The Philippines is smoothing the way for banana growers from other nations, such as Ecuador, to import into Australia, says one industry lobbyist.
Corruption and a lack of biosecurity in The Philippines should mean bananas from the south-east Asian nation are not brought into Australia, according to Australian Banana Growers Council chief executive Tony Heidrich.
Last week's Senate hearings into Filipino banana imports discussed information so sensitive the public was kept out.
Mr Heidrich said he and the council's imports committee chairman, Len Collins, told the inquiry that specific goals for biosecurity within areas of The Philippines had not been set.
Competition would be tough for growers in Australia once banana imports imports were allowed.
He said one farm in The Philippines grew 350 million tonnes a year – more than Australia's entire output.
"If a country like Ecuador wanted to come in (after The Philippines were allowed) it would be a lot easier then," Mr Heidrich said.
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