July 13 – Fire Ant Decision Day
Media Release
23 June, 2023
Source: Invasive Species Council
An alliance of environment, agriculture, industry and land management groups are calling for urgent action on Australia's fire ant outbreak. These global 'super pests' are spreading beyond the southern Queensland outbreak and threaten life as we know it across Australia.
D-Day for fire ants is 13 July, when Australia's agriculture ministers will be meeting face-to-face for the first time since the COVID pandemic. Fire ants will be on the agenda.
'Fire ants are one of the biggest environmental threats facing Australia. The prospect of Australian governments giving up on fire ant eradication is truly terrifying,' said Invasive Species Council fire ant campaigner Reece Pianta.
'This meeting needs to set the strategy on fire ants: we need a firm commitment to eradication and new funds. We need Minister Watt and Minister Furner to show leadership on this issue,' said Nursery and Garden Industry Association CEO Ian Atkinson.
'The government has been sitting on the report calling for urgent action for two years. We can't afford any more delays – fire ants are breaking containment and will spread quickly throughout Australia if governments fail to act,' said Canegrowers policy manager for environment and sustainability Mick Quirk.
'A fire ant invasion across Australia will be worse than the cane toad. They can kill people and wildlife and cause billions of dollars in lost agricultural production every year,' said Mr Pianta from the Invasive Species Council.
'It doesn't matter if you are in Perth or Penrith, the whole of Australia will be invaded if fire ants are not eradicated.
'They will undermine everything, making our sporting fields, schools, beaches and backyard barbecues unsafe. They will also threaten our food security by destroying crops and livestock.
'Fire ants are already closing businesses, parks, schools, and sports grounds in southern Queensland. They will cause billions of dollars in damage, hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits and wreak havoc on our natural environment and wildlife.
'The cost of eradication is a tiny fraction of the cost of failure. Will this ministerial meeting be a failed opportunity, or will they be proud they saved Australia from one of the world's worst invasive species?' he said.
Continue Reading at Invasive Species Council
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Gabrielle Stacey
Landcare Australia
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