GROWER frustration is mounting as the Federal Government appears to have abandoned the fight against the importation of NZ apples.

Apple and Pear Australia Ltd general manager Tony Russell said growers were uneasy that the Government had said nothing publicly since receiving a World Trade Organisation interim report on the NZ apple dispute two weeks ago.

  • Should the Government fight the importation of NZ apples?
  • Have Your Say now in the form below

"I've been getting a lot of flak from growers saying that the Government is abandoning them, that it won't help," Mr Russell told The Weekly Times.

"All the Government has to do is say they're doing everything to help industry, that they'll do their best for the industry and the economy. They're doing harm by not saying anything."

A senior trade official said the Government had to respect the confidentiality requirements of WTO rules by not publicly revealing the report's contents at this stage.

"But what I can say is that we have vigorously defended Australia's science-based quarantine system and we are committed to maintaining its integrity," he said. "The interim report apparently comes down in favour of NZ's challenge to Australia's quarantine barriers against Kiwi apples."

The WTO will publish its final report by the end of June after getting comments from Australia and NZ on the interim report.

It is believed the Australian Government submitted its comments late last week.

There is then an appeal process, which can take up to eight months. The head of the industry's fireblight task force, northern Victoria fruit grower John Corboy, said it was during the appeal that the Australian Government had to stand up and be counted.

"There's a lot of uncertainty and discomfort among growers at the moment, but the Government's just playing by the WTO's rules on confidentiality," Mr Corboy said.

There was little that could be done at this stage because it was rare for the WTO to make changes to its interim reports before they became final, he said.

"The real fear for growers is if Australia doesn't challenge the findings if, as expected, they're unfavourable."