The Invasive Species Council has welcomed the ACT Government’s announcement today of a $5.098 million funding commitment supporting fire ant eradication in Australia and called on Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania to urgently step up with their share of funding.
Advocacy Manager for the Invasive Species Council, Reece Pianta, said this is important leadership from the ACT Government in the battle to stop one of the worst super pests invading the whole of Australia.
‘The ACT have now joined New South Wales, Queensland and the federal government in committing their fair share toward the current four year, $592 million fire ant eradication funding agreement.
‘But there is still a $135 million hole in the current program’s funding because of bureaucratic delay and dithering by Victoria, Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.
‘It’s time for those other states to follow the ACT’s lead and step up before it’s too late.
‘Fire ants are one of the world’s worst super pests and, if they are allowed to spread across the continent, their impact will be greater than cane toads, rabbits, feral cats and foxes combined.
‘They will devastate Australia’s environment and agriculture, cost our economy billions annually and we could see over 140,000 extra medical visits every year as they sting Australians at the park or in the backyard.
‘It doesn’t matter if you are in Perth or Penrith, Bendigo or Byron Bay, the whole of Australia will be invaded if fire ants are not eradicated in south east Queensland.
‘It’s in the interests of every state in Australia to urgently fund the eradication efforts in Queensland and now in NSW.
‘Earlier this year, Victoria intercepted a fire ant Queen on a freight pallet from Queensland. Victoria is lucky the system caught it this time, but every year we fail to eradicate these super pests, increasing the odds they will sneak into other parts of Australia.
‘Fire ants were also found in Fremantle, Western Australia, in 2019. This infestation was declared eradicated in October 2023,’
‘Eradicating fire ants from Australia is the only way to prevent them from breaking containment and spreading across Australia.’
-Invasive Species Council