Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell MP says the lack of a firm commitment to fund fruit fly control in the Goulburn and Murray valleys poses a significant risk to the $1.6 billion horticulture industry.

Mr Birrell joined more than 50 people at a Queensland Fruit Fly (Qfly)forum in Shepparton.

Speakers included Macquarie University’s, Professor Phil Taylor, on Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and Andrew
Jessup who was commissioned by Greater Shepparton City Council to do an analysis on the effectiveness of the
Goulburn-Murray Valley Fruit Fly Program.

“The forum heard that fruit fly numbers, which were largely controlled by a wide area management program,
started to balloon again from 2019 when Victorian government funding was cut by more than 60 percent,” Mr
Birrell said.

“The GMV Fruit Fly Management Program has no funding commitment beyond June 2025, and the fear is that
Qfly numbers will soar by as much as 600 percent without proper management.”

Australia produces around $6.5 billion worth of crops susceptible to fruit fly and states have historically played
a critical role in control programs.

When he was Minister for Agriculture Nationals leader David Littleproud committed $30 million to build
national resilience to manage fruit fly.

“That funding expanded the National Sterile Insect Technique centre in Port Augusta and the Victorian
government chipped in $900,000 to the Queensland Fruit Fly rearing facility.

“Victoria should be benefiting from that investment, but that won’t happen if the GMV Fruit Fly Management
Program isn’t funded.”

Mr Birrell, who has a background in agronomy, said SIT is an elementary tool used in the battle against fruit
flies.

“The life cycle of fruit fly is disrupted by flooding wild pest populations with sterilised insects, reducing the
fertility of the field populations to a point where they die out,” Mr Birrell said.“Moira Shire hosted one of the most successful SIT trials and demonstrated that populations can be successfully managed and the risk to horticulture reduced.

“The industry contributes enormously to the Victorian economy, and the Victorian government should commit
to the funding needed to protect crops.”