❓ Hon John Fischer asks about banana imports from the Philippines and their potential impact on WA growers. Hon Kim Chance responds that the government cannot guarantee a ban due to WTO obligations, but supports science-based risk management to protect WA's biosecurity.
AnsweredQoN 1431Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
It was reported in The Northern Guardian on 22 October 2003 under the heading “Banana Imports Fears” that the Australian Banana Growers’ Council had expressed concern that the federal Government is considering allowing the import of bananas from the Philippines. Given the possible adverse impact on this industry in Western Australia, can the minister give Western Australian banana growers an assurance that the State Government will continue all possible moves to ensure that federal regulator Biosecurity Australia does not lift Australia’s long-held ban? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank Hon John Fischer for some notice of his question. First, I am not able to give the assurance the honourable member seeks. The reason for that is, as a signatory to the World Trade Organisation and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, Australia utilises the science-based import risk analysis process to assess biosecurity risks associated with proposed imports and determine appropriate import protocols. Western Australia uses a consistent import risk analysis approach for assessment of risks posed by domestic trade. Both international and domestic import risk analysis processes recognise the pest status of Western Australia, and any resulting import protocols will ensure that biosecurity risk is mitigated to an appropriately low level. Trade cannot be banned unless there are no suitable means available to reduce risks posed by quarantine pests to an appropriately low level. Biosecurity Australia is currently finalising the import risk analysis for bananas from the Philippines following release of the draft import risk analysis report on 30 June 2002. The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon John Fischer for some notice of his question. First, I am not able to give the assurance the honourable member seeks. The reason for that is, as a signatory to the World Trade Organisation and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, Australia utilises the science-based import risk analysis process to assess biosecurity risks associated with proposed imports and determine appropriate import protocols. Western Australia uses a consistent import risk analysis approach for assessment of risks posed by domestic trade. Both international and domestic import risk analysis processes recognise the pest status of Western Australia, and any resulting import protocols will ensure that biosecurity risk is mitigated to an appropriately low level. Trade cannot be banned unless there are no suitable means available to reduce risks posed by quarantine pests to an appropriately low level. Biosecurity Australia is currently finalising the import risk analysis for bananas from the Philippines following release of the draft import risk analysis report on 30 June 2002. The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
I thank Hon John Fischer for some notice of his question. First, I am not able to give the assurance the honourable member seeks. The reason for that is, as a signatory to the World Trade Organisation and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, Australia utilises the science-based import risk analysis process to assess biosecurity risks associated with proposed imports and determine appropriate import protocols. Western Australia uses a consistent import risk analysis approach for assessment of risks posed by domestic trade. Both international and domestic import risk analysis processes recognise the pest status of Western Australia, and any resulting import protocols will ensure that biosecurity risk is mitigated to an appropriately low level. Trade cannot be banned unless there are no suitable means available to reduce risks posed by quarantine pests to an appropriately low level. Biosecurity Australia is currently finalising the import risk analysis for bananas from the Philippines following release of the draft import risk analysis report on 30 June 2002. The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied : I thank Hon John Fischer for some notice of his question. First, I am not able to give the assurance the honourable member seeks. The reason for that is, as a signatory to the World Trade Organisation and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, Australia utilises the science-based import risk analysis process to assess biosecurity risks associated with proposed imports and determine appropriate import protocols. Western Australia uses a consistent import risk analysis approach for assessment of risks posed by domestic trade. Both international and domestic import risk analysis processes recognise the pest status of Western Australia, and any resulting import protocols will ensure that biosecurity risk is mitigated to an appropriately low level. Trade cannot be banned unless there are no suitable means available to reduce risks posed by quarantine pests to an appropriately low level. Biosecurity Australia is currently finalising the import risk analysis for bananas from the Philippines following release of the draft import risk analysis report on 30 June 2002. The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
I thank Hon John Fischer for some notice of his question. First, I am not able to give the assurance the honourable member seeks. The reason for that is, as a signatory to the World Trade Organisation and the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Agreement, Australia utilises the science-based import risk analysis process to assess biosecurity risks associated with proposed imports and determine appropriate import protocols. Western Australia uses a consistent import risk analysis approach for assessment of risks posed by domestic trade. Both international and domestic import risk analysis processes recognise the pest status of Western Australia, and any resulting import protocols will ensure that biosecurity risk is mitigated to an appropriately low level. Trade cannot be banned unless there are no suitable means available to reduce risks posed by quarantine pests to an appropriately low level. Biosecurity Australia is currently finalising the import risk analysis for bananas from the Philippines following release of the draft import risk analysis report on 30 June 2002. The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
The Government strongly supports the consistent and transparent application of scientifically justifiable risk management measures to ensure that imports do not expose the State’s agricultural industries and environment to an unacceptable level of biosecurity risk. I understand why the member is concerned, because there is an element of subjectivity and variability in the way one side or the other might rank a risk as unacceptably high or acceptably low. There is no precise definition about that. The member will also be aware of ongoing discussions between the Western Australian and Australian Governments on the definition of “regional risk analysis”. I must say that Hon Chrissy Sharp has also taken a close interest in this area. This issue has been difficult to resolve; it will always be challenging. The question of regional protection levels is something I think we have been able to prove we can manage. In other words, we have put enough teeth in the provisions controlling regional protection. However, there will always be conjecture about that. I thank the member for raising this issue, because it is only by being continually vigilant that we can ensure we will come out with the right result in the end. I am sorry that I cannot give an absolute assurance. I certainly believe we are going in the right direction. Given that, we have an overriding obligation to meet World Trade Organisation requirements. I do not think we can ever be certain.
Explore WA Government Data
Search the full archive in the free dashboard, or query programmatically via API.
Explore more
Government Gazette
Appointments, regulatory notices, planning changes.
Hansard
Debates, questions, speeches and sentiment.
Tabled Papers
Reports and documents tabled in Parliament.
Committees
Committee profiles and recent reports.
Regulations
Subsidiary legislation with filters and summaries.
Bills
Proposed laws and parliamentary progress.
Acts
Current WA legislation and summaries.
Explanatory Memoranda
Bills with EMs (text/PDF) available.
Members
MP profiles, party breakdown and rankings.
Pollie Rankings
Data-driven rankings across 19 categories.
Amendment Chains
Track how schemes and regulations evolve over time.