Northern New South Wales communities are on alert after the detection of three red imported fire ant nests.
The nests were found thirteen kilometres south of the Queensland border.
The pests pose an extreme threat to agriculture and electrical infrastructure and can sting pets and livestock.
The discovery signals a failure in the Federal and Queensland government’s joint effort to contain its outbreak in recent months.
The detection in New South Wales triggers a $600 million eradication plan set aside by the Federal government.
The fire ant infestation confined to south-east Queensland for over two decades has pushed south over the New South Wales border.
Key points:
- The infestation in south-east Queensland was first discovered in 2001
- Fire ants have previously been detected in Sydney, Perth, and Gladstone
- The government has a $600 million program to eradicate them
The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) have confirmed the detection of three red imported fire ant nests – with surveillance ongoing — in South Murwillumbah in north-eastern NSW, 13 kilometres south of the border.
It is thought to be the most southern report of fire ants from the Queensland infestation, following reports of it moving slowly southward from Brisbane.
The detection in NSW triggers the National Fire Ant Eradication Program response which is part of the $600 million eradication plan developed by the Australian governments — the world’s largest ever program to eradicate them.
NSW Farmers Association is blaming “ineffective management” for allowing fire ants to become established in Queensland.
“We want red imported fire ants eradicated not only in New South Wales, but in Queensland where this incursion originated,” it said in a press release.
NSW DPI are leading the control, tracing, and communications by implementing an emergency biosecurity order across a radius of five kilometres from the site in South Murwillumbah.
Biosecurity Queensland said the program provides trained officers, detection dogs and genetic testing to help detect and destroy the nests.
It also urged the community to work together despite the “confronting nature” of the detection, and said a more detailed “containment and eradication plan” will be released in the coming days.
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said teams on the ground are tracing where the infestation originated from and “monitoring the immediate chemical eradication of the fire ants”.
“Our teams are focused on limiting further spread, and encouraging reporting and compliance through a targeted communications campaign,” she said.
‘Worst of the worst’
Jack Gough, advocacy manager with the Invasive Species Council, says fire ants are the “worst of the worst”.
“The government’s own documents say fire ants will be worse than rabbits, foxes, cane toads combined,” he told the ABC.
“They are something that will really shift the way of life for Australians.
“Already in the Gold Coast, we’re seeing beaches closed. We’re seeing schools having to close because the sting that they can give you is really severe.”
Compared to other places around the world, Australia has a good record when it comes to the eradication of fire ants, he said.
“We have been able to eradicate them on a number of occasions they’ve come in, including in Sydney, including in Perth, including another occasion when they came in in Gladstone in Queensland.”
Mr Gough warns that all of Australia is susceptible to fire ants if the infestation spreads beyond Brisbane.
He said the government is “trying to put in as little [funding] as they possibly can to achieve eradication”.
