NSW: State govt supports exotic pest and disease controls

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2001
NSW: State govt supports exotic pest and disease controls

SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - The NSW government is committing more than $22 million to two
exotic pest and disease control programs, Agriculture Minister Richard Amery announced
today.

Mr Amery today said NSW will provide $21 million over the next two years towards the
fire ant eradication program and $2.4 million to the black sigatoka eradication program.

"The two exotic outbreaks, black sigatoka in bananas and fire ants, are currently located
in Queensland.

"However, a national funding agreement ensures that other states and territories, as
well as the commonwealth and industry, share the cost of the eradication programs," he
said in a statement.

Mr Amery said the nationwide cost of the fire ant program was projected to be $123
million and the black sigatoka program about $20 million.

The NSW share is calculated using population for the fire ant program and the value
of the state's banana production, about $60 million, for the black sigatoka program.

AAP ph/jjs/cjh

KEYWORD: EXOTIC

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