A DECISION by the State Government to terminate funding for managing Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) pest in Victoria from June 2025 has sparked serious concerns among local growers. The program, which has significantly reduced Qfly populations across the Goulburn and Murray Valley (GMV) since 2017, now faces an uncertain future.
Adrian Conti, president of the Cobram and District Fruit Growers Association, expressed deep frustration over the cut. “It defies logic that the Victorian Government is terminating funding for this community-based program,” he said.
“As a result of recent decreased funding, fruit fly numbers have increased 100 per cent. If the fruit fly management funding totally stops, we are likely to face infestation levels migrating into commercial crops from backyard gardens and public lands. A single fruit fly detection in any of our fruit and vegetable exports could devastate the horticultural industry.”
Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell raised the matter during September’s parliamentary sitting, calling on the Minister for Agriculture, Ros Spence, to renew funding and to establish a working group to develop a new Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy.
“The Goulburn Murray Valley fruit fly area-wide management program has been a great success, with state, national and international awards to prove it. In Cobram, pest pressure was reduced by 83 per cent and there was a 60 per cent reduction across the wider region,” said Ms Lovell.
“Both the four-year strategy and its associated funding expire in the middle of next year and there is no certainty about whether they will be renewed,” said Ms Lovell. “It would be a terrible act of sabotage if Labor were to end funding for this important Victorian agricultural program.”
Ms Lovell said that agriculture is vital to the Victorian economy, employing around 11,000 people and producing value of around $3B each year, with exports around $1.6B and $1B worth of those exports being crops affected by fruit fly.
“Victoria must start planning now for a new fruit fly strategy to take over from the old one, and the government must commit to funding the coordination and education activities that will be an important part of an effective strategy.”
Mr Conti said, “Growers fear that this change to funding will continue to reduce the momentum against Qfly achieved by this program, leaving growers standing alone again without broad support provided through area-wide management.
“Common sense would suggest that continuing to support a proven and cost-effective program is good policy; much better than waiting for the inevitable cycle of increased fruit fly management program and significantly compromising our local economy that is reliant on the success and viability of horticulture.”
