A new five-year, state wide fruit fly action plan will focus on strengthening fruit fly management coordination and collaboration, improving fruit fly management and enabling domestic and international trade.
Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford, yesterday hosted more than 60 horticulture industry and government stakeholders at a state wide forum to begin development on the plan to protect Victoria's $2.4 billion horticulture industry.
The forum, held in Attwood, drew industry, community, local government and state government representatives together to share the challenges and opportunities for co-ordinated fruit fly management from 2015 to 2020.
Forum attendees agreed it was critical that industry, government and community join together to tackle fruit fly management and implement a management strategy from the ground up.
The ideas put forward at the forum will inform the development of the five-year action plan, with further opportunities for community, industry and government consultation as the plan is finalised.
The new action plan will define the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved in or impacted by fruit fly management, identifying priority areas of focus for government, industry and community for fruit fly management.
Plant biosecurity is critical to market access, and the plan will see industry, community and government working together to manage fruit fly in Victoria, to optimise trade opportunities for the different regions in the state.
The Labor Government will continue to engage with key stakeholders in relation to the outcomes of the forum.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Jaala Pulford
“Victoria has a real opportunity to become a national leader in fruit fly management, to improve coordination and collaboration of effort and to make a difference to market access opportunities for our horticulture industry.”
“Fruit fly is everyone’s responsibility – the action plan will recognise that all stakeholders share responsibilities for fruit fly management and must work together to achieve optimal outcomes.”
“We are committed to protecting our $2.4 billion horticulture industry and supporting its long term growth and resilience.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020