❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about black sigatoka fungus outbreaks in Queensland, the Philippines, and Malaysia, and seeks assurance that the government will prevent its importation to protect local banana growers. The Minister responds by outlining actions taken and affirming commitment to quarantine restrictions.
AnsweredQoN 305Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is the minister aware that the fungus black sigatoka is attacking banana plantations in Queensland? (2) Has the minister taken steps to ensure that, at least in the short term, the importation of Queensland bananas into Western Australia is stopped? (3) Is the minister aware that this same fungus is active in the Philippines and Malaysia and that these countries are currently putting pressure on the federal Government to allow the importation of their bananas to Australia? (4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(2) Has the minister taken steps to ensure that, at least in the short term, the importation of Queensland bananas into Western Australia is stopped? (3) Is the minister aware that this same fungus is active in the Philippines and Malaysia and that these countries are currently putting pressure on the federal Government to allow the importation of their bananas to Australia? (4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(3) Is the minister aware that this same fungus is active in the Philippines and Malaysia and that these countries are currently putting pressure on the federal Government to allow the importation of their bananas to Australia? (4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(2) Has the minister taken steps to ensure that, at least in the short term, the importation of Queensland bananas into Western Australia is stopped? (3) Is the minister aware that this same fungus is active in the Philippines and Malaysia and that these countries are currently putting pressure on the federal Government to allow the importation of their bananas to Australia? (4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(3) Is the minister aware that this same fungus is active in the Philippines and Malaysia and that these countries are currently putting pressure on the federal Government to allow the importation of their bananas to Australia? (4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(4) Will the Government please go public on this matter and reassure our growers of its firm intention to ensure we do not import this particular fungus? If not, why not? Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
Hon KIM CHANCE replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(1) I am aware of the outbreak of black sigatoka disease in the Tully region of Queensland. (2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(2) Following the discovery of the outbreak, Western Australia introduced a prohibition on the importation of bananas grown within 50-kilometres of an outbreak. (3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(3) I have been advised that the disease is present in Malaysia and the Philippines, but I understand the federal Government is undertaking an import risk assessment for bananas from only the Philippines. (4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
(4) Agriculture Western Australia officers, as part of the HortGuard program, have been discussing the response to the outbreak with the banana industry. I have also corresponded with the banana industry and have advised that WA will be maintaining the current quarantine restrictions.
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