Authorities are rushing to contain the spread of fire ants after the invasive species crossed the Queensland border into New South Wales for the first time since the infestation began in 2001.
The NSW Department of Primary Industries confirmed on Saturday that three red imported fire ant nests had been found in South Murwillumbah, 13km from the Queensland border in the state’s north-east.
“This is the first fire ant detection in northern NSW and presumed to be the most southern report of fire ants from the Queensland infestation,” the department said.
The Invasive Species Council has been warning a spread of red fire ants was possible from as early as August, prompting a call for the federal government to trigger an urgent review of the adequacy of fire ant eradication funding.
The council’s advocacy manager, Jack Gough, said a strategic review into their eradication, released in 2021 found that if the ants became established, the species would “surpass the combined effects” of Australia’s worst wild pests, including rabbits, cane toads, foxes, camels, wild dogs and feral cats.
“Fire ants can be lethal to humans and government modelling suggests they will have a $2bn per year impact on Australia’s economy if they get out of control,” he said.
“They will devastate wildlife, cut agricultural output by up to 40% and may cause over 100,000 extra medical appointments each year.”
According to the Department of Primary Industries, red imported fire ants can damage electrical and agricultural equipment, sting people, pets and livestock, kill native plants and animals and damage ecosystems “beyond repair”.
The NSW government said it was working with the federal government, Queensland and Tweed shire council to chemically eradicate the infestation.
Control efforts were focused on a 200-metre radius from the nest sites, with DPI officers and detection dogs working to determine the extent and origin of the infestation.
A biosecurity control and tracing order had also been applied over a 5km radius, restricting businesses and residents from moving potential fire and carrier materials. Fines for breaching the order can reach up to $1.1m for an individual and up to $2.2m for a corporation.
The federal agriculture minister, Murray Watt, said the Queensland and NSW governments were working to eradicate the detection and monitor surrounding areas.
“This is the first fire ant detection in northern NSW but not the first detection outside south-east Queensland, with isolated detections having previously been eradicated in Gladstone, the Port of Botany and the Port of Fremantle,” he said.
The NSW agriculture minister, Tara Moriarty, said the state government had been prepared for the discovery of fire ants in northern NSW and had immediately implemented the response plan, part of an almost $600m national eradication program.
“Finding fire ants early and alerting NSW DPI, just like the community member has done in this instance, will increase our chances of a successful eradication effort,” Moriarty said.
But Gough said the program had cut eradication and surveillance on the ground in Queensland to half of what was needed, and contained no systematic action to stop a westward or northern spread of the ants.
“While eradication is still possible, this new infestation in NSW, when combined with huge recent increased costs of labour and materials due to inflation, means the ISC no longer have confidence the current proposed program funding is enough,” he said.
“We are therefore calling on the Albanese government to trigger an urgent review of the adequacy of fire ant eradication funding and commit to topping up the funding on the basis of that review.”
The NSW Farmers Association warned the incursion posed a threat to agricultural production and the landscape of NSW, demonstrating the “urgent need” for greater investment across governments to support biosecurity.
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“We want red imported fire ants eradicated not only in New South Wales, but in Queensland where this incursion originated,” it said.
The NSW Nationals leader, Dugald Saunders, said it was a case of too little too late.
“What we’ve seen from the state and federal governments so far is a complete lack of urgency, and it’s taken the detection of these ants in NSW to trigger an eradication response,” he said.
A review of the national red imported fire ant eradication program warned all hopes would be “lost forever” if the ant moved across the Queensland border into NSW.
Biosecurity Queensland said it was working “hand in hand” with NSW to contain and eradicate the fire ants, including the deployment of detection dogs and trained officers to destroy nests.
“The program understands the confronting nature of the first detection of fire ants in northern NSW but urges the community and relevant agencies to work together to ensure they are eradicated,” they said, adding that “successful eradications of isolated infestations have been achieved”.
