Philippines bananas

The campaign by some sections of the Australian banana community to keep Philippines-grown bananas out of the country continued this week with moves in Federal Parliament.

Luke Hartsuyker, the Nationals Member for Cowper, moved a private member's motion against the government's decision to allow entry of Filipino bananas, warning of the possible disease threat posed by the fruit, ABC Rural reported.

'You know, particularly on the north coast of New South Wales where bananas are grown on the hillside, the eradication of disease is much more difficult than on the flats, where mechanised processes can be used,' said Mr Hartsuyker.

'The import of diseases (from the Philippines) would be the end of our local industry,' he added.