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Monday, 30 May 2011
Page: 5006

Mr ZAPPIA (Makin) (13:54): I present a petition signed by 471 people asking the House to take steps to ensure that Australia rejects the application to allow the importation of fresh New Zealand potatoes into Australia because of the existence of zebra chip disease in New Zealand potatoes. Zebra chip disease complex is a devastating potato disease, first detected in 1994 in Central America, which has caused millions of dollars of damage worldwide. Australia is currently free of the disease and the importation of fresh potatoes from New Zealand, where the zebra chip disease was detected in 2008, places at risk the Australian potato industry and the livelihoods of thousands of Australian rural families.

In 2008-09 Australia produced nearly 1.2 million tonnes of potatoes. The potato chips exposed to the zebra chip pathogen develop black lines through them and render them unsellable. There is little known about the zebra chip disease, and if the pathogen gets into Australia it will be extremely difficult and costly to control. I understand that the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture Biosecurity has requested new market access for fresh potatoes to be imported into Australia under quarantine arrangements. I also understand that further petitions on this matter will be presented to the House over the coming weeks.

The DEPUTY SPEAKER: The petition will be received following consideration by the Petitions Committee in accordance with the standing orders.