we would be up against competition from New Zealand. Therefore, there would be an indirect market effect, but not a direct effect here in WA.
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