- Eradication campaign success reinstates WA's area freedom for Queensland fruit fly
- Early pest detection vital to protect WA's $1.49 billion horticulture industries
- Bayswater community and Swan Valley growers thanked for their support
The Cook Government is pleased to announce Western Australia has been declared free of Queensland fruit fly (Qfly) today on the back of a successful eradication campaign in Bayswater and surrounding areas.
Qfly is one of the biggest threats to WA's $1.49 billion horticultural industries and backyard fruit trees, attacking more than 300 species of fruit and fruiting vegetables including avocados, chilli, tomato and capsicum.
If the destructive plant pest became established in WA, it could block access to valuable horticulture export markets.
Qfly was first detected in Bayswater in February 2023 through routine monitoring of traps in WA's early warning surveillance network.
A comprehensive eradication response was undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPRID), successfully eradicating the Qfly outbreak from the Perth metropolitan area for the ninth time in 35 years.
The support of the Bayswater and surrounding communities during the surveillance, baiting and quarantine activities was vital to the success of the campaign which involved regular visits to more than 5,500 properties in the area and testing of about 3,000 collected fruit samples.
DPIRD also worked closely with horticulture growers in the nearby Swan Valley to help get produce to market, while maintaining strict biosecurity protocols.
The Quarantine Area Notice has now been lifted and residents, businesses and growers are no longer subject to movement controls on fruit and vegetables out of the area that were required to prevent the pest from spreading.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"Eradicating this outbreak of Qfly and achieving area freedom for Western Australia is a tremendous achievement that demonstrates why detecting pest and disease threats as early as possible is our best form of defence.
"I would like to thank the Bayswater and surrounding communities as well as the Swan Valley horticulture growers for complying with the quarantine restrictions and supporting the response efforts.
"Keeping WA free from plant and animal pests and diseases is vital to ensuring we retain access to valuable export markets across the world and to protect our environment and lifestyle.
"I encourage the WA community to continue to be vigilant and if they spot any unusual animal or plant pests or diseases to report them immediately via the MyPestGuide Reporter app."
