The development of clear and thorough crisis management plans between government and industry must be on the agenda for the Federal Government following the May 18 election.

Australia’s peak industry body for vegetable and potato growers, AUSVEG, has called on both the major parties to work with the horticulture industry to help develop clear crisis management plans to ensure governments and industry work together in times of emergency.

“The strawberry tampering incident last year showed how an entire industry can be struck down from a random, malicious attack,” AUSVEG National Public Affairs Manager Tyson Cattle said.

“There are lessons which industry and government can learn from an event like this to ensure that the devastating flow-on impact from a similar incident, if it were to happen, will not cripple another horticulture commodity again.”

Protecting our Product is one of the six key messages in AUSVEG’s priorities for the Federal Election – SPROUT: Growing a better future.

In the document, AUSVEG asks government to work with industry to develop crisis management plans as well as clear cross-jurisdictional protocols and communication.

“Consumers at home and overseas want to know that their product is safe to consume,” Mr Cattle said.

“Australia has a strong reputation for growing safe, quality food which gives our product an edge on world markets.

“It is crucial that governments work together with industry to maintain that consumer confidence and help ensure our horticulture growers are not impacted by issues largely out of their control.

“Growers do their absolute best to deliver premium produce to consumers and industry, and governments need to have proper plans in place to swiftly and effectively deal with issues as they arise.”

AUSVEG’s 2019 Federal Election priorities can be viewed at https://ausveg.com.au/sprout-growing-a-better-future/

ENDS

MEDIA CONTACT: Dimi Kyriakou, AUSVEG Senior Communications Officer
Phone: 03 9882 0277, Mobile: 0488 124 626, Email: dimi.kyriakou@ausveg.com.au