The Australian Greens have brokered an agreement with the Agriculture Minister over the mess caused by the lapsing of the 40% subsidy to primary producers to assist with the costs of compliance with export protocols.

Australian Greens Deputy Leader, Senator Christine Milne, today deferred her motion to disallow the regulations and tabled a letter from Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke, setting out the agreement reached.

"I am delighted to have been able to help find a solution to the mess caused by the Government and Opposition's failure to reform the Quarantine Service to date," Senator Milne said.

"Instead of subsidising inefficiencies at the Quarantine Service, instead of forcing export growers to pay for those inefficiencies, we are now working towards positive long-term solutions for growers and for AQIS.

"I have been very concerned that the 40% cost hike would damage some industries, but I didn't want to hold up the reform agenda for those many industries - meat, grain, dairy, fish and live exports - which had come to agreement with the Minister.

"I understand that some in the horticulture industry are already on their knees and do not want to pay another cent if they can possibly avoid it, but we desperately need a reform agenda for AQIS to reduce costs in the long term. For those few who still disagree, I ask them to accept some short term pain for undeniable long-term gain.

"In the absence of a consensus position in the industry, I have had to make a judgement call on the best outcome I could facilitate that would be in the long-term interests of Australia's export horticulturalists without thwarting the aspirations of other sectors.

"Apple, pear, cherry and stone fruit growers in Tasmania have been hit hard by the costs of accessing high compliance-cost markets on top of the global financial crisis and extreme weather events, but they still want reform.

"They would not have been able to absorb the 40% increase in cost with no reforms or efficiencies at AQIS in sight.

"The agreement I have reached with the Minister should make the transition easier.

"Under this agreement, half of the $2.5 million for the horticulture sector will go to the reform agenda and the other half will still be used for rebates, spread across 12 months to cater for the seasonal nature of the industry and make sure no-one misses out.

"The Minister has agreed to a clear timeframe for the development and delivery of the reform agenda."

The disallowance motion remains on the Senate books until the Minister's commitments are delivered.

The Minister's letter is available here.