Federal government urged not to let fire ant eradication funding lapse
State agriculture ministers met in Canberra on Friday, where they noted fire ant eradication remained "technically feasible, cost beneficial and in the national interest".
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program is at a critical juncture, with advocates urging the federal government not to let its funding lapse. The program, which aims to completely eliminate fire ants in Australia, currently faces a funding cliff in June 2027. State and federal agriculture ministers have agreed that eradication is technically possible, cost-effective, and in the national interest.
Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett presented a plan outlining the potential impacts of a wider spread of fire ants, which could cause over $2 billion in economic damage annually. Advocacy director for the Invasive Species Council, Reece Pianta, stated that the program has seen significant progress, with 208,000 hectares transitioning from suppression to active eradication zones.
However, another funding gap could reverse this progress, causing the infestation zone to expand by up to 40%. The ISC urges governments to ensure funding for the crucial next phase of the program to avoid losing the opportunity for complete eradication.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
