After decades of government inaction, this is the tragic admission this week about Central Australia’s greatest environmental catastrophe: “Despite the very high risk rating of buffel grass it is considered that [it] cannot be feasibly eradicated from the NT at this time due to its widespread distribution and biological persistence.

“This plan therefore focuses on reducing spread and the impact on significant cultural and environmental assets.”

The plan is ignoring 75 per cent of public contributions “and the process has been a farce,” says the Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC).

And so we are staring in the face of a monoculture developing out of control. The 10 year management plan released by Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne plods along, pledging to ensure land owners are aware ”of their legal obligations to manage buffel grass … protecting priority environmental and cultural assets … reducing spread along transport corridors … implement transparent and accountable compliance”.

At the same time, across the entire pastoral landscape, buying and spreading buffel can continue with permissions issued by the Minister which can last 10 years.

But that’s still not good enough for the industry: The Cattlemen’s Association does “not support the declaration of buffel grass as a weed,” it says in a release.

“It is important that the plan recognises the critical role buffel plays in pastoral production.

“The NTCA will continue to work with Government to ensure it remains practical, proportionate, and does not place unnecessary burden on pastoral operations.”

Mr Burgoyne said in a media release: “We acknowledge the work of the pastoral industry to manage buffel grass on their properties, along with the need for more to be done to manage buffel grass around our towns and conservation areas.”

“That is a complete fantasy,” says prominent local environmentalist Adrian Tomlinson who joined a chorus of the plan’s critics.

“Look at Ross Highway and the kilometre upon kilometre of devastation – is this what the Minister calls good management?”

While the enforcement of buffel legislation is in the hands of the Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, under the Weeds Management Act 2001, the plan dodges being assertive: Permit holders should practice good weed hygiene; incorporate buffel grass management into general or existing land management plans by 2028; “specific consideration” will be given to consultation with adjoining landholders [and] corridors running through areas of low/no buffel grass density.

All owners or occupiers of land, including private town-based landholders, have to take “reasonable measures” to prevent the spread of buffel grass on their land and onto adjoining lands.

“Not all of the above will apply in every circumstance; they are included as a guide,” says the plan.

ALEC, which describes itself as Central Australia’s peak environmental organisation “defending the desert country since 1980,” says in a media release: “Minister Burgoyne has shown blatant disregard for his constituents, the environment and democratic processes by approving this plan.

“[It] not only prioritises pastoral interests over the environment, it ensures pastoralist interests come first over tourism, health, First Nations culture, fire safety, management costs and community concern.”

The plan “shows disrespect for the public consultation process which is designed to give the people a say over the policies which affect them, avoid corruption, and ensure accountability.

“This is more than an environmental issue. This is about a healthy democracy and the right for citizens to have their views not just heard then ignored, but heard and enacted.”

Mr Tomlinson said in his submission: “Everybody knows buffel grass does not stay within boundaries, nor do the fires, smoke or pollen it causes.

“What is effectively a blanket permission to plant and spread buffel on pastoral leases will cause the extent of buffel invasion to increase both on and off pastoral leases.

“It ensures a future of ecosystem decline. It undermines the efforts on other land tenures.

This article appeared on Alice Springs News on 20 March 2026.
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