Released by Green PR for the Subtropical Banana Industry
Media Advice for Tuesday 19 January 2009
Federal Agriculture Minister to meet banana growers
The Federal Minister for Agriculture, the Hon Tony Burke, will meet with banana farmers in South East
Queensland to discuss issues confronting the industry on Tuesday 19 January.
Several growers and members of the National Bunchy Top Project team will meet with Minister Burke
on the banana farm of the Lindsay family at Caboolture. Also attending the meeting will be the local
Federal member, Mr Jon Sullivan.
One issue for discussion will be progress to stop one of the world’s major viruses affecting bananas,
Banana Bunchy Top Virus (BBTV), in South East Queensland. The only regions in Australia that BBTV
is found are in South East Queensland and on the far north coast of New South Wales. The National
Bunchy Top Project is being funded by the national banana industry levy which is managed by
Horticulture Australia Limited, with matched funding from the Australian Government.
They will also discuss the problems confronting smaller growers selling into the major market places
and the issues raised in the media recently regarding the waste of blemished product.
When: Tuesday 19 January, at 2.45pm
Where: Lindsay’s banana plantation, 181-183 F Lindsay Rd, Rocksberg.
Directions: Follow the Caboolture River Road west from Caboolture. At the intersection of F Lindsay
Road, Caboolture River Road and Old North Road, turn left into F Lindsay Rd and ‘Snake Gully
Who: Minister Tony Burke, Federal Member for Longman, Jon Sullivan, members of the Lindsay
family and other growers, David Peasley, Bunchy Top Project coordinator & Edith Nicholls Qld Bunchy
Top inspector.
For further information: Neville Sloss for Subtropical Banana Industry Communications,
0414562010 or Sarah Mathieson-Smith for Minister Burke, 0419 613 115 and Robert
Krunke for Jon Sullivan, 0416103799.
NEWS 
