The Australian Banana Growers' Council (ABGC) has expressed outrage over the Northern Territory government's decision to lift quarantine restrictions designed to protect the industry from Panama Tropical Race 4 disease.

In a release, ABGC president Doug Philips said there had been no consultation on the decision to remove quarantine areas, calling for the immediate reinstatement of the measures.

"The decision by the Northern Territory's Department of Resources to abandon the quarantine areas is outrageous and totally unacceptable," he said.

"The quarantine areas were protecting the nation's banana industry from the spread of Panama Tropical Race 4. This opens up a totally unacceptable threat to the AUD$450 million (US$467 million) national banana industry and banana farming in Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales.

"This disease can be spread through the movement of soil carried on clothing and boots on equipment, machinery and trucks."

Photo: Padil

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