Senator for Queensland Ron Boswell announced today that the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee report into the effect of imported fresh pineapples from Malaysia on local growers will now be delayed until November 29.

The report has been delayed to allow the Committee to obtain independent analysis of the risk estimation matrix used by Biosecurity Australia in their decision-making regarding foreign imports. 

The Risk Estimation Matrix used by DAFF Australia has been challenged following evidence provided at the Inquiry’s public hearing in Brisbane on August 6.

Senator BOSWELL (Queensland) (17:23): I moved the original motion for the committee to report by 10 October 2012. We have had quite a number of meetings and discussions, which have led to the committee needing more time to get some further information. This has led to Senator Bushby asking for that extension of time to 29 November.

The pineapple industry, like many rural industries—and we heard this from the previous speaker—is under pressure. I can recall when the pineapple industry had 800 growers and I was the sort of in-house senator for Golden Circle when it was a cooperative. I spent a great number of hours over there trying to help them in many ways. But unfortunately, like a lot of rural industries, it has been under pressure and the 800 growers are now down to 80 growers—and it is the big growers who are left. They are facing the normal problems from imports and the high dollar. Also, the land that the pineapples are grown on is coastal land. It is very valuable, and it is being sold off to various people for hobby farms and so forth. These growers are rocking on a critical mass, and if they lose any more growers then the critical mass goes and they will not be able to sustain the industry.

Queensland Senator Ron Boswell today accused Bob Katter of “heading for the hills” and dodging yesterday’s vote to dismiss Peter Slipper as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“Bob Katter will have to answer to the voters of Kennedy for what he did,” Senator Boswell said.

“When Katter needed to stand up and be counted in Parliament yesterday – and vote against Slipper continuing as Speaker – he slipped out a side door and headed for the hills.”

The Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee will hold an inquiry into the effect on Australian ginger growers of importing fresh ginger from Fiji, following a motion successfully moved by Senator Boswell on September 19 in Parliament.

“Australian ginger growers have objected to the import risk analysis report. The Senate inquiry will give growers the opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the risk of introducing pest species and soil-borne diseases from overseas on the public record,” Senator Boswell said.