A decision granting emergency protection for food-processing giant SPC Ardmona appears to be imminent.
High-level talks between fruit growers, union officials and SPCA management and federal MPs and trade officials in the past week have put pressure on the Commonwealth to reach a decision.
SPCA has called on the Federal Government to introduce emergency safeguard measures under WTO rules for protection against cheap imports, including pears, tomatoes and canned fruit.
Productivity Commission chairman Peter Harris told a Senate hearing last week he was ready to act if asked. "I'm quite sure ... there have been exchanges between officers from the Productivity Commission and various parts of government in preparation for a potential piece of work," Mr Harris said.
Mooroopna orchardist Peter Hall led a delegation of fruit growers and Australian Manufacturing Workers Union officials to Canberra to discuss the unfolding fruit-industry crisis in the Goulburn Valley.
"I get the sense there is some movement on it, but from a fruit grower's point of view it's been hard to get government's ear when it comes to these things in the past," Mr Hall said.
Victorian Coalition MPs have called on the Government to "pick up the phone" and instruct the Productivity Commission to initiate an emergency safeguard action.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokeswoman said the Government was considering SPCA's request as a matter of urgency.
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