O’Keeffe calls for fruit fly funding

By Georgia Tacey

Feb 28, 2025

State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe has renewed her calls for fruit fly funding. Photo by Contributed

State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe has called for more fruit fly program funding in the next Victorian budget.

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Queensland Fruit Fly numbers have been managed under an Area Wide Management Program for the Goulburn Murray Valley since 2017/18.

The program initially saw a 95 per cent reduction in QFF numbers, but since then, funding has continually been reduced with the original 409 monitoring traps reduced to only 200.

With no funding certainty for the program beyond June, Ms O’Keeffe has called on Agriculture Minister Ros Spence to commit to funding the program.

Ms O’Keeffe said the minister could not guarantee if the program would continue.

“Suspending funding will in no way help protect the level of risk QFF poses to fruit growers,” Ms O’Keeffe said.

“Ongoing funding is vital to suppressing numbers and backing our fruit growers.

“Managing QFF requires constant vigilance and the minister needs to understand the significant impact cutting funding will have on our fruit growers who will face incredible cost and wastage.”

In October 2024, a spokesperson for Agriculture Victoria told The News the management of QFF was now under landowners’ and growers’ control.

“The Victorian Government has invested $14.28 million between 2021 and 2025 to provide community and regional grants under the Victorian Fruit Fly Strategy to empower industry and home gardeners to embed fruit fly management in their communities,” they said.

“The funding has allowed the program to improve community and landholders’ understanding of how to best manage fruit flies on their property, placing them in a good position to limit the impact of the pest moving forward.

“The funding for the Fruit Fly Strategy and its related grants program is due to reach completion in June 2025.”