Growers will be relieved that ENZA has lost its courtroom battle with the Apple and Pear Exports Permits Committee, said ACT Rural Affairs spokesman Owen Jennings.

ENZA took out a High Court injunction against the Apple and Pear Exports Permits Committee from issuing any further permits for independent apple exporters. After taking a legal opinion from the Crown law office, Agriculture Minister Jim Sutton decided to support the export permits committee.

“ENZA’s court failure will allow growers a moment of economic sanity.

“Growers who produce for specific markets e.g. the small fruit market, must make orchard management decisions within very tight time frames. A continuation of the current ‘lawyer happy’ environment could send many growers to the wall.

“Debate on ENZA’s underlying poor performance still remains largely superficial. ENZA’s lawsuit successfully managed to divert all attention from its poor financial performance announced last week.

“Only deregulation will put the industry on a sound footing. Growers must actively pursue the deregulation option in the recently released Ministerial discussion paper,” said Owen Jennings.

© Scoop Media