The Queensland government has announced extra funding to help to tackle invasive fire ants, as the pests continue to take a toll on people, livestock and farmers’ bottom lines.
Sixty people have reported extreme reactions to fire ant stings requiring medical attention this month alone, with 23 people hospitalised in south-east Queensland.Carla Jarmila’s toddler was bitten on the foot in a Beaudesert playground two weeks ago and the welts are still there.
“She’s now quite frightened of any ants and whenever we go walking she says ‘ants, ants,'”
Ms Jarmila said.Funded by federal, state and territory governments, an eradication zone 10 kilometres wide stretches from Caboolture in Queensland’s north, west to the food bowl of the Lockyer Valley and south to near the New South Wales border.
But within that is a 650,000-hectare suppression zone, funded solely by the Queensland government, where residents under assault from fire ants on farms and in backyards have been crying out for help.
Treatment support criticised
In October 2024 the previous Queensland government redirected its focus away from the suppression zone to concentrate its teams efforts on the outer eradication zone.
It left landholders in that area with less support to control the pests, though they could still apply to be provided with a limited amount of bait.
The Crisafulli LNP government today announced an additional $24 million in funding over two years.It means an extra 12 contractors will support the state government’s total investment of $61 million over two years in the suppression zone.
Now, eligible fire ant infested properties of 10 hectares or more can be treated by drone or helicopter at no cost to the landholder.
Authorities said it could reduce nest numbers by up to 80 per cent, but eradication would rely on land owners and managers treating their own properties.Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the previous state government’s approach was short-sighted, especially since fire ant queens could travel 5 kilometres in a single flight.
“This suppression work will assist those producers that are currently struggling with fire ants flying in from neighbouring properties,” he said.
