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This article was published on Monday, 3 February, 2025. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

Queensland Fruit Fly disaster looming for Goulburn Murray Valley

An analysis developed by an internationally recognised expert and specialist in Fruit Fly, Mr Andrew Jessup, has outlined that Queensland Fruit Fly (Qfly) numbers are expected to increase 205 per cent (best case scenario) and over 600 per cent (worst case scenario) by 2026 without a sufficient Area Wide Management (AWM) program to manage and control fruit fly within the Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV).

The analysis that has factored in weather and climate, outlines that an adequately funded AWM program is crucial to managing fruit fly within the GMV and that fruit fly numbers can be managed if an AWM program is sufficiently financially supported by the Victorian Government.

Fruit fly numbers reduced 95 per cent in the first year (2017/2018) as a result of the Fruit Fly Program within the GMV, and achieved a further reduction of 60 per cent in fruit fly numbers in the following year.

The Victorian Government has continued to reduce the funding since the introduction of the program (from 2017/2018), resulting in a substantially decreased and compromised level of AWM from 2020/2021 onwards. It now intends to terminate funding entirely from June 2025. Funding since 2017/2018 to 2024/2025 has reduced 62.5 per cent which the expert analysis confirms is not sustainable moving forward in managing Qfly within the GMV.

It is estimated that horticulture in the GMV region generates $1.6 Billion in Gross Regional Product.

Horticulture is a significant producer of jobs throughout the area, creating flow-on effects that positively ripple throughout the economy.

Victorian Horticulture in 21/22 made up 30 per cent of Australia’s total gross value of horticulture.

The total value of horticulture exports in Victoria in 21/22 was 45 per cent of Australia’s total horticultural exports.

At present, the majority of fruit growers protect their farms from Qfly using baits and spray however do so at a significant cost to their bottom line. Qfly is a concern within urban and peri urban areas where Qfly breed through injecting eggs into fruit, hatching larvae which then later emerge as fruit fly that continue to breed and migrate to orchards.

Significantly less funding since 2021 has resulted in less proactive fruit fly management occurring within the urban areas within the GMV, and Mr Jessup outlines that urban and peri urban fruit fly management is crucial to managing numbers in rural areas.

"The high input Area Wide Management strategy was a fruit fly management success. Never before has the whole community, from the State Government to the backyard grower worked so well together to the benefit of all," said Mr Jessup.

The GMV AWM program is credited with numerous State, National and International awards and was invited to present at the 11th International Symposium on Fruit Flies of Economic Importance.

“The Victorian Government needs to take expert recommendations seriously and protect horticulture within Victoria before grower’s livelihoods and the broader regions are severely impacted,” Cobram District Fruit Growers Association, Chair Adrian Conti said.

“The management of fruit fly protects the region’s exports and the reputation of the GMV as being a reliable source of high quality horticultural produce.”

“The Victorian Government has not committed to funding the program beyond June 2025 and is effectively walking away from their biosecurity responsibilities,” said Mr Tony Siciliano, Chair of the GMV Fruit Fly Governance Group.

“The forecasts being made by an expert in fruit fly are really concerning for our region’s economy.

Our municipality is reliant on the success of horticulture and it is important that the Victorian Government support this program to continue beyond June 2025,” said Cr Shane Sali, Mayor of Greater Shepparton.

The analysis commissioned by Greater Shepparton City Council can be downloaded from our website.

Media enquiries Karen Abberfield - (Cobram District Fruit Growers Association) - 0458 269 179