Media Release

KAP Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter today blasted Government policy of removing bio-security facilities from Far North Queensland for the error that saw a banana farm in Mareeba falsely test positive for Panama Disease Tropical Race 4.

Biosecurity Queensland announced today that one of the tests used on the Mareeba property has been deemed unreliable and can no longer be used in testing regime. Compensation has been offered to the Mareeba farm for the period that they were quarantined and unable to trade.

But Mr Katter asked the question today, how did this stuff up occur?

“This didn’t occur when we had bio-security in Townsville.

“Brisbane is in one corner of the State and 2,000 km from the demographic centre yet instead of putting bio-security in the centre of the State, they put it at the extremity.

“Brisbane has a comparatively small percentage of fruit and vegetable production compared to the Ayr, Tully and Tablelands areas.

“And the vast bulk of cattle production is up North, not down South.

“So it is just outrageous that the two laboratories at Townsville and Toowoomba have been closed.

“This decision by Government breaches every principle of disease outbreak – the further you have to move the bacteria to get the testing done, the higher the chances of imperfections in the system.

“We’ve screamed and yelled about this issue and now there’s sure to be a million dollars of wastage,” Mr Katter said.

Whilst the news the farm is not infected is a big relief for Far North Queensland, Mr Katter said that it again brought into focus the necessity for eradication of the disease on the farm in Tully that remains affected.

“The only reason not to eradicate is due to the laziness and inertia in Canberra.

“I won’t be told that this disease can’t be eradicated, a bit of outlay by Government today will show great returns to what is the biggest supermarket generic food item in Australia.

“But with bio-security now all based in Brisbane, I’m afraid in North Queensland we’re once again out of sight out of mind,” Mr Katter said.

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