Fire ants disaster scenario forecast if pests make it across Qld border

All hope of eradicating fire ants will be “lost forever” if the pest escapes Queensland’s borders, as a long-awaited report warns this will happen without a “major change” of plan.

All hope of eradicating a destructive and deadly ant will be “lost forever” if the pest escapes Queensland’s borders, with a long-awaited report warning this will happen without a “major change” of plan backed by billions of dollars.

A review of the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication program found the current budget and scope was not enough to get rid of or contain the insect, ending in the disaster scenario of the ant spreading across Australian backyard lawns, sportsfields, golf courses and farms.

And there cannot be any “delay” to government action, with the panel calling for the Commonwealth and Queensland authorities to stump up about $300m a year under their preferred option to wipe out the ant by 2032.

Fire ants are spreading in Queensland. Picture: Supplied

But the report - which was only released on Thursday - is already nearly two years old after its release was delayed by authorities for reasons yet to be disclosed despite repeated pleas from stakeholders.

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program, run out of Queensland, has “continued to work closely” with authorities, though acting director Ashley Bacon confirmed a proposal for a “new response plan” would be put to agriculture ministers “in coming months”.

The report, written in August 2021, noted fire ants were marching 5km a year and were “now only 23km north of the New South Wales border”.

A map showing the spread of fire ants, with the pest being found just short of the NSW border. Picture: Supplied

As of June 2023, an incursion of the ant was found 11.6km from the NSW border.

“If (the ant) moves out of SEQ, the Review Panel considers, based on overseas experience, that any hope of eradication will be lost forever,” the report noted.

“And ongoing costs for all Australian jurisdictions and for rural and urban industries and communities will be far higher than the current or proposed program.”

The report outlined three options: eradication by 2032 underpinned by $300m of funding a year shared by the Commonwealth and the state; containing the ants as they are now at the cost of up to $250m a year; or uncontrolled spread.

In July 2017 Australia’s agriculture ministers committed $411.4m over 10 years to get rid of the ant - or $41m a year.

A Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries fire ant treatment team. Picture: Supplied

Invasive Species Council fire ant campaigner Reece Pianta said an immediate increase in funding was needed and while the sweeping changes to the program would require double or triple investment it was still far cheaper than the cost of living with fire ants.

‘Modelling shows they will be in Sydney by 2035 if we fail to eradicate them. They are already closing sporting fields on the Gold Coast and impacting local cane fields and schools,” he said.

“They are a major threat to agriculture and have caused land to become unproductive in the United States where they are prolific.

“Households will bear the brunt with damage to electricity and water systems and the costs of treating backyards and gardens to make them liveable. Fire ants will also cause thousands of hospital admissions every year.”

The Red Imported Fire Ant, native to South America, was first detected in Queensland in 2001.

Fire ants are between 2mm to 6mm in length and copper brown in colour with a darker abdomen. Nests appear as mounds or patches of loose soil, though there are no obvious entry or exit holes.