A national outbreak of the pest from its Queensland stronghold would heavily sting the economy – and that’s without even considering the health costs.
A premature cut to government funding 20 years ago could end up costing Australia $38 billion, with experts warning a national fire ant outbreak would slug the economy more than the combined earnings of the Tasmanian and Northern Territory economies.
Former Queensland Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ron Glanville told the inquiry last week that funding was “prematurely” cut to the original fire ant eradication program, which was launched in 2001 and backed by both state and federal governments.He said the eradication program reduced the ant population to a low density by 2003, but lack of ongoing funding saw the population rebound and eradication programs have been playing catch up since.
Fire ant control is the responsibility of state and federal agriculture ministers. Last year the ministers topped up funding for the eradication program, which is helmed by Queensland’s Agriculture Department, by $600 million over the four years to 2027. The federal Environment Department told the inquiry in February that native animals could be killed by fire ants.Arboreal animals such as koalas would be stung and killed by ants as they travelled across the ground, the department said.
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