After a three-year quarantine, Queensland was declared officially free of citrus canker last week.
The disease crippled the state’s citrus industry when it was discovered in the Emerald region in 2004. Half a million trees were destroyed during the outbreak, according to the ABC.
Queensland’s Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin said a national management group had declared the state free of the disease after a three-year quarantine with no further outbreaks.
“The declaration comes just weeks after Queensland was declared free of equine influenza,” Mr Mulherin said.
“Getting the all clear on two devastating diseases within a month is great news for Queensland - it shows we have the expertise and ability to handle serious biosecurity threats.”
“We hope that the industry will grow to the levels or beyond the levels of what it was prior to citrus canker.”
Queensland’s citrus industry is worth an estimated A$90m a year.
