Growers call for ban on Aussie produce

Frustration at Australia's refusal to allow market access to apple growers has boiled over in the Hawkes Bay with the formation of a militant new lobby group.

More than 200 angry growers at a public meeting in Hastings last week called on the Government to take dramatic action over what they see as Australian delaying tactics in the decades-old trade dispute.

New Zealand apples have been banned in Australia for 80 years because this country has the bacterial apple disease fireblight.

But the World Trade Organisation - dealing with the same issue between Japan and the US - has ruled that fireblight is not transmitted by mature fruit.

Action group spokesman Rupert Ryan said the Government should put an immediate ban on Australian fruit and vegetable imports.

He said an average of four to five pest interceptions every day on fresh produce from across the Tasman was a serious risk to the local horticultural industry.

"The Aussies are tough and the time has passed for sitting around a table and having another cup tea and a couple of scones with them," Ryan said. "We've got to do something to make them sit up and take notice."

In December last year, growers were led to believe by the Australian ambassador that there would be a positive new biosecurity report from the Australian Government in February.

"The report that came out last month was a real kick in the guts for the whole industry," Ryan said.

The 800-page report managed to completely ignore the WTO decision and effectively took the review process across the Tasman back to square one.

"It's just more delaying and stalling tactics," Ryan said.

An initial WTO ruling last year sparked new hope for growers. Japan has subsequently appealed, leaving little room for interpretation of the WTO's ruling.

New Zealand could force the issue with Australia by taking its case to the WTO but it would be time-consuming.

Minister of Trade and Agriculture Jim Sutton said any suggestion the apple issue has been left in the "too-hard basket" is wrong.

He said he understood grower frustration but was not prepared to hold negotiations through the media. Pressure was being applied to the Australian Government.

He was not about to close New Zealand borders to Australian produce.

"Any appearance that we were simply going tit for tat and breaking the rules ourselves would not help us."

It is understood Australian officials have been made abundantly aware of the deficiency of February's report.

Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Peter Beaven said his organisation would continue to work with the Government through diplomatic channels.

"MAF has described the apple access issue to me as one of the last festering sores in the CER relationship," he said "It is determined to get it fixed."

It was important to work with the Government because if the matter had to be taken to the WTO it would have to be a joint effort.

Beaven said he understood the frustration of growers.

The import risk analysis by Biosecurity Australia had taken six years and appeared to now be back at square one.

But pressure was being brought to bear at a diplomatic level.

"By my estimate there have been 10 high-level meetings between New Zealand and Australian officials since December. This issue is very squarely on the radar."

Blighted trade

* New Zealand apples have been banned in Australia for more than 80 years because of fireblight.

* In a case between the US and Japan, the WTO has ruled that mature apples cannot transmit the disease, meaning they cannot be banned.

* The Australian Government is reviewing the apple ban but failed to acknowledge the WTO ruling in a draft report.