Apple and pear farmers' fiery protest
Apple and pear growers across the Adelaide Hills have united in protest today, furious about the planned relaxing of trade rules, allowing Australia to accept New Zealand grown produce.
They claim the risk of importing the disease 'Fire Blight' is real.
"The apple and pear growers of South Australia are conducting a protest rally here in Lenswood," said Greg Cramond from the Apple and Pear growers association, "We are protesting the impending importation of New Zealand apples."
"The concern is that the import protocols have been watered down, allowing the free flow of apples across the Tasman, and from a country which is home to the disease fire blight."
"There is no need to import apples over to Austalia, Australia meets its domestic consumption quite easily," he said.
"If fire blight did come through with downgraded protocols our ability to trade would be impeded as well."
Orchardists have just three weeks for their voices to be heard in Canberra, before the first import permits are issued for New Zealand apples.
Independent Senator Nick Xenophon was present at today's South Australian protest, at Lenswood in the Adelaide Hills and he said he fears the government has already sealed the fate of growers.
"I was in Canberra last Thursday during the Senate Committee inquiry on this and it seems to be a done deal," he said.
"This is a made decision that’s been made, it has to be reversed, it has to be done via the parliament because the government hasn’t been listening."
"This is do or die for the Australian apple industry, why risk a clean, green image, a disease-free image with the risk of New Zealand fire blight," he said, "The only way we can reverse this effectively is by people power."
"The consequences of losing an industry which employs up to 100,000 people would just be catastrophic."
The final policy for the importation of New Zealand apples is expected to be handed down on August 17.
