Greater Shepparton City Council has welcomed an election commitment from One Nation to provide ongoing funding for the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Program, recognising the critical role the initiative plays in protecting one of Victoria's most productive horticultural regions.
Greater Shepparton and the broader Goulburn Murray Valley (GMV) are home to one of Australia's largest horticultural regions, producing significant volumes of apples, pears, stone fruit and other fresh produce for domestic and international markets. Protecting market access and maintaining strong biosecurity measures are critical to the long-term success of local growers and businesses.
The election commitment would see One Nation invest $1 million per year to support the program beyond June 2027, providing certainty for a program that has been instrumental in managing the threat of Queensland Fruit Fly (QFF) across the GMV since 2017.
The commitment directly aligns with one of Council's key priorities outlined in its 2026 State Election Advocacy Priorities, which calls for ongoing investment in the GMV Fruit Fly Program to safeguard the region's fruit-growing industry, local jobs and economic prosperity.
Since its establishment in 2017, the GMV Fruit Fly Program has delivered a coordinated, area-wide approach to Queensland Fruit Fly management through community education, monitoring, trapping networks, industry engagement and awareness campaigns across the region.
While ongoing funding for a High Input Area Wide Management Program remains a high priority, Council in partnership with the GMV Fruit Fly Governance Group and local industry has also called for government support to investigate the feasibility of a Victorian Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) facility and an annual release program within the GMV, as well as undertake an independent economic impact assessment of Queensland Fruit Fly across Victoria.
Industry believes these initiatives would help inform future investment decisions, strengthen Victoria's long-term biosecurity capability and support evidence-based approaches to protecting the state's horticultural sector.
Mayor, Councillor Geoff Akers said the program had delivered significant benefits to growers, residents and communities, helping to minimise the impacts of one of Australia's most destructive horticultural pests.
"The Goulburn Murray Valley is one of Australia's most significant horticultural regions, producing high-quality fruit that is enjoyed across the country and exported around the world. Queensland Fruit Fly poses a serious threat to our growers, our economy and our reputation as a leading food-producing region," he said.
"The Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Program has been incredibly successful in raising awareness, supporting best-practice fruit fly management and helping protect our industry from outbreaks."
Council has consistently advocated for ongoing State Government support for the program, recognising that Queensland Fruit Fly management requires a coordinated regional approach that cannot be sustained by individual growers or councils alone.
"We have been advocating strongly for ongoing State Government support for the program, so we welcome One Nation's commitment to provide certainty for its future," Cr Akers said.
"Protecting our horticultural industry is not just important for growers. It supports thousands of jobs throughout the supply chain and underpins the economic strength of our region.
"Biosecurity threats do not stop at municipal boundaries, which is why continued investment in a coordinated regional program is so important."
Council's advocacy highlights the importance of maintaining the region's area-wide management approach, with the program providing education, community awareness, monitoring and industry support activities across participating municipalities.
While Council welcomes this commitment, it will continue advocating to all political parties and candidates throughout the election campaign to secure long-term funding for the program and protect the future of Victoria's horticultural sector.
Council looks forward to working with all levels of government to ensure the Goulburn Murray Valley Fruit Fly Program can continue delivering the education, monitoring and regional coordination needed to protect growers, jobs and communities across the region.
