Questions remain over Qld banana disease

Biosecurity officers are working to determine the cause and size of a potentially devastating banana disease outbreak in far north Queensland.

Bananas in a supermarket

Authorities will update Queensland banana growers on Monday over the threat of a fungal disease. (AAP)

Biosecurity officers still don't know how a potentially devastating banana disease broke out in north Queensland and how far it might have spread.

A team of 50 officers remain on site in Tully, where the Panama TR4 disease was detected on a property last week, and are inspecting and testing neighbouring properties that could also be at risk.

The government's chief biosecurity officer, Jim Thompson, says the process will take several months.

"One of the things we do really need to find out here is how widespread it is," Dr Thompson said.

"We're all hoping, I guess, that it's confined to one area and we just need to go through the testing to determine if that's the case."

Dr Thompson said the disease can't be eradicated and would instead need to be managed.

Biosecurity Queensland would work with the affected farmer to determine whether any of his crop could be salvaged, he said.

"(We have) no idea of the source at the moment," Dr Thompson said.

"We don't even know if this is the only property that's been affected."

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was too early to talk about compensation and urged Queenslanders to support the $570 million industry.

"The bananas from the Tully and Innisfail areas are safe to eat," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"The best thing that Queensland families can do is show their support to the industry by purchasing and eating Queensland-grown bananas."

The state government is sending a community support team to the affected community to answer questions and Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne will visit in the next week to speak with farmers.

Cassowary Coast Mayor Bill Shannon said the outbreak had the potential to ruin the industry in north Queensland, affecting tourist numbers and forcing up the cost of bananas.

The threat has sent the industry into crisis mode as it fights to contain the same soil-borne fungus that decimated the Northern Territory industry in the 1990s.

Queensland's banana industry suffered a significant blow in 2006 when Cyclone Larry flattened crops and sent prices skyrocketing.

Growers are meeting in Mareeba late on Monday to discuss how to minimise the risk of Panama TR4.


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Source: AAP


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