Shadow Minister for Agribusiness, Ian Sloan, has questioned the Gunner Government’s ability to make timely approval decisions after it finally authorised on-farm quarantine for seasonal workers.
“Despite the Federal Government and industry experts calling for this urgent approval, and Queensland Government approving this under identical circumstances, the Gunner Government dithered and delayed.
“Nothing has changed between October and February which makes on-farm quarantine any safer, except the mango crop has already been picked. The only real difference between October and February is millions of dollars in losses for Territory mango farmers.
“The Territory Economic Reconstruction Commission highlighted the necessity of making timely approvals to attract private investment. This was the Gunner Government’s first test, and they have failed it, and Territory farmers have paid the price.
“We welcome the decision now, but it is extremely concerning that the Gunner Labor Government is so much slower at making decisions than its Labor counterparts in Queensland,” said Mr Sloan.