Fire ants jump Queensland border into NSW
By Samantha Lock, AAP / AG Staff • November 27, 2023
A red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Image credit: shutterstock
Fire ants have crossed the Queensland–NSW border for the first time since the infestation of the invasive species began, with the potential to devastate Australia’s natural environment and agriculture industry.
Three red imported fire ant nests were found in South Murwillumbah, 13km from the Queensland border in the state’s northeast on Saturday, the NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed.
“This is the first fire ant detection in northern NSW and presumed to be the most southern report of fire ants from the Queensland infestation,” the department said in a statement.
Crews are on site working to chemically eradicate the infestation across a radius of 200 metres from the nests.
An emergency biosecurity control order dictates all businesses and residents within a 5km radius of the South Murwillumbah site must restrict the movement of mulch, woodchips, compost, sand, gravel, soil, hay and other baled products.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said the Queensland and NSW governments were working to eradicate the detection and monitor surrounding areas.
“This is the first fire ant detection in northern NSW but not the first detection outside southeast Queensland, with isolated detections having previously been eradicated in Gladstone, the Port of Botany and the Port of Fremantle,” he said in a statement.
NSW Department of Primary Industries officers and detection dogs were working to determine the extent and origin of the infestation.
Fines for breaches of the biosecurity order can reach up to $1.1 million for an individual and up to $2.2 million for a corporation.
A red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) nest on a cane farm in Norwell on Queensland’s Gold Coast, found in June 2023. Image credits: AAP Image/Jono SearleThe NSW Farmers Association said the latest incursion posed a threat to agricultural production and the natural environment and called on authorities to act quickly to stem the spread.
“The ants can damage agricultural equipment, sting livestock and damage the natural environment,” the association said.
NSW Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty said the government was prepared for the discovery of fire ants in northern NSW and had immediately implemented the response plan, part of an almost $600 million national eradication program.
She said the government had committed $95 million towards the National Fire Ant Eradication Program.
Red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) nests. Image credit: shutterstockBut Conservation Officer for the Invasive Species Council Reece Pianta said the $592 million allocated until 2027 would not be enough.
“Fire ants are one of the world’s worst super pests and, if they are allowed to spread across the continent, their impact will be greater than cane toads, rabbits, feral cats and foxes combined,” he said.
“They will devastate Australia’s environment and agriculture, cost our economy billions annually and we could see over 140,000 extra medical visits every year.”
Mr Pianta said the spread into NSW should be a wakeup call for the Victorian, Western Australian and South Australian governments yet to commit to their share of funding for eradication.
NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said it was a case of too little too late.
“What we’ve seen from the state and federal governments so far is a complete lack of urgency, and it’s taken the detection of these ants in NSW to trigger an eradication response,” he said.
A recent review of the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication program warned all hopes would be “lost forever” if the ant moved across the Queensland border into NSW.
