The State Government has committed an additional $17.1 million to the National Fire Ant Eradication Program to help intensify the fight against one of the world's most invasive pests.
Red imported fire ants (RIFA) are a destructive pest which cause extensive ecological and agricultural damage.
They destroy crops, machinery, and render yards, parks, paddocks, and farmlands unusable. Fire ants can damage electrical equipment including air conditioners, streetlights, and telecommunication networks.
They are only 2 to 6 millimetres long but are aggressive, swarm when disturbed and can inflict a painful sting that can cause potentially fatal allergic reactions in people, pets, and livestock.
Fire ants have not been detected in South Australia but are present in Queensland and have more recently been found in New South Wales.
Five nests were detected at Murwillumbah in northern NSW in November, and last month they were found in Ballina, south of Byron Bay, illustrating the ease at which this pest can spread and invade new territory.
Genetic samples have been taken to determine the origin of the ants and whether they are linked to the Queensland infestation which has been moving southwards in recent years.
The main way fire ants spread is through human activity. Moving host material such as containerised plants, potting media, soil, organic mulch, turf, hay, straw, agriculture machinery or used containers can spread fire ants over many kilometeres, and they rapidly establish new colonies.
Residents, travellers and commercial operations returning to or visiting South Australia from Queensland should be aware of the requirements and restrictions on moving plants, fruits, vegetables, machinery and equipment into the state. Information on movement restrictions is available on the PIRSA website.
The National Fire Ant Eradication Program includes a four-year response plan, worth a total of $592.8 million, to scale-up efforts across a broader operational area using the latest technology and innovative approaches to work towards eventual eradication. The State Government's latest funding commitment is on top of the $6.5 million that it had already budgeted to the project.
Red imported fire ants are a notifiable pest in South Australia which means there is a legal obligation for everyone to report any suspected detections to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline on 1800 084 881. Early reporting plays a vital part in preventing them from establishing and spreading.
As put by Clare Scriven
This funding commitment demonstrates the Government of South Australia's dedication to the national eradication effort and underpins the importance of a united response in the fight against fire ants.
Red imported fire ants represent a serious risk to our health, environment, livestock, and economy with the potential to also limit our outdoor lifestyle and damage our precious native flora and fauna, which is why we must do whatever we can to stop them spreading into our state.
It's crucial the eradication program maintains momentum given the risk this high priority pest poses. Other countries have given up in the fight against fire ants but given the success of the response in containing the spread to date, I'm confident we can continue to stop them in their tracks.
As put by Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Murray Watt
The Albanese Government welcomes this support from the South Australian Government, which will not only help to keep fire ants out of SA, but also stop the spread nationally.
All Governments – States, Territories, and the Commonwealth – are 100 per cent committed to eradicating red imported fire ants. Together, we're fully funding the new $592 million National Fire Ant Eradication Program, which includes a record $296 million of federal investment over the next four years.
The significant increase in funding is already enabling it to operate on a greater scale, including the recent establishment of new containment zones. Since the start of the ten-year plan, the program's efforts have kept RIFA's spread rate in SEQ at approximately 4.9km per year – compared to 48km per year in the USA and 80km per year in China.
As put by Reece Pianta, Advocacy Manager with the Invasive Species Council
Almost all of Australia is at extreme risk of a fire ant invasion if they are not eradicated in south-east Queensland. It is essential that all governments provide the funding needed to win this fire ant war and so we welcome the South Australian government's important commitment today.
Fire ants are one of the world's worst super pests and, if they are allowed to spread across the continent, their economic impact will be greater than cane toads, rabbits, feral cats, and foxes combined. They will devastate Australia's environment and agriculture, cost our economy billions annually and we could see hundreds of thousands of extra medical visits every year as they sting Australians at the park or in the backyard.
Fire ant eradication is still possible if Australia's state and federal governments ensure that the level of resources meets the needs on the ground.
