Surprise! Surprise! An Australian politician is planning a last-ditch attempt to keep New Zealand Apples from entering the country.

John Cobb, an Opposition agricultural spokesperson wants to introduce a private member’s bill when the Federal Parliament returns to Canberra after its winter recess, in August.

The bill is designed to amend quarantine legislation and ensure ‘adequate protections’ are implemented against the fireblight bacteria.

New Zealand orchardists are furious and see Mr Cobb’s  last-minute efforts to thwart the import of Kiwi apples as political grandstanding.

Pipfruit New Zealand chief executive Peter Beaven is calling it the ‘dance of the desperates’. He said Mr Cobb was simply playing to his constituents.

“Well they’re pretty much just trying to run political interference in a scientific process that’s pretty much par for the course.”

New Zealand Apples have not been allowed into Australia since 1921 because of fears of the disease fireblight.

But the World Trade Organisation has found that mature, symptomless fruit wasn’t likely to spread fireblight.

It is hoped to begin exporting New Zealand Apples to Australia early next year.

A final version of the risk analysis report has been agreed to by the Australian and New Zealand government’s, and is due for release on August 17.