THE Queensland Government will commit nearly $10 million toward fighting the banana disease Panama tropical race 4 this financial year.
But melon growers have missed out on any additional funding to fight cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV).
Queensland agriculture minister Bill Byrne announced the Palaszczuk Government will spend $9.8 million this financial year combating the threat the disease poses to the industry.
The funding will go toward continual surveillance and tracing to determine the extent of the outbreak, activities to contain and prevent the spread of the disease, and destruction of any infected plants.
Mr Byrne said the Budget allocation reflected the government’s determination to do everything possible to protect the $600 million industry and the farmers and communities that rely on banana production.
“Panama disease tropical race 4 is recognised as the most serious biosecurity threat to the banana industry in Australia and its impact has been devastating worldwide,” Mr Byrne said.
“The banana industry contributes significantly to the far north Queensland economy and employment in the region, and is strongly linked with backpacker tourism.
“This Budget investment will not only help to protect banana farms in the region, but will assist in managing the long term social and economic impacts of the outbreak across north Queensland."
Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) chairman Doug Phillips said the banana industry appreciated the Queensland Government’s support and the continued funding for the TR4 response.
“The pathogen which causes TR4 cannot be eradicated and the disease can spread quickly if action isn’t taken to identify and contain it as soon as possible,” Mr Phillips said.
“TR4 was first detected in North Queensland in March and, by international standards, we are still in the early stages of the response when it’s of critical importance to make every effort possible on surveillance, tracing and containment to help protect the banana industry.”
The $9.8 million to be invested is in addition to in excess of $4 million the Queensland Government has spent fighting the disease since it was detected on a Tully Valley property.
Not so happy with the Queensland Budget is the Australian Melon Association which says it's growers have been left in the lurch with no funding given for controlling the biosecurity incursion of CGMMV.
According to the AMA, the Queensland melon industry is valued at $90 million and the broader cucurbit industry that includes zucchini, pumpkin and cucumber, and is also threatened by CGMMV, has an estimated value of $300 million.
"There is no allocation in the Budget to support the fight against CGMMV and no compensation for the affected grower who has been quarantined and had his crops destroyed," AMA chairman Mark Daunt said.
The first detection of the virus in Queensland was found on Jon Caleo’s Charters Towers farm in April.
Since its discovery in the Northern Territory in September last year, CGMMV has brought the NT melon industry to a near standstill.
It has since been detected not only in known host crops but also in a range of weeds prompting the National Management Group to deem it not feasible to eradicate.
In a Parliamentary reply to the Member for Lockyer on May 7, the Minister for Agriculture itemised a spending of $110,000 this far in the fight against CGMMV.
"This seems a poor comparison to the $9.8 million announced to fight Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) in the Queensland banana industry," Mr Daunt said.
"The Minister Bill Byrne said he is determined to do everything possible to protect the $600 million banana industry.
"However, despite numerous requests, the Minister for Agriculture has not even met with melon industry representatives to discuss the significant threat that CGMMV poses.
"Minister Byrne and the Queensland Government should apply an even hand across all biosecurity threats.
"Support is needed for the melon industry and the Queensland government cannot continue to support one industry at the expense of another."
Some within the melon industry have also expressed concern that there is no incentive for growers to report the disease if they find it, raising the possibility of it spreading further.
