'Whole country has been put at risk': Urgent calls for funding increase on red fire ant eradication as nationwide outbreak feared
They are very aggressive when their nests are disturbed and can cause injury or, in extreme situations, death to humans, pets, insects and livestock in the areas they infest, along with having the ability to restrict everyday activities such as barbeques, picnics, and sporting events. National Party Leader David Littleproud said Labor’s current allocation of $268 million over years was falling short by more than half the recommended amount in the Fire Ant Response Plan 2023-2027 of $592 million.
The committee overseeing the inquiry made 10 recommendations calling for greater cooperation between federal, and state and territory level governments, over the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, assessing whether its goal of removing the species by 2032 still looked to succeed. Since coming to Australia in 2001 – presumably through an overseas freight container – red imported fire ants have mostly been confined to south-east Queensland and
“Eradicating fire ants is not an easy task – many countries have tried and failed but we have remained successful in containing their spread. This united approach… will make sure that continues.”