The Hon. Melissa Price MP
Minister for the Environment
The Morrison Government will invest a further $9 million to protect Queensland’s World Heritage Wet Tropics, its surrounding regions and nearby sugar cane plantations by reducing the threat of Yellow Crazy Ants.
Funding will be allocated in the upcoming Federal Budget to further address the threat from this highly invasive pest that sprays fromac acid to blind its prey.
Minister for the Environment, the Hon Melissa Price MP, said the additional funding took the Government’s total commitment towards the control of Yellow Crazy Ants in Far North Queensland to $20 million.
“Yellow Crazy Ants are among the world’s 100 worst invasive species and their presence threatens endangered species such as the Southern Cassowary, Mahogany Glider, Northern Bettong and stream-dwelling rainforest frogs,” Minister Price said.
“They also present a major threat to sugar cane growers by actually protecting insects such as aphids and scales.
“The Wet Tropics Management Authority has already achieved localised eradication at three sites, working with landholders and the community.”
A significant reduction in Yellow Crazy Ant densities is seeing the return of some native species.
The Chair of the Wet Tropics Management Authority, Ms Leslie Shirreffs, welcomed the response to community and industry concerns about the threat of this invasive ant.
“The Authority’s Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program is a successful demonstration of the Australian and Queensland Governments working together with community to remove this invasive pest from our region,” Ms Shirreffs said.
At the last Federal Budget the Government announced an investment of $47.4 million for the management of Australia’s World Heritage properties. This included a $13.5 million investment for the management of the Wet Tropics over five years.
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