Buffel grass has been spreading through northern Australia, creating monoculture environments by pushing out native Australian grasses, reducing the food supply for our wildlife, and creating unprecedented bushfire risk. The fires seen around Alice Springs this year are testament to the impact that uncontrolled buffel grass has on our ability to protect landscapes and remote communities, with increasingly hot and devastating fire regimes. The tragic and catastrophic fires in Maui, Hawaii were also worsened by the presence of this noxious weed.
In this submission, we call on the Hon Kate Worden MLA, Minister for Environment Climate Change and Water Security to declare buffel grass a weed under the NT Weeds Management Act for all land tenure in the Northern Territory.