Major $24 million move to tackle 'ticking time bomb' threatening Australia
A state government has announced it is injecting a further $24 million into its plans for tackling fire ants, with the invasive threat being described as a "ticking time bomb" that could change Australia as we know it.
Reece Pianta from the Invasive Species Council (ISC) said the Queensland government needed to "ramp up" its eradication plan, warning the risk of fire ants from completely spreading across the country was one bad weather event away after the floods caused by Cyclone Alfred caused alarming movement.
It comes after Yahoo News reported a Brisbane teenager was hospitalised when fire ant stings set off a life-threatening allergic reaction, which highlighted the devastating threat the invasive species has on Aussies.
After the announcement of the increased funding on Monday, Pianta told Yahoo News it was definitely a step in the right direction — but much more had to be done.
"This is targeted funding to help manage fire ants in the suppression zone where we're starting to see significant reports of fire ant sting events on humans and animals," he told Yahoo.
"But containment is not a long-term solution... the ants only need to find a way through the containment boundary to a new location. The quicker we eradicate them, the more secure the country will be against the risk."
The Queensland funding will be rolled out over two years and focus on the areas where fire ants have already inhabited, such as southeast areas of the state. The funds are on top of the $38 million already committed over five years.
The federal government's fire ant eradication plan involves injecting $592 million over four years and will focus heavily on the detection and treatment of the ants in the containment area. However, the ISC fears this won't be enough.
"It isn't just a problem for Queensland, this is a problem for the whole nation... there's a huge risk of them spreading and getting out of control," Pianta said. "It needs to be an election issue.
"It's getting worse... we're starting to get regular reports from people in the community that fire ants are allegedly stinging pets and humans... we're starting to see the predicted health and animal welfare impacts from fire ants."
🏡 Property owners called to action over 'world's worst' invasive threat
🚨 Photo reveals 'devastating' threat fenced off as Australia on high alert
👶 Strangers find Aussie toddler wandering alone, covered in ants
There are increasingly more Aussies starting to have run-ins with fire ants as the insects establish themselves in southeast Queensland, with more than 50 Queenslanders experiencing fire ant stings since Cyclone Alfred alone, according to the ISC.
A Brisbane teenager was hospitalised after fire ant stings set off a life-threatening allergic reaction. There have also been reports of pets such as dogs and horses being stung.
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