The Liberals and Nationals in government will commit $4 million over four years for the Goulburn Murray Valley Queensland Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Program, providing long-term certainty for one of Australia’s most important horticultural regions.
Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, joined The Nationals’ candidate for Shepparton, Shane Sali, to announce the commitment to protect the region’s vital horticultural industry.
The Goulburn Murray Valley horticultural industry contributes approximately $1.6 billion in Gross Regional Product annually, with the region nationally significant in the production of apples, pears and stone fruit.
The commitment follows years of reduced and inconsistent funding, with partnering councils and industry calling for greater investment and long-term certainty.
Ms Kealy said the industry needed certainty rather than another short-term funding cycle.
“Our commitment will provide the ongoing support needed to protect our growers, strengthen regional biosecurity and safeguard one of Australia’s most important food-producing regions,” Ms Kealy said.
“You cannot protect a $1.6 billion horticultural industry one year at a time.”
“Queensland Fruit Fly isn’t going away at the end of a financial year, and neither should the support needed to manage it.”
Mr Sali said the announcement would be crucial to protecting a key Goulburn Valley industry and manage fruit fly across the region.
“The Goulburn Valley is Australia’s food bowl, and protecting its horticultural industry is an investment in the future of regional Victoria. I am committed to backing the industries that underpin our regional economy, jobs and food production,” Mr Sali said.
“Our growers do a great job managing fruit fly on their farms, and residents also play an important role by looking after their fruit trees. This funding will support those efforts and help protect our region’s horticultural industry.”
The program combines surveillance, targeted responses and community education to reduce fruit fly breeding sites on private and public land.
Previous program activity delivered significant results, including a 95 per cent reduction in Queensland Fruit Fly populations during the program’s first year, followed by a further 60 per cent reduction in its second year.
Fruit Growers Victoria Chairman and local orchardist Mitch McNab welcomed the commitment following years of industry advocacy.
“We really welcome this commitment. Shane Sali has stood by local growers, first as a community member, then as Mayor and now as a candidate with this commitment,” Mr McNab said
“We’ve been calling for a long-term investment into the area-wide management plan for several years.”
“Long-term, secure funding is the only way we can ensure the longevity of not just our businesses and industry, but of the products that people in our community and consumers right across the world rely on.”
