Next week agriculture ministers meet to decide the fate of Australia’s fire ant eradication.
Archive | 2014
Shake-up would put environmental threats on equal footing
A five-year review could shake-up Australia’s biosecurity arrangements, finally putting environmental pests and diseases on a par with agricultural and human health threats.
Browsing ants: an environmental time bomb
Tick, tick, tick. That’s the sound of invasive browsing ants, an environmental time bomb if they have escaped eradication efforts in Darwin.
New fire ant discovery a wake-up call
Biosecurity Queensland received a rude shock recently when deadly fire ants turned up 70km north of Brisbane’s containment zone.
Why it’s so important to clean our gear
While keeping your gear clean may feel like a choir, it can actually go a long way in helping to keep our parks and reserves free of weeds and soil-borne diseases, says bushwalk leader Caro Ryan.
Environmental biosecurity. It’s back on the agenda
Securing Australia’s agricultural industries from dangerous new invasive species has long been the top priority in our biosecurity systems, but when it comes to environmental risks we haven’t fared so well. Well, that’s starting to change.
Animal eco-warriors to the rescue
Biosecurity beagles in Hobart, dogs sniffing out orange hawkweed in the alps and a terrier with a penchant for cat eradication are just some of the animal eco-warriors you will meet in a new book by Nic Gill.
Seven fire ant essentials
We led the call for governments across the country to fully fund the complete eradication of red fire ants from Australia. Now we look at how the program can get the job done.
People power brings rainforest back to life
A locally-led campaign to eradicate yellow crazy ants has resulted in native wildlife finally returning to wet tropics rainforest just north of Cairns.
NSW government baulks at pest reform
The NSW government has failed to properly address the growing threat of feral deer, eradication of red-eared slider turtles or the spread of redfin perch.
Xylella: a feared and curious disease
Last year it was listed as Australia’s Number 1 National Priority Plant Pest, but how many of you have ever heard about Xylella fastidiosa? And could it threaten our native plants?
Lessons from Barrow Island’s Gorgon gas project
When development began on Barrow Island’s highly controversial Gorgon gas project many feared the massive development would bring with it unwelcome new inhabitants to the island paradise. Did it?
Myrtle rust plant scourge spreads to New Zealand
New Zealanders have just discovered that the serious plant fungal disease, myrtle rust, has arrived on their shores. What can they learn from Australia’s experience?
Protecting a treasured island from invasive species
Our CEO Andrew Cox recently visited Norfolk Island in the Pacific to learn about efforts tackling invasive species and building a biosecurity system, the keys to its future conservation success.
Pest conference illustrates vital role of research and early action
Last year the New Zealand government announced plans to be predator free by 2050, a challenging concept for the many Australians gathered at the Australasian Vertebrate Pest Management Conference, which was held in Canberra earlier this month. Held every three years the conference highlighted the work being done on pests in Australia. It also demonstrated the need for…
