A Marshall Liberal Government will commit an additional $125,000 per year for four years to battle fruit fly, if elected in March.

Liberal Member for Hammond Adrian Pederick said the extra funds would enhance border protection and provide support to local growers.

“South Australia’s fruit fly free status is central to our food producers’ access to export markets,” said Mr Pederick.

“This funding is vital to protecting our local growers from detections and outbreaks.

“The extra funding will go a long way to stopping potentially disastrous threats.”

This funding pledge comes only a month after two separate outbreaks were declared in the Riverland, and follows the detection of a male Queensland fruit fly in Mypolonga in mid-2013.

As part of the extra funds, Mypolonga will be established as a fruit fly exclusion zone.

“The fruit fly detection in Mypolonga in 2013 had a clear impact on our local producers,” said Mr Pederick.

“When dealing with the fruit fly detection in Mypolonga, it was clear the measures in place were not adequate enough.”

The extra $500,000 will go towards:

• Increasing fruit fly measures and enhancing border protection;
• Establishing Mypolonga as a fruit fly exclusion zone; and
• Reviewing the $5 million fruit fly program to ensure it meets the State’s needs.

A Marshall Liberal Government will also commit to 24/7 staffing for permanent quarantine stations at Yamba and Ceduna