The bee keepers, and farmers who rely on the bees to pollinate crops, fear that lifting the ban will increase the threat posed to the industry by the small hive beetle.

The beetle is native to South Africa, and is blamed for wiping out 20,000 hives in Florida, USA, during a two-year period.

The beetle’s larvae burrows and through combs consuming brood, pollen and honey. During this process, the lavae produce a repellent slime which prevents bees from removing the pest from the hive.

Damaged combs drip honey which then ferments, adding to the overall destruction.

The NT Minister for Primary Industry, Kon Vatskalis, argues that the lifting of the quarantine restrictions is essential for free trade.

He is supported by Kate Peake, the Executive Director of the NT Horticultural Association.

She said that the Kimberly Region is the only area of Western Australia that was subject to out breaks of the problem beetle, and no bees can be imported to the Territory from that region.

But 30 unhappy farmers attended a meeting with the Territory’s Chief Veterinary officer, Brian Radunz, last week, in a last ditch effort to get the Government to change its mind.

One result of the meeting was the launch of a program by the NT Government to monitor bee hives for a 12 month period.

Tas Festing, who operates an apiary at McMinns Lagoon, south of Darwin, says that no tests have been carried out to date to establish whether the beetles have already arrived in the Top End.

“Because we have not proven we are clean, they (the NT Government) will not compensate us if this beetle is brought in,” he said.

Former farmer and Independent Territory politician, Gerry Wood, says the Government must be prepared to pay compensation if the beetle finds its way into the Territory.

"There is no doubt some melon growers and apiarists are still concerned about the introduction of hive beetle into the NT," he said.