- The Crisafulli Government has ramped up its attack on fire ants with an aerial assault underway over parts of the South East.
- Treatment aims to prevent unintentional spread of ants outside of current fire ant zones and up the ante on eradication.
- Helicopters and drones are delivering fire ant treatment to support larger landholders in key areas.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future and a fresh start for Queensland.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future by launching an aerial attack on invasive fire ant colonies in South East Queensland to help get the super pest's eradication back on track.
Seven months after announcing a record investment of $24 million, significant progress has been made to destroy ant colonies on larger properties across 212,000 hectares within South East Queensland's suppression zone.
The former Labor Government watched-on as fire ants broke containment lines during their decade of decline, which caused them to spread to more than 800 thousand hectares.
Labor also ignored multiple independent reports that recommended stronger action on fire ants which caused them to spread into New South Wales.
The Crisafulli Government – within one year – established a specialist project team to tackle the pests, including launching aerial treatment on the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim and Logan.
Two rounds of treatment will be dispersed by helicopter or drones over a total area of 106,000 hectares by mid 2026.
In addition to the investment in suppression, for the first-time year-round eradication treatment is being delivered instead of only seasonally under Labor.
Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the Government was delivering the fresh start Queenslanders voted for, exactly as promised.
"The aerial assault aims to drive down fire ant numbers inside containment lines to reduce the risk of ants from the suppression zone being moved to other parts of the State," Minister Perrett said.
"We've supercharged our chances of rapidly reducing fire ant densities by up to 70% and speeding eradication efforts.
"Former Labor governments were warned through independent reports more needed to be done on suppression, and they ignored them.
"The eradication effort has been mighty, but the Crisafulli Government is doing more to try to not only hold the line, but reduce the entire footprint, and we are calling on the Federal Government to join our suppression efforts."
Invasive Species Council Advocacy Manager Reece Pianta applauded the Crisafulli Government's fresh start on suppression.
"The $24 million boost for fire ant aerial suppression treatments is essential to reduce fire ant nest density inside the biosecurity zone," Advocacy Manager Reece Pianta said.
"Increased suppression work will protect people and animals, farms and back yards and help stop the spread of fire ants to other parts of Australia.
"The high participation rate in this enhanced suppression program is welcome news for ongoing fire ant eradication efforts."
Fire ant treatment is proven safe for people, pets and the environment when used as directed by independent scientific body the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority.
