NATIONALS WA MP Vince Catania has weighed in on the imported table grapes debate, throwing his support behind a suspension on the trade.
“There is new evidence that has come to light with the WA growers funding research into Red Blotch virus and those results show that the virus can be transported on the stems and also on the grapes themselves,” Mr Catania said.
“With this new evidence DAFWA and the Agriculture and Food Minister should put a halt on the importation of grapes until they can absolutely guarantee that this virus cannot come into WA.”
Mr Catania questioned what the purpose of DAFWA was if it wasn’t there to protect the industry.
“They are saying it is not their responsibility, yet they are the ones who should be doing the research and recommending to the powers that be, that there is not a 100pc guarantee that this virus will not come into WA,” he said.
“If DAFWA have concerns I think that is strong enough to send a message to the Federal Government to say we can’t accept these grapes for these reasons.
“With correspondence between myself and the Agriculture and Food Minister Ken Baston, he has gone along with the line saying that they don’t believe there is any evidence to suggest that this virus can come into WA.
“We are saying there is a risk, the industry is saying there is a risk and they are not taking any notice of the latest information.”
Mr Catania said Mr Baston should be directing his department to conduct further research.
In a letter to Mr Catania, Mr Baston said DAFWA had informed him that the final DAFF pest categorisation of Red Blotch did not adequately address its association with the table grape pathway.
“I have also been provided with information demonstrating that GRBaV can be present in table grape bunches,” he said.
In the letter he said the final DAFF report demonstrated that Red Blotch present in grape bunches would not be expected to successfully enter the WA environment and establish, but said he would give further consideration to the DAFF advice as to ensure he was satisfied that risk was at an appropriate level.
“I am not convinced that the suspension of trade of Californian Table Grapes into WA is warranted on the basis of the information provided to date,” he said.
In a statement to Farm Weekly this week, Mr Baston said he took very seriously any possibility of a biosecurity risk associated with the importation of produce coming into WA.
“The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture (DoA) has responsibility for addressing the risks associated with imports from international trading partners including the import of table grapes from California,” he said.
“I have been advised that the DoA has addressed specific concerns raised by Table Grapes WA.”
