December 18, 2023
Fire ants are spreading at a rate of about 5km per year within south-east Queensland.
However, this compares with 45km per year in the United States and 80km per year in China, according to Agriculture Minister Mark Furner.
Minister Furner was responding to a Question on Notice from Member for Gympie Tony Perrett which questioned State Government claims of positive progress in the eradication and containment of the dangerous pest.
“The National Fire Ant Eradication Program leverages international experience and information with the management of Red Imported Fire Ants to assess its success in eradicating and containing fire ant populations,” Minister Furner said.
“The program’s scientists use modelling based on this data and estimate that without the interventions undertaken by the program, south-east Queensland infestations would have spread as far south as Canberra, north to Bowen and west to Longreach in Queensland.”
Minister Furner said field officers engaged in eradication and surveillance activities carried digital tablets and updated data in real time.
“Data demonstrating the program’s progress is reported to the National Steering Committee, comprising representatives of the Federal Government and all State and Territory governments, on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis,” he said.
“The program’s annual and quarterly reports are publicly available on the program’s website”
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Hon. Mark Furner is proud after 22 years that RIFA spreading is reduced to 5kms/year. Compared to USA & China. Over $1 billion wasted and siphoned out. When will Hon. Mark state that the RIFA Restricted Maps are now reducing in size? Has Hon. Mark appointed incompetent team leaders who are only a failure in reducing RIFA numbers for years?