Mr LYONS ( Bass ) ( 13:46 ): I rise to express my concern about the decision of the state government in Tasmania to allow the importation of poppy straw into Tasmania from Turkey. TPI have been operating in Tasmania for eight years but have been unable to recruit enough growers to fill their required processing volumes. At the opening of the Winnaleah Irrigation Augmentation Scheme I indicated that the $140 million pumped into irrigation schemes in Tasmania by the federal Labor government would provide the infrastructure needed to encourage farmers to grow new or additional poppy crops. Poppies are a good rotation crop and only Labor has provided this vital infrastructure to make this increased cropping viable. I am aware that GSK and Tas Alkaloids have turned growers away, so the question that needs to be asked is why TPI could not pick up those extra hectares. The honourable member for Lyons and I had a conversation with the Tasmanian minister in an attempt to get enough growers for processors in Tasmania. We suggested a meeting between poppy growers and processors but unfortunately that never eventuated and this importation from Turkey was approved. Tasmanian farmers are doing it tough, with potatoes, other vegetables and forestry experiencing difficulties. Where are the TFGA, who should be fiercely lobbying their members to grow additional poppies and the state government to insist on refusal of importation. After all, this importation does place downward pressure on prices for our hardworking poppy growers. TPI may get away with this once but it will not in the future. I will be fighting them all the way. (Time expired)