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MEDIA RELEASE
October 10, 2014
NEW PHASE FOR FRECKLE ERADICATION PROTECTS AUSTRALIAN BANANA INDUSTRY
One of the most significant pest eradication efforts in Australia will enter a new phase after the
approval of a plan to rid the nation of one of the world’s worst banana diseases, Banana Freckle
(Phyllosticta cavendishii).
It was today announced approval had been granted by a national industry and government
biosecurity group for a Northern Territory (NT) eradication plan that will continue eradication work
which began there a year ago. The estimated cost of the four-year eradication, including the work
already completed, is estimated at about $26 million.
Eradication work began last October after freckle was first found on Cavendish banana plants in
rural-residential backyards, near Darwin in July 2013. The fungal disease causes dark, raised
blemishes on banana plants and fruit.
It is hoped work to show freckle has been eradicated can begin in April 2017 and quarantine
restrictions can be lifted when proof of freedom from the disease has been established.
Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) Chairman Doug Phillips said approval of the new
eradication plan was a win for the Australian banana industry which faced substantial damage if
the disease spread from the NT into major growing regions.
“Banana Freckle is one of the world’s worst banana diseases and this new eradication plan is
necessary to protect Australia’s banana industry and its $600 million annual production,” Mr
Phillips said.
“Since Banana Freckle was first detected in the Territory on Cavendish bananas in July 2013, the
banana industry and government have been working together to eradicate the disease and
develop a plan to rid the Territory of this disease and safeguard the national banana industry.
“It’s positive news for the Australian banana industry that the eradication work can now continue
under a new, stronger response plan. It will also help protect the longer-term future of both the
commercial banana industry that remains in the Territory as well as backyard banana growing
there.”
Commercial banana production in the NT has already been severely reduced in recent years by
the soil-borne disease Panama Tropical Race 4 (TR4) which kills banana plants and cannot be
eradicated. The NT is the only known Australian location of TR4.
The eradication response is being conducted by the NT under the Emergency Plant Pest
Response Deed. This Deed is the agreement between the Australian Government, all state and
territory governments, most plant industries and Plant Health Australia to manage emergency plant
pests. The Australian Banana Growers’ Council (ABGC) and Nursery & Garden Industry Australia
(NGIA) are signatories to the Deed.
Continues
Unit 3, South Gate East Commercial Centre 250 Sherwood Road ROCKLEA QLD 4106
PO Box 309 BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106
Tel: 07 3278 4786 Fax: 07 3278 4938
Web: www.abgc.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE
Mr Phillips said the ABGC, on behalf of the banana industry, signed the Deed in 2005. It ensures
Federal, Territory and State governments and industry can jointly fund emergency plant pest
eradications.
Main details of the new Banana Freckle eradication plan are:
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new three-year plan to eradicate Banana Freckle (Phyllosticta cavendishii) from Australia with
work beginning in October 2014 and proof of freedom to be established from April 2017
total cost of eradication, including work already conducted, is estimated at about $26 million
and will be jointly funded by banana growers, the nursery industry, NGIA and Commonwealth,
State and Territory governments
the cost-shared amount of the eradication will be about $21 million and the NT Government will
provide an additional amount of about $4.8 million
commercial banana growers’ contribution to be finalised but expected to be about half the costshare amount, in the range of $10 million to $13 million
all banana plants to be removed from six eradication zones – the Greater Darwin area; Rum
Jungle and Batchelor, south of Darwin; Dundee Beach, south west of Darwin; Nauiyu/Daly
River, south west of Darwin; Milikapiti on Melville Island; and the Ramingining Aboriginal
community in west Arnhem Land
a four-phase approach of removing banana plants in the eradication zones; a banana plantfree period including a full wet season; controlled reintroduction and monitoring of banana
plants and assessment of freedom from the pest
movement controls for banana plants and fruit
Owner Reimbursement Costs for affected commercial banana growers and production
nurseries.
Banana grower contributions will be made over a number of years via a production-based levy to
be activated under the terms of a joint Federal Government and industry Emergency Plant Pest
Response (EPPR) Deed.
Mr Phillips said growers would soon be provided with information and consulted on the structure of
the levy and the costs involved.
He said the new Response was approved after eradication was found to be technically feasible by
a group of expert government and industry advisors who formed a Consultative Committee on
Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP).
It is the first banana industry pest response under the EPPR Deed and one of the first uses of the
Deed in Australian horticulture.
A benefit-cost analysis by the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and
Sciences concluded it was economically beneficial and feasible to eradicate freckle. A separate
government and industry group overseeing the eradication, the National Management Group
approved the plan after assessing the CCEPP’s findings.
Continues
Unit 3, South Gate East Commercial Centre 250 Sherwood Road ROCKLEA QLD 4106
PO Box 309 BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106
Tel: 07 3278 4786 Fax: 07 3278 4938
Web: www.abgc.org.au
MEDIA RELEASE
A State Control Centre and Local Control Centre will be established to conduct the eradication and
an Incident Management Team will be recruited. To date, the NT Department of Primary Industry &
Fisheries (DPI&F), has conducted a range of work needed for eradication. The latest findings are
that there are 58 infected properties where Banana Freckle is on Cavendish bananas and a further
185 properties where it is on Lady Finger bananas. Over the past year, the NT DPI&F has
conducted more than 30,000 property visits and compiled extensive maps of banana plant
locations.
About Banana Freckle
Banana Freckle (Phyllosticta cavendishii) reduces banana plant yield by damaging plant leaves
which yellow and die. Visible signs are small spots or streaks which have a sandpaper feel and
appear on the leaves of banana plant as well as on the skins of the fruit. While fruit affected by
Banana Freckle is safe to eat, the appearance of the fruit makes it unsaleable.
Banana Freckle is found in parts of Asia and the Pacific Islands. It is considered to be one of the
world’s worst banana diseases.
It is not known how the disease arrived in the NT but it moves in spores carried in water splashes
and potentially by wind-borne spores. It is also transmitted by the movement of infected banana
plants and fruit. The disease spreads rapidly in wet tropical conditions, such as those in Australia’s
main banana growing regions in north Queensland.
Little was known about the disease prior to the NT outbreak, although the banana industry has
conducted research in recent years which produced some breakthrough findings. More research
has been conducted over the past year.
For more information:
Rhyll Cronin
Communications Manager
Tel: 07 3278 4786
Mob: 0428 038 330
Unit 3, South Gate East Commercial Centre 250 Sherwood Road ROCKLEA QLD 4106
PO Box 309 BRISBANE MARKET QLD 4106
Tel: 07 3278 4786 Fax: 07 3278 4938
Web: www.abgc.org.au