AgForce is calling for a rapid overhaul of the State Government’s outdated fire ant eradication program, in a bid to save southeast Queensland from a dangerous pest.

It follows revelations that the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program Strategic Review – conducted two years ago stated eradication was impossible under the current plan and an “urgent change of strategy” was needed.

Despite the warnings, none of the report’s 27 recommendations were implemented.

Meanwhile, fire ants continued to spread, with each outbreak outside the biosecurity zone costing an additional $1million in heightened surveillance and treatment.

In the past 12 months, thousands of nests have been detected including four significant detections north, east, south and west of the biosecurity zone – and fire ants on the western side of the Great Dividing Range for the first time ever.

AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said the window of opportunity to eradicate fire ants was now closing.

“Unless there is a rapid overhaul of governance, communication gaps, and compliance in the fire ant eradication program, the chance of successful eradication from southeast Queensland is diminishing,” he said.

“Many community members in urban and peri-urban landscapes are not aware everyone has a biosecurity obligation,” he said.

“Many do not know about movement restrictions on potential fire ant carriers such as soil, pot plants, turf and uncovered mulch.

There are gaps such as hay movement amongst equestrian events, and fire ants are not included on pest inspection reports for property sales.” AgForce has also joined a coalition of organisations calling on state and federal governments to prioritise the response to the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program Strategic Review.

Mr Guerin added: “With fire ant detections close to the New South Wales border and west at Toowoomba, it is essential that an urgent decision is made on how to address this biosecurity threat.

This article appeared in the Allora Advertiser, 21 June 2023.