South Australia’s apple growers block NZ imports
The South Australian apple growers will file a formal protest before Canberra's Parliament House to stop the importation of apples from New Zealand.
The protest rally has been organised by Apple and Pear Australia (APAL) to be joined by other sector representatives nationwide.
The dialogue with the federal MP's will be the best chance to air their side with regards to the effect of the importation.
In a report by ABC News, Roger Flavell who hails from South Australia said: "The significant impact it has not only on the apple industry but all the industries that are supporting them as well."
"Now they might not think the apple industry is huge in Australia but there's a lot of support that goes into that and a lot of other jobs that are going to be threatened as well," he also added.
He further said that the Trans-Tasman imports will impair the irrigation company he administers in the Adelaide Hills in South Australia.
APAL is the industry body representing the interests of commercial apple and pear growers in Australia in matters of national importance including regulation and legislation, marketing, research and development.
A new industry report revealed that the growers will lose a third of their income should Australia let in apples from New Zealand, China and the United States - a loss worth $140 million a year.
The report, requested by the local apple industry, says that in just three years, farmers can expect their salaries to go down by 32 percent, with imported apples securing almost a quarter of the market, a related report from the Australian said.