Fire Ants: The Invasive Species Council says more needs to be done after funding announcement

Despite new funding, authorities are continuing to raise the alarm about the threat fire ants pose and they have emphasised the need to view the pests as a national — not a localised — threat to all Australians.

The federal government has announced $268 million in funding for fire ant eradication, but activists are worried this money may have passed its use by date.

In July, the stinging ants were detected at Mermaid Waters on the Gold Coast – about 11 kilometres from the Queensland-NSW border, prompting fears the pest could lead to mass closures of beaches and public area.

This jump-started a comprehensive awareness campaign spearheaded by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and Tweed Shire Council.

Now the federal government are also committing to the fight.

Labor Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt have announced they would put aside $268 million in funding for fire ant eradication.

Fire ants. Picture: Barry Rice

The Invasive Species Council — a non-political organisation — welcomed the announcement but said Australians could not lose focus on the threat fire ants pose.

Reece Pianta, the conservation officer at the invasive species council said the funding was “a really significant moment in the battle to stop one of the worst super pests invading the whole of Australia”.

But he said other states — not just Queensland and New South Wales — also needed to join in on the fight.

Fire ant biosecurity zones. Picture: Gold Coast City Council.

“The pressure must now shift to the Victorian, Western Australian and South Australian Governments who have yet to commit to their share of funding for eradication,” Mr Pianta said.

“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.”

Jack Gough, who is the advocacy manager for the Invasive Species Council, echoed Mr Pianta’s comments and criticised the delay in funding.

Jack Gough

“We know the delayed funding … meant that this year the budget was two-thirds of what we spend (on fire ants) last year,” he said.

“Last year it was $90 million, this year it was $60 million — but the government should really be spending somewhere in the range of $200 t0 $300 million dollars a year.”

Mr Gough also said while the recent federal funding announcement is key to eradicating the fire ant, we still need to be prepared to spend more.

“Without the federal government committing their share of funding eradication simply wouldn’t be possible — and we need other states, not just NSW and Queensland, to step up” he said.

“And if this (federal government) funding is not enough, our answer to that needs to be rapid decision making — it can’t be further delay.

“Every single Australian should be concerned about fire ants — it doesn’t matter if you’re in Perth or Penrith, Bendigo or Byron Bay — fire ants are coming if we don’t eliminate them from southeast Queensland.”

Anyone who notices fire ants or signs of their presence in the state should phone NSW DPI on 1800 680 244.