Australia has turned on itself over its continued ban on New Zealand apple imports, with a new public policy paper labelling the stance ‘an embarrassment.’

The paper, published by the Australian National University, says the recent reversal of the 77-year ban on kiwi apples will change little in practice.

The paper says in a six-year period in the last decade, the ban was worth A$2b to Australian growers, and the industry will do everything it can to protect its position.

Pipfruit New Zealand is backing the paper, which Chief Executive Peter Beaven says went further than he expected.

"What they’ve said is the risk analysis that was done, quite apart from being shonky on the science side, didn’t make any attempt to quantify the benefit to Australian consumers."

Mr Beaven says Australian consumers would benefit from a more open apple trade.

"We represent a greater range of varieties, which will benefit them even more so.

"So we’ll see changes when New Zealand gains access to that market, they don’t have the Pacific series, they don’t have Braeburn, so we will see changes around what the Australian consumers are exposed to."

Australia has appealed the World Trade Organisation order to overturn its ban.

A decision on the appeal is expected early next week.