Federal government to introduce new funding to help control fire ant populations
Over the past two decades the Queensland government has been attempting to control and contain the spread of invasive fire ants.
But despite these attempts, fire ant numbers have surged across the state, and some have been seen just five kilometres from the New South Wales border.
On Sunday the federal government announced it would put an extra $268 million over four years for the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP).
National Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, said, “what we’re announcing today is the biggest ever federal investment in the fight against fire ants that this country has ever seen.”
“We have been able to contain the spread of fire ants, but we need to do more, if we want to eradicate them.”
Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers said that fire ants are a major economic challenge, and that their continued spread would have significant impacts on our health, environment, and agricultural industries.
“We are at risk of losing more than a billion dollars’ worth of value from our economy if we don’t get on top of this fire ant challenge,” Chalmers said.
“They are nasty little buggers, and we need to do everything we can, working closely with the state government and local council to make sure we can contain and then eradicate them.”
Fire ants are aggressive and have a deadly venom, which can cause anaphylactic shock in some people. In large numbers they can overwhelm and kill prey much larger than themselves.
The federal government also plans to invest in new drone and satellite technology to detect fire ant colonies.
“Fire ants aren’t always front of mind, but they’re front of mind if they bite you, or bite your kids, or your dog, or your cattle, and that’s why we need to get on top of it,” Chalmers said.
