NSW Farmers says the Red Imported Fire Ant outbreak in South Murwillumbah must be top of the agenda for the state's new Biosecurity Commissioner.
On Wednesday night the NSW Government passed a bill to establish an independent Biosecurity Commissioner - a key election promise NSW Farmers had worked hard to secure - just days after the detection of highly aggressive Red Imported Fire Ants in the state's north.
NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin welcomed the bill's passing and said there was an urgent need to understand whether there were any gaps in the state's biosecurity systems with the pests posing a threat not only for the agricultural sector but the broader community and the environment.
"When Chris Minns promised to legislate and fund an Independent Biosecurity Commission, headed by a new Biosecurity Commissioner, we were in the early stages of the Varroa mite outbreak," Mr Martin said.
"It was clear then and it is clear now that despite our biosecurity control systems, pests have been able to arrive and establish themselves with alarming regularity.
"That's why it is critical to have this new Commissioner, and we want to see this latest outbreak of Red Imported Fire Ants at the top of the agenda on day one."
With Christmas just around the corner, Mr Martin also called on all Australians to be on the lookout for Red Imported Fire Ants and comply with all directions and restrictions introduced by the NSW Government, to not only safeguard themselves, but also each other.
"By doing the right thing, we can work together to keep these pests contained so that they can be eradicated," Mr Martin said.
"The last thing we need is holiday makers inadvertently giving these nasty pests a ride around the state during the summer holidays, and we certainly don't want to see anyone suffer an attack.
"Red Imported Fire Ants should have been eradicated before they escaped into NSW - and we have eradicated them in the past - but ineffective management in Queensland in this event enabled them to become established and then spread. We can't let that continue."
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