Australian apple growers spent years trying to keep New Zealand apples out of their country on biosecurity grounds.
Now their potato growers are following their example:
AusVeg, the national industry body for vegetable growers, says it’s “dismayed” the federal government has so far failed to block New Zealand potato imports that puts $A1.5 billion ($NZ1.9b) of production at risk from tomato-potato psyllid, “a destructive insect wreaking havoc in New Zealand”.
“The processing sector in New Zealand has stated recently that potato production in the North Island is on a knife’s edge as a result of this pest,” AusVeg spokesman William Churchill said in a statement.
“Why are we willing to roll the dice and play games with our primary industries and food manufacturing sector?”
Who can blame them?
Growers here would try the same tactic if they were worried about imports, whether they were motivated by biosecurity concerns or fear of competition.
original settlers were selected by the best British Judges. what changes?
I won’t share that comment with my Australian sister-in-law!
No worries Ele, My paternal Grandma was from Melborne and little is known of her origins, we are talking mid 19th century birthdate though, to be fair.
My paternal Grandma came from Grafton, Hereford breeders they were….we got over it!!!
As far as I know… Bio Security NZ is not allowing Aussie tomato’s into NZ due to the highly toxic Chemical used in treatment before exporting..
Tit for Tat maybe ..
GD. Enamel plates laying out the law ( deportation ) could be seen with my own eyes in a few places around London in the 1950′s..
Would not be in a hurry to delve if that was my Grandma..
Could explain a few things though i suppose
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