Banana industry on edge as freckle disease returns

The plant disease known as banana freckle has been found in the Northern Territory again, three years after it was officially eradicated from Australia.

NT Farmers chief executive Paul Burke said the disease had been confirmed on a rural, residential property in the Batchelor region, south of Darwin, on Tuesday afternoon.

Mr Burke said it was too early to determine the source or the potential spread of the disease.

"Banana freckle causes leaves and fruit to become spotty and has a sandpaper feel when touched," he said.

"The disease significantly reduces fruit quality and yields."

He said the disease was seen as a major threat to Australia's $500 million banana industry.

What happens next?

NT chief plant health officer Anne Walters said the outbreak had been detected on dwarf cavendish bananas and surveillance to understand the extent of the infestation had started.

"It may well be limited to one or several properties in that [Batchelor] area, or it may be more widespread, so we're doing a lot of surveillance," Dr Walters said.

"We have restrictions on the property in question and asked them not to move any plant material or fruit off the property... this restriction is limited to just this property at this stage."

Dr Walters said it was too early to say whether or not the government would enforce more restrictions or conduct an eradication program.

The NT Farmers Association said it would focus all of its efforts "to help eliminate the spread of the disease and limit its financial impact on farmers". 

Last outbreak cost $26 million 

Australia's first outbreak of banana freckle on the popular cavendish banana variety happened back in 2013.

It led to a large eradication program that resulted in thousands of banana plants being removed from across the Top End.

The NT's commercial banana industry was essentially wiped out during the program, meaning NT supermarkets became reliant on banana imports from interstate.

But it was the community anger that perhaps defined the NT's eradication program, with many residents and business owners feeling the program was poorly communicated and too heavy-handed.  

Authorities are asking NT residents to be on the look out for any signs of banana freckle and report symptoms to the exotic plant pest hotline 1800 084 881.