Mr GAVAN O'CONNOR (9:42 AM) —Today I present to the House a petition of 2,837 signatures that have been collected by Ms Sharon Bird, the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Cunningham. Sharon has concerns about the importation of apples from New Zealand, and this petition that I table today reflects the concerns of apple growers in that particular area of Australia. Ms Bird launched the petition on 27 February at the East Corrimal fruit market and has enlisted the support of fruit shop operators in collecting signatures for this very important petition.

The importation of apples from New Zealand will be allowed if the government adopts key recommendations of the revised draft import risk assessment for New Zealand apples, which was released on 19 February. Apple growers in Cunningham and around Australia remain concerned about the potential for imported apples to bring the devastating apple and pear disease fire blight into the country. AQIS has estimated that an outbreak could cost the Australian industry $1 billion over five years.

The industry argues that the quarantine conditions recommended in this revised draft IRA may not be rigorous enough to keep fire blight out. There is also concern that growers and others have been given only 60 days to prepare a detailed scientific response to this 800-page report. I wrote to the chair of the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, urging him to reopen the inquiry, and I am pleased to note that the first hearing will take place today. I congratulate Sharon Bird on her initiative in putting together this petition on behalf of people in the Cunningham electorate.

I am also pleased to note that the government has bowed to pressure from the industry and has extended the period for consultation on the draft IRA for another 60 days. The government's original timetable would have meant that growers would have had to prepare their response to the draft IRA right in the middle of the harvest. It is vital that our apple and pear industry is not exposed to the risk of fire blight and that the industry is given time to adequately assess the effectiveness of the quarantine conditions contained in the IRA.

The issues surrounding the importation of apples from New Zealand were examined back in 2001 by a Senate committee which recommended a number of important improvements to the IRA process in general and this IRA in particular. In its June 2001 report, the Senate committee said:

That is now being done, and the opportunity is there for the industry to put their concerns to the Senate committee. I once again congratulate Sharon Bird for her great initiative on behalf of her community.

The petition read as follows—

To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled in Parliament.

The Petition of certain citizens of Australia draws to the attention of the House.

We the undersigned object to the Federal Government's plan to allow New Zealand Apples into Australia.

We believe this will mean:

1. The spread of the apple disease FireBlight;

2. Farmers forced out of business because of the disease FireBlight.

3. Quarantine standards being lowered and our farmers sold out.

The undersigned petitioners therefore ask that you stop the import of New Zealand apples immediately and urges the Federal Government to reverse its decision.

from 2,837 citizens. (Time expired)