Thursday, 23 June 2022

Northern Victoria Region

Ms MAXWELL (Northern Victoria) (12:43): (1869) My constituency question is to the Minister for Agriculture in the other place regarding ongoing funding for management of fruit fly in Northern Victoria. High numbers of Queensland fruit fly have recently been found in table grape vineyards across Sunraysia, demonstrating that management of this pest will be an ongoing challenge for industry, community and government. We know the fruit fly management programs work. The Goulburn Murray fruit fly areawide management program recently received an industry award for their work. In addition to our growers, fruit fly needs to be managed in the community and on public land. This is not just an industry issue. The government needs to stay at the table and continue to pay its share. This is an ongoing issue and one that I have raised before, so my question to the minister is: will she give an assurance to growers in my electorate and commit to continued government funding for the management of Queensland fruit fly?