The Invasive Species Council is warning that a looming federal funding cut could unravel years of progress controlling gamba grass across Kakadu National Park and West Arnhem, putting wildlife, Country and communities at risk.
The warning comes as the current $225 million Saving Native Species program – which underpins large-scale gamba grass control across northern Australia – is set to expire in June 2026, with no commitment to continue funding.
‘We are staring down a funding cliff that could abruptly halt gamba grass control in key areas right across the Top End, forcing on-ground programs to wind back or shut down, undoing years of hard-won progress,’ Invasive Species Council Voice of Country Campaign Lead and Kalkadoon woman, Taigen Ryan said.
‘In September last year, a coalition of 17 environment, land management and Indigenous organisations warned the federal government that emergency December fiscal budget allocations were needed to prevent a funding gap that would be deeply disruptive – those calls were ignored.
‘Gamba grass is a Weed of National Significance and a recognised Key Threatening Process because of the way it transforms landscapes and supercharges fire.
‘When it’s left unmanaged, fires burn hotter, faster and more often – wiping out native species that simply can’t survive those conditions. It can also grow several feet high so animals that have historically climbed to the canopies of trees during burning are no longer safe.
‘The projects currently funded under Saving Native Species are controlling gamba grass in Kakadu National Park and across priority areas including the Daly River region, Port Keats, Arnhem Land, Groote Eylandt and the Tiwi Islands.
‘These are some of Australia’s most important and vulnerable landscapes – and once gamba takes hold, it becomes vastly more expensive and difficult to bring back under control.
‘But that opportunity will be lost without sustained effort. Gamba grass control is not a one-off job – it requires ongoing management, monitoring and well-resourced teams on the ground.
‘The rangers and control crews doing this work – often referred to as the ‘gamba army’ – are achieving extraordinary results, but they need adequate resources and support, including basic equipment like radios and vehicles, to do the job safely and effectively.
‘Governments are taking their eye off the ball, putting communities and our environment at risk.
‘A break in funding, even for a few months, would force programs into a holding pattern.
‘You can’t retain skilled staff, you can’t lock in contractors, and you can’t plan seasonal treatment and monitoring when there’s no certainty – but gamba grass doesn’t wait for budget cycles. Some of these places are completely cut off to the rest of the territory during wet season as well, making forward planning even more critical.
‘Failing to provide continuity in invasive species funding is a false economy.
‘Every dollar already invested is put at risk if the work stops, and restarting later will cost far more than maintaining momentum now.
‘We are urgently calling on the federal government to commit to $300 million over 4 years of ongoing funding for the Saving Native Species program and to ensure there is no gap when current funding expires in June 2026.
‘If we are serious about protecting northern Australia’s wildlife and Country, this funding certainty must be locked in before the cliff edge arrives.’
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