Thursday, 3 August 2023

Red imported fire ants

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:36): (224) My question is for the Minister for Agriculture. Red imported fire ants are on the march. They are spreading south and pose a major threat to human health, agriculture, ecosystems and the economy. Uncontained, fire ants will cost Australia $1.2 billion every year, and that does not include the unquantifiable loss to biodiversity. A 2021 review into the national red imported fire ant eradication plan found that an urgent funding boost is needed in order to achieve eradication by 2032, let alone the original goal of 2027. I know that, unfortunately, Minister Tierney, you were unable to attend the joint agriculture minister meeting in July where this issue was discussed, but my question is: with south-east Queensland’s outbreak getting worse and given both New South Wales and Queensland committed new funding this year, will the minister commit to the additional funding required?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (12:37): At the outset, can I make sure that the house is aware that I was at that meeting. I was there for the entirety of it. However, I was not there physically, I was on a Teams meeting arrangement. So I was there for the discussion in terms of the red fire ant issue. I am well acquainted with this issue and the concerns that we all have, across all jurisdictions, in respect to that. The situation currently is that there is a request to bring forward the moneys that have already been committed by the states, and that is being worked through whilst we negotiate a new funding arrangement nationally across all of the jurisdictions. There is absolutely a high level of unity in respect to the ongoing threat that the red fire ant presents to all states. It is at the moment, as you well know, in Queensland, and New South Wales is particularly concerned. There have been some spotted incidents elsewhere that have been contained, and we have been able to do that effectively. But regardless, it is a growing concern as the spread continues in different directions in Queensland in particular.

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (12:38): Thank you, Minister, and thank you for that clarification. Efforts to contain the fire ants are failing, and Victoria is at risk. We have had reports of a queen ant being found at a nursery in Victoria in February, and there are predictions that without further and immediate action they will inevitably enter the Murray–Darling and travel south. Can the minister confirm whether or not Victoria has at least met its original funding commitment to date, required under the national agreement?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (12:39): Yes, we have.