Fire ants are a global super pest and for the past two decades the Queensland government has been trying to control and contain the spread of the invasive species.
Key points:
- Federal government commits $268 million over four years to help eradicate fire ants
- Fire ants are one of the world’s worst invasive pests
- They are currently contained to 750,000 hectares in Queensland’s south-east
But over the last year, numbers have surged, and fire ants have been found just five kilometres from the NSW border.
To fight the toxic pest, the federal government on Sunday announced an extra $268 million over four years for the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP).
“What we’re announcing today is the biggest ever federal investment in the fight against fire ants that this country has ever seen,” National Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said.
“We have been able to contain the spread of fire ants, but we need to do more, if we want to eradicate them.”
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said fire ants are a huge economic challenge and if they continue to spread, they risk endangering our health, environment and agricultural industries.
“We are at risk of losing more than a billion dollars’ worth of value from our economy if we don’t get on top of this fire ant challenge,” Mr Chalmers said.
“They are nasty little buggers, and we need to do everything we can, working closely with the state government and local council to make sure we can contain and then eradicate them.”
Fire ants can be deadly
The funding will be used to supply 1,400 tonnes of bait each year and to create 350 additional jobs in the eradication program.
The government also plans to invest in new drone and satellite technology to detect colonies.
“Fire ants aren’t always front of mind, but they’re front of mind if they bite you, or bite your kids, or your dog, or your cattle, and that’s why we need to get on top of it,” Mr Chalmers said.
The aggressive insects have a venomous sting and in high numbers they can overwhelm and kill prey much larger than themselves. They can also cause anaphylactic shock in some people.
Fire ants typically live in colonies of 200,000 to 400,000 and can swarm in large numbers if their nests are disturbed.
The Invasive Species Council said that without successful eradication, fire ants could cause millions of dollars’ worth of damage to Australia’s livestock and agricultural industries and kill hundreds of animals.
Queensland Agricultural Minister Mark Furner said the national fire ant eradication program is on track to eliminate the “super pest” but more work is needed.
“Be under no illusions, this is a significant pest and a threat to the nation, but we’re on top of it,” Mr Furner said.
“Had we not taken the actions that we’d taken previously, it’s been modelled that this pest would have spread as far north as Bowen, as far west as Longreach and as far south as Canberra.”
Reece Pianta, conservation officer at the Invasive Species Council, welcomed the funding but said more was needed from Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia.
“We understand these states will be considering their level of funding and urge them to step and unite with Queensland, NSW and the federal government to stop fire ants in their tracks,” Mr Pianta said.
“Eradication will take at least a decade and so while this four year funding announcement is very welcome, work should start immediately on developing the next funding package so that we do not have any more delays”.
