Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Ben Smee

Australia warned fire ant outbreak required ‘urgent’ measures nearly two years ago

Fire ants swarm dead insects.
Fire ants swarm dead insects. Australian authorities were warned in August 2021 that they needed to urgently step up plans to eradicate the invasive species. Photograph: Lyle Radford

A strategic review of Australia’s efforts to control an outbreak of red fire ants warned almost two years ago that an “urgent change of strategy” was needed to prevent the uncontrolled spread of one of the world’s most invasive species.

The Queensland government on Thursday released the August 2021 review of the national fire ant eradication program, which warned pre-existing measures and funding “will not be able to eradicate or contain” the red fire ant outbreak in Brisbane and surrounds.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.