Senator the Hon Murray Watt (Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and the Hon Ros Spence MP (Victorian Minister for Agriculture) have announced an investment of up to $5.3 million to expand irradiation facilities at the Steritech facility in Melbourne.

This expansion will double the facility’s capacity with additional dual X-ray irradiator systems to combat fruit fly and other pests, ensuring produce is export-ready. Murray Watt emphasized the importance of this move for maintaining Australia’s horticultural market presence and protecting the sector from pest-related costs. Ros Spence highlighted the state’s leadership in using irradiation for biosecurity, noting the benefits for trade security and the availability of fresh produce. The funding is part of the $30 million Building Resilience to Manage Fruit Fly program which supports the Australian horticulture industries and regional communities fight against the impact of fruit flies.

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