July 26, 2023
Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett says the State Government has become “a national embarrassment” for its handling of fire ant eradication programs in south-east Queensland.
“Since 2019, three reports have been scathing of the government’s lack of progress, mismanagement of programs, funding shortfalls and key performance indicator failures,” the Member for Gympie said.
“The warning signs were there, but Agriculture Minister Mark Furner ignored them all.
“Parks on the Gold Coast have now been fenced off and beaches are under threat.
“Instead of copping it on the chin and admit he got it wrong, Mr Furner blames locals and businesses.”
Mr Perrett said the annual cost to agriculture of fire ants will be billions of dollars.
On Tuesday, Mr Furner said compliance measures in the National Fire Ant Eradication Program would be toughened to stop human-assisted spread of fire ants.
“At the Agricultural Ministers’ Meeting in Perth earlier this month, all jurisdictions unequivocally supported the important work being done by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program by endorsing the new fire ant response plan 2023-27,” a statement released by Mr Furner’s office said.
“There is still work to be done to finalise budgets with the jurisdictions but the fight against fire ants is already scaling up.”
A new containment area will form a horseshoe around the infestation, spanning from Moreton Bay in the north, west to the Lockyer Valley, east into the Gold Coast and south to the Tweed Shire.
“Targeted treatment areas for 2023-24 will encompass suburbs comprising parts of the City of Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Southern Downs local government areas,” the statement continued.
“The National Program will continue to prioritise any detections found in targeted areas and outside of the containment boundary, including those recently found on Minjerribah, in Kleinton and Tallebudgera.
“The National Program’s work will be complemented by the Fire Ant Suppression Taskforce (FAST), which has been separately funded with a $37.5 million investment by the Queensland Government. This will include community self-treatment projects in Ipswich, Logan and on the Gold Coast.”
Mr Furner said there was a “new focus on compliance” to stop the spread.
“Under the Biosecurity Act there are penalties of up to $470,000 or three years’ imprisonment for the most serious aggravated offences,” he said.
“For businesses or persons who fail to discharge their General Biosecurity Obligation, compliance officers have powers under the Biosecurity Act to shut down worksites until a biosecurity risk is mitigated.
“No business wants to lose weeks of work or future work as a result of fire ants, and the way to stop that is by following the rules.”
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