Outback battle erupts over potential change to status of invasive species: 'Devastating killer'

Yahoo

28-03-2025

Debate has ignited between Australian farmers and conservationists after buffel grass, an introduced species, was nominated for inclusion on the Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) list by the federal government.
The Indigenous Desert Alliance, Alinytjara Wilurara Landscape Board and the Arid Lands Environment Centre said the nomination, backed by extensive research and support from 48 organisations, reflects buffel grass's widespread environmental, social and cultural impacts.
Speaking to Yahoo, the Invasive Species Council's Dr Carol Booth branded buffel one of Australia's "most devastating invaders", known for taking over vast areas and fuelling "fierce tree-killing fires".
But many Australian farmers and pastoralists support it for its resilience and value as a drought-tolerant pasture for livestock. The National Farmers' Federation (NFF) said calls to list buffel as a WoNS are ignoring the benefits it provides to graziers across the country.
NFF's Angus Atkinson said while WoNS status is "a useful tool," it should only be applied "where there is consensus that a plant is a weed" and would benefit from "national coordination and support."
Originally introduced for dust control and livestock grazing in the 1800s, buffel grass has since spread rapidly, increasing the frequency of wildfires, threatening biodiversity, damaging infrastructure and disrupting First Nations' cultural practices.
It is already listed as a key threat in conservation advice for at least 31 species under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. South Australia declared buffel grass a weed in 2015, and the Northern Territory has also listed it as a pest plant. However, it remains widely used by pastoralists in other states.
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Booth said the Invasive Species Council strongly endorses the nomination of buffel grass as a WONS.
"As one of Australia's very worst weeds, it needs a concerted national focus," she said. "It is an ecosystem transformer — turning diverse Australian plant communities into buffel monocultures, including in national parks and Indigenous protected areas.
"Buffel is also a major hazard for people (particularly Aboriginal communities), Indigenous cultural sites and bush tucker, and infrastructure. Climate and oil modelling predict that 25 per cent of Australia is 'highly suitable' and 43 per cent 'suitable' for buffel grass.
Booth said if buffel grass is declared a WoSN, the focus of the program would be to reduce its impacts on the environment, culture and communities. "The WoNS listing would not affect pastoralists," she said.
But according to Atkinson, the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Committee Chair at the NFF, buffel provides essential feed in arid regions where few other grasses can thrive. He said it helps to sustain grazing operations during dry conditions, too.
Atkinson told Yahoo the NFF, with the active support of its members, continues to seek a separate process for assessment of contentious plants. "Buffel has significant grazing benefits in northern Australia and those benefits need careful and balanced consideration," he argued.
"It is a high-yielding plant renowned for its resilience in arid regions. It also has significant environmental co-benefits, including land rehabilitation, protecting grasslands, and erosion mitigation.
"NFF members would much rather it be referred to as a 'feed of national significance'. There is no doubt that tackling weeds is a significant concern for farmers. The NFF and its members believe buffel grass needs to be treated as the complex plant that it is."
On Thursday, federal MP Bob Katter strongly opposed the proposed classification of buffel grass as a WoNS. "Buffel grass wasn't brought here by accident — it was introduced because it's one of the best options we've got. It holds the soil together and keeps the cattle fed even during drought," he said. "The Gulf and Peninsula were built on buffel, Brahman, and bitumen."
However, the species' aggressive growth outcompetes native vegetation, leading to the loss of biodiversity and threatening the survival of native plant species and wildlife.
The weed's spread has also hindered access to cultural sites and reduced the availability of plants that Indigenous communities rely on for food and healing.
The dominance of buffel grass in various regions significantly disrupts the complexity of local plant and animal communities, resulting in a more uniform and less diverse ecosystem.
This simplification weakens their resilience, making them more vulnerable to environmental stressors and less capable of adapting to changes such as climate shifts and natural disturbances.
After the nomination, the Australian government will assess the submission through a panel of experts. This involves evaluating the weed's environmental, social, and economic impacts, alongside the scientific evidence provided in the nomination. A decision will be made later this year on whether buffel will officially be added to the WoNS list.
If approved, the recognition would trigger a coordinated national approach to managing its spread and mitigating its negative effects, including heightened fire risks and biodiversity loss. This could lead to additional resources and strategies to control buffel grass, particularly in conservation areas and lands important to First Nations communities.
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