While Australia's isolated position as an island nation helps protect growers from pests and diseases, keeping the country free of phytosanitary incursions is an ongoing effort that requires vigilance from and communication between all levels of government, the horticultural industry and communities.

There are a wide range of pests that have ravaged farming regions elsewhere in the globe but have not arrived on Australian shores. Parts of the country do have Queensland fruit fly or Mediterranean fruit fly, but thanks to the presence of natural barriers and coordinated management by state and territory governments, and the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR), some major horticultural regions are recognised as fruit fly pest free areas (PFAs).

In the following video embedded here with permission, DAWR outlines Australia’s fruit fly management, focusing on eastern states' Mediterranean fruit fly freedom status and the established fruit fly pest-free areas of Tasmania and the Riverland in South Australia.

The video demonstrates Australia’s nationally coordinated approach to effectively manage and control fruit fly, and the biosecurity systems in place. The video also highlights Australia’s investment and commitment to effectively manage the risks to production and trade posed by these key pests of concern.

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