Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett says Federal Labor Senator Joe Ludwig is a coward for leaving his final decision to allow imports of fresh Malaysian pineapples until close of business last Friday 14 December, so he could avoid industry and media scrutiny.
Queensland’s pineapple industry is worth $80 million a year and underpins more than 1,000 jobs, but Senator Ludwig was happy to ignore growers, high-level advice from the US and warnings about pineapple importation disease risks.
Mr Bennett said he was disappointed, but not surprised by Senator Ludwig’s actions.
“This is the Christmas message from Labor that no grower wants to hear,” Mr Bennett said.
“Clearly the Federal Minister couldn’t care less about Queensland pineapple growers and their local communities.
“He’s ignored the risks and all the evidence, not just from growers and government scientists in Queensland, but then slipped out his decision late last Friday afternoon in a deliberate attempt to avoid scrutiny.
“He released his interim decision late on a Friday afternoon and he’s done exactly the same sneaky thing with his final decision – it’s cowardly.”
Mr Bennett said the disease dangers from fresh imports of Malaysian pineapples were too great.
“Bacterial heart rot and fruit collapse are two diseases that are endemic in Malaysia,” he said.
“They’ve decimated up to 40 per cent of pineapple crops in Malaysia and we certainly don’t need to risk our iconic local industry.
“Queensland has been the nation’s major pineapple producer for a century and allowing these fresh imports will place our industry at enormous risk.
“Mr Ludwig’s track record as Federal Agriculture Minister continues to be disastrous for Queensland and the rest of the nation – he was the minister who rushed to shut down the live cattle trade, now he’s hell-bent on destroying our pineapple industry.
“Senator Ludwig is totally out of touch with Queensland and Queensland growers. He’s refused to listen to Growcom’s submissions that bacterial fruit collapse is a devastating disease affecting pineapples across Malaysia – the disease is undetectable in its latent phase and untreatable.
“Queensland and Australia desperately needs a Minister who stands for fair trade and the protection of local farm industries from exotic diseases and pests.”