Labor fails to act on red imported fire ant Senate inquiry recommendations

Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is demanding an urgent Albanese Government response to the Senate inquiry into Red imported fire ants in Australia – ‘don’t let this come back to bite us’.

Labor has wasted four months by failing to act on key Senate inquiry recommendations, allowing the eradication zone to explode in size, further north into Burpengary East, west into Mount Sylvia, south into Tallebudgera Valley, as well as outlier areas, as far as Oakey near Toowoomba and Currimundi near Caloundra Airport.

Mr Littleproud said not eradicating fire ants puts every Australian’s way of life at risk and the issue has not been taken seriously by the Labor Government after a crucial inquiry.

“Labor has failed to implement or act on key recommendations it was given in April, in the Senate inquiry’s final report,” Mr Littleproud said.

“Critically, the first recommendation was that the Australian Government review the current level of funding with the state governments. Labor hasn’t bothered responding, yet alone investigating or acting on this recommendation.

“Four whole months have passed and Labor is still ignoring the recommendations, including calls for investigate alternative models for delivery of the eradication program to improve independence, and transparency, improve public engagement and improve the delivery of the eradication program.”

The program is delivered by the Queensland Labor Government.

“The Committee also identified the urgent need to increase stakeholder engagement and community education…. to assist the long-term eradication goal. 

“The community deserves answers and reassurance that the funding is enough, and the Queensland Labor Government is delivering its eradication program in an effective and timely manner. But communities are being left in the dark.

“Labor has sat on its hands and refused to take action. There are huge concerns in the community about the eradication program.”

Mr Littleproud warned many times last year that Labor’s $268 million over four years in federal funding to eradicate fire ants risked not being enough.

“The National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program strategic review also estimated that at least $200 to $300 million per year was required. Labor’s funding was needed urgently in early 2023, but was delayed until the end of 2023, which put the time-critical response at risk.”

The Invasive Species Council previously warned red imported fire ants were at risk of spreading beyond current containment zones and that parks, school playgrounds and beaches were being impacted due to fire ants. Red imported fire ants also kill native species and are harmful to humans.

“The Coalition has long been warning the spread of fire ants will cost our economy $2 billion annually. It has been obvious for some time the funding was not going to be enough. The lack of action and the delays in funding undermined previous work that had been done under the Coalition Government to control fire ants.”