Fruit fly program cut

DESPITE being in the midst of a fruit fly epidemic, Agriculture Victoria is no longer funding a successful community fruit fly management program in this region. Sally Day, from Greta Valley Landcare, said she had reports of fruit fly in the Moyhu area and Oxley, and they were even in her own tomatoes. In March, the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Area Wide Management Project reported numbers of fruit fly in the Murray Goulburn Valley "jumped significantly during the first two weeks of February". Greta Valley Landcare group used to receive funding from the Agriculture Victoria's Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria community grants program. "We used it to purchase traps and netting which were sold at subsidised cost through Visitor Information Sessions across the North East," Ms Day said. "We also ran workshops and information sessions and provided training to the Visitor Information Centre staff so that they could help provide advice to patrons." Greta Valley Landcare group last received grant funding in 2019, covering the summer of 2019/20, so they have not received funding for the last two summers. "I am disappointed as I think we achieved significant community involvement in our programs that were supported over several summers," she said. Ms Day said she did not know why the grants were discontinued. "It's not clear to me, as my contact at AgVic had assured me that the program had been successful, so I think it's a government funding decision," she said. According to Agriculture Victoria, the Managing Fruit Fly in Victoria community grants program was successful but was only a short–term program to assist community organisations to help increase understanding of Queensland Fruit Fly and its management. The program concluded in June 2020, with Agriculture Victoria believing communities were better prepared to manage fruit fly. "We know fruit fly management is a priority for farmers and home gardeners in Victoria," an Agriculture Victoria spokesperson said. "That's why the Victorian Government announced $6.4 million in new funding in the last budget to support industry and community–led management of Queensland fruit fly," "Our funding delivers on industry priorities such as area–wide management, grants and regional fruit fly coordinators." Agriculture Victoria said Moira Shire Council, Mildura Rural City Council, and Agribusiness Yarra Valley had received $5.3 million under round one of the new funding. Ovens Valley Nationals MP Tim McCurdy said that the work of Greta Valley Landcare group in raising awareness and providing support on fruit fly was to be commended. "The Nationals raised concerns when the Labor Government cut grant funding for this purpose by $2.54 million. Mr McCurdy said cutting of the grant completely contradicted the Victorian Government's Fruit Fly Strategy 2021–2025, which states, "Management of fruit fly is a shared responsibility between the government... and the broader community". "While the Minister for Agriculture Mary–Anne Thomas has tried to defend these cuts, it is clear to see that the Labor Government's ongoing budget cuts have left growers and the local community high and dry, vulnerable to the devastation of fruit fly," he said. "The Nationals will be taking a strong and comprehensive policy platform to the November state election, of which biosecurity will be a key element, once again ensuring that growers and the local community are fully supported in fruit fly detection, awareness and management." Derryn Hinch's Justice Party MP Tania Maxwell supported the call for funding. "I strongly support the provision of funding for long–term planning that enables Victoria's horticultural sector and local communities to control Queensland fruit fly," Ms Maxwell said. "The horticultural sector and government have always collaborated to control this pest, and volunteers in groups such as Landcare play an extremely important role, too. "Last year I raised with Agriculture Minister Mary–Anne Thomas the on–going need for funding to support work to manage and reduce the spread of fruit fly." The program is still running in Goulburn Murray region through the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Program. According to program coordinator Ross Abberfield, they engage with Lions and Rotary clubs in Wangaratta and Beechworth and Wangaratta council "supporting their efforts to manage fruit fly".

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