A group known as the The Invasive Species Council say that fire ants are a global ‘super pest’ and they are migrating beyond the southern Queensland outbreak and threaten life as we know it across Australia.
An alliance of environment, agriculture, industry and land management groups, The Invasive Species Council are calling for urgent action on Australia’s fire ant outbreak and say the insects are heading toward D-Day, when on 13 July, Australia’s agriculture ministers will be meeting face-to-face for the first time since the COVID pandemic.
Fire ants will be on the agenda.
One of the biggest environmental threats
Invasive Species Council fire ant campaigner, Reece Pianta, says fire ants are one of the biggest environmental threats facing Australia. ‘The prospect of Australian governments giving up on fire ant eradication is truly terrifying.
Mr Pianta says fire ant invasion across Australia will be worse than the cane toad. ‘They can kill people and wildlife and cause billions of dollars in lost agricultural production every year.
‘It doesn’t matter if you are in Perth or Penrith, the whole of Australia will be invaded if fire ants are not eradicated.
‘They will undermine everything, making our sporting fields, schools, beaches and backyard barbecues unsafe. They will also threaten our food security by destroying crops and livestock.
Fire ants closing businesses, parks, schools, and sports grounds
‘Fire ants are already closing businesses, parks, schools, and sports grounds in southern Queensland. They will cause billions of dollars in damage, hundreds of thousands of emergency room visits and wreak havoc on our natural environment and wildlife.
‘The cost of eradication is a tiny fraction of the cost of failure. Will this ministerial meeting be a failed opportunity, or will they be proud they saved Australia from one of the world’s worst invasive species?’ he said.
For 22 years the “Blind have been leading the Blind” to reduce Red Fire Ants numbers. Deadwood scientists are never replaced until retirement. In Rugby and Cricket incompetent players are replaced at the next games. During elections incompetent Ministers are replaced but in the Scientific field there is no replacement. Hence people are never given given an opportunity and R&D funding is wasted. I have informed many Ministers for 22 years but I have been ignored. To gain victory over RIFA the Killing Rate of RIFA has to be faster than their Reproductive Rate.
How frighting lets hope they can eradicate these fire ants before they take hold in Australia. it sounds like nothing is safe if they invade.
These are refugee ant, Xenophobe.
The current amount of funds allocated to quarantine and prevention of invasive species in Australia is grossly inadequate and pitiful.
There are a lot more overseas “nasties” worse than ‘fire-ants’ out there!
[E.G. ‘White-spot disease’ has very recently devastated the River Clarence prawning industry and ‘varroa mite’ ditto for bee/honey industries]
These are but two new imported disease/pest Federal AQUIS slip-ups recently.
More will inevitably follow unless we have more rigorous inspections over imported agricultural products and especially commercial imports using largely un-inspected shipping containers at ports.
Sadly the community MUST budget for such disasters. Some pests and diseases can fly and float into the country. Also strengthening rather than weakening our customs and quarantine services is worth the cost. Allowing imports of bananas, raw prawns and other items is toying with disaster. There should be greater public awareness about the impacts of the loss of bees on our food supply, not just honey.
How about politicians meet electronically more often to help save community $ and the environment. That would also reduce the “need” for spouse/partners to accompany polllys funded by taxpayers on trips.