Hon Paddy Embry asks about WA government's plan to protect farmers from changes to quarantine laws regarding produce from disease-affected countries. Hon Kim Chance acknowledges the question but defers a full answer, citing ongoing developments and seeking further advice.

AnsweredQoN 54Legislative Council
Asked
5 March 2004
Portfolio
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

QuestionView source ↗

Some notice of this question has been given. What exactly is the Western Australian Government doing to ensure that Western Australian farmers are protected from the proposed changes to Australian quarantine laws to allow produce from disease-affected countries to enter Australia? In particular, I ask about bananas, apples and pork. Hon KIM CHANCE

AnswerView source ↗

I thank Hon Paddy Embry for this very timely question. Indeed, it may be a little too timely. I find myself in the same position as my colleague Hon Nick Griffiths, in that this is a matter in resolution at this stage. My formal answer to the member at this stage is that I invite him to ask this question again next week. It is a matter that is still developing and on which I have just yesterday sought further advice. In the interim, I can say, at least about bananas and apples - the member will understand that those issues are quite separate from pork in that regard - that I am extremely unhappy with the way in which the Commonwealth has unilaterally interpreted the sanitary-phytosanitary agreement under the World Trade Organisation’s rules and has apparently ignored the State’s regional jurisdiction. I say “apparently” because it seems that way to me at the moment. However, until I have been through this process fully, I will not be able to say that definitely. I have had a very close look at the issues of bananas, mangoes and pineapples as one group, and apples as another. I am very unhappy with the facts as presented to me. However, I sent those facts back yesterday seeking some more information so that I can clarify the information.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon Paddy Embry for this very timely question. Indeed, it may be a little too timely. I find myself in the same position as my colleague Hon Nick Griffiths, in that this is a matter in resolution at this stage. My formal answer to the member at this stage is that I invite him to ask this question again next week. It is a matter that is still developing and on which I have just yesterday sought further advice. In the interim, I can say, at least about bananas and apples - the member will understand that those issues are quite separate from pork in that regard - that I am extremely unhappy with the way in which the Commonwealth has unilaterally interpreted the sanitary-phytosanitary agreement under the World Trade Organisation’s rules and has apparently ignored the State’s regional jurisdiction. I say “apparently” because it seems that way to me at the moment. However, until I have been through this process fully, I will not be able to say that definitely. I have had a very close look at the issues of bananas, mangoes and pineapples as one group, and apples as another. I am very unhappy with the facts as presented to me. However, I sent those facts back yesterday seeking some more information so that I can clarify the information.
I thank Hon Paddy Embry for this very timely question. Indeed, it may be a little too timely. I find myself in the same position as my colleague Hon Nick Griffiths, in that this is a matter in resolution at this stage. My formal answer to the member at this stage is that I invite him to ask this question again next week. It is a matter that is still developing and on which I have just yesterday sought further advice. In the interim, I can say, at least about bananas and apples - the member will understand that those issues are quite separate from pork in that regard - that I am extremely unhappy with the way in which the Commonwealth has unilaterally interpreted the sanitary-phytosanitary agreement under the World Trade Organisation’s rules and has apparently ignored the State’s regional jurisdiction. I say “apparently” because it seems that way to me at the moment. However, until I have been through this process fully, I will not be able to say that definitely. I have had a very close look at the issues of bananas, mangoes and pineapples as one group, and apples as another. I am very unhappy with the facts as presented to me. However, I sent those facts back yesterday seeking some more information so that I can clarify the information.

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