Health Budget 2007-2008

Mosquito control operations in Northern Australia

The Commonwealth Government is providing assistance to Queensland and the Northern Territory to eliminate mosquitoes which can carry dengue fever, before they become established in mainland Australia.

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Why is this important?

• Mosquito control measures are traditionally a state and territory responsibility.

• Following recent incursions of mosquitoes capable of spreading dengue fever, the Queensland and Northern Territory governments have asked the Commonwealth for funding to assist in mosquito control measures.

• The Government is providing assistance to ensure programs take place to eliminate these mosquitoes before they become established in mainland Australia.

Who will benefit?

• The people of the Torres Strait and Groote Eylandt will benefit directly from mosquito control operations as the risk of contracting dengue fever will be greatly reduced. Other Australians will benefit from control of mosquitoes preventing the spread of mosquito- borne diseases across a wider area.

What funding is the Government committing to the initiative?

• The Commonwealth has committed $2.1 million over three years to the Queensland Government for mosquito control operations in the Torres Strait.

• The Government has committed $0.6 million over two years to the Northern Territory Government for mosquito control operations on the Groote Eylandt.

What have we done in the past?

• The Government provided $0.8 million in 2005-06 towards a mosquito elimination program in the Torres Strait.

• The Government provided $1.3 million towards a successful mosquito elimination program in Tennant Creek in 2004-05.

When will the initiative conclude?

• This initiative will conclude in June 2009.