21 August 2007 - Labour MP Rick Barker today welcomed the decision by the Labour-led Government to initiate WTO dispute settlement proceedings against Australia.
"All Hawke's Bay growers are asking for is a fair deal and the restrictions that Australia continue to put up are unjustified," said Rick Barker.
"New Zealand has been unbelievably patient on this issue. We have pursued every possible avenue for getting our apples into Australia but have been met with unjustified hurdles time and time again.
"While the Australians are our good friends and neighbours, the Labour-led Government has been left with no alternative but to go to the WTO.
"While seemingly inevitable, it was important to try every possible option prior to going to the WTO. The Government has worked closely with growers, Pipfruit New Zealand and the Australian Apple Access Group to canvass all the options, including working on detailed Standard Operating Procedures. Those involved all agree that now is the right time to take things to the WTO.
"Going to the WTO will be potentially costly and protracted, and could easily be avoided if decisions were solely based on the science. Unfortunately other agendas seem to be at work across the Tasman," said Rick Barker.