Ausveg CEO Richard Mulcahy has welcomed the proposal for a briefing of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Committee on zebra chip disease.
This follows a recent request by New Zealand to import fresh potatoes for processing into Australia.
"If New Zealand potatoes come into Australia, we have good reason to fear Australian potatoes would be contaminated with the devastating zebra chip disease, which is widespread in New Zealand, and could potentially devastate the Australian industry if an outbreak occurs," Mr Mulcahy said.
Tasmanian Greens Senator, Christine Milne, who has expressed support for the industry on the issue, alerted the industry to the briefing proposal, which includes many of Ausveg's concerns about the serious risks presented by the market access request.
"We commend the Australian Greens, in particular their Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, for their proactive stance on this issue and for taking steps to ensure Australian potato growers have a voice at the highest political level," Mr Mulcahy said.
"This disease could do serious damage to the Australian potato industry. It literally threatens the livelihood of thousands of Australian rural families. According to the advice we have received from experts, the risk could not be more serious on this issue, so we are pleased to see the Greens are eager to take advice from the industry on this and make sure the risks are well understood in Canberra as well," he said.
Zebra chip disease complex has caused widespread destruction in New Zealand and the US, costing the international potato industry millions of dollars.
The psyllid infects potatoes with Liberibacter, the bacterium which causes zebra chip in potatoes.
"If this disease was to enter Australia, we are looking at potentially the majority of the domestic potato industry being wiped out," Mr Mulcahy said.
