THE HON DAVID LITTLEPROUD MP
Leader of The Nationals
Shadow Agriculture Minister
10 October 2025
Scientific Advisory Group needed in beef and banana imports
Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is reiterating calls for an independent inquiry, amid growing concerns into Labor’s decision to allow both beef and banana imports into Australia. Mr Littleproud said Australia urgently needs to know if Labor is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards for political purposes and why a Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) hasn’t been brought in for beef and bananas, despite recommendations to do so.
“Our beef and banana industries are simply too important to be put at risk,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Labor isn’t being transparent and is treating the industry with contempt.”
It comes after the Inspector-General of Biosecurity, Dr Lloyd Klumpp, was questioned on imports in Senate Estimates. When asked if a SAG should have been looking at the US importation issue, Dr Klumpp replied, “yes, I think the use of a SAG should be considered for every import risk analysis”.
The Acting Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Justine Saunders told Estimates if the science was challenged, the Department would have established the SAG, while the Department’s Assistant Secretary Dr Peter Finnin said there is merit going down the BIRA (Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis) process for bananas, due to the involvement of a SAG.
But despite Cattle Australia raising concerns on 29 July with the Secretary of the Department, more than two months later, it still hasn’t received a formal response.
The Australian Banana Growers’ Council has also raised concerns about the assessment process of potential banana imports from the Philippines.
“After being asked why Australian banana growers will not be part of the cohort in the Department’s planned trip to the Philippines towards the end of the year, the Department has at least pledged to revisit the decision. However, Labor is ignoring the advice of the Inspector-General of Biosecurity. We need a full Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis under the Biosecurity Act, which the Minister can direct the Department to undertake.”
