DEPUTY Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has visited the now closed Panama TR4 property at Tully and met separately with farmers at a shed meeting.
Member for Hinchinbrook, Andrew Cripps, said he was pleased to have hosted Mr Joyce, given he had played a significant role in securing the Federal LNP Government’s contribution to the buy-out of the Panama TR4 property.
“Along with Queensland LNP Senator, Barry O’Sullivan, the Deputy Prime Minister, Barnaby Joyce gave the North Queensland banana industry the support we needed to minimise the risk of TR4 and it was great to have the opportunity to recognise that,” Mr Cripps said.
“The Federal LNP Government provided financial support for the buy-back of the TR4 property and through the commitment of the Australian Banana Growers Council and the growers through the levy, that property has now been taken out of production.”
Mr Cripps said the Deputy Prime Minister met industry leaders and representatives of the Robson family who lost their farm to the TR4 disease, before speaking to a group of farmers at Blenners Transport Depot at Hewitt Siding about a range of issues.
“This was an appropriate place to impress upon Barnaby how the banana industry is strongly connected to many business, jobs, livelihoods and families across North Queensland and the importance of the contribution the Federal LNP Government had made.”
Mr Cripps said while he recognised Biosecurity Queensland had undertaken extensive surveillance activities and research associated with the TR4 outbreak since March 2015, Labor had been short-sighted not to assist with the acquisition of the property by the industry.
Report suspect plants to 13 25 23. For more information about Panama disease visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au.