Nationals Leader David Littleproud said Labor has wasted half a year in failing to respond to its Senate inquiry into Red imported fire ants in Australia – ‘don’t let this come back to bite us.’
Mr Littleproud said Labor has been too slow to act on key inquiry recommendations, allowing the red imported fire ant biosecurity zone to get larger.
Recent outlier detections in Queensland include Caboolture, Oakey, and Meringandan West in Toowoomba and Nirimba and Currimundi on the Sunshine Coast, while in NSW outlier detections have been found in South Murwillumbah and Wardell.
Mr Littleproud said the issue has not been taken seriously by Labor after a crucial inquiry. He said not eradicating fire ants puts every Australian’s way of life at risk.
“Labor has failed to implement or act on key recommendations it was given six months ago, in April, in the Senate inquiry’s final report,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Critically, the first recommendation was that the Australian Government review the current level of funding with state governments. Labor still hasn’t bothered responding, yet alone investigating or acting, on this.
“Six whole months have passed and Labor is still ignoring the recommendations, including calls for investigate alternative models for delivery of the eradication program to improve independence, and transparency, improve public engagement and improve the delivery of the eradication program.
“Labor has sat on its hands and refused to act. There are huge concerns in the community about the eradication program.
Mr Littleproud repeatedly warned last year that Labor’s federal funding of $268 million over four years to eradicate fire ants risked not being enough.
“Labor’s funding was needed urgently in early 2023, but was delayed until the end of 2023, which put the time-critical response at risk.
“The lack of action and the delays in funding undermine previous work that had been done under The Nationals in government to control fire ants.”
