Fire Ant Dilemma: A Community Discussion

Join us for a community discussion on the future of Fire Ant Eradication and Property Rights -
ask questions, share concerns and explore practical solutions.

 Over $1 billion dollars of taxpayer money has been spent on the National Fire Ant Eradication Program, yet fire ants continue to spread. Residents have reported adverse reactions – respiratory symptoms, itchy eyes, burning skin and yet these concerns are ignored. Reasonable Excuses for denying baiting, requesting surveillance only, have predominantly been dismissed. Compliance Officers accompanied by Police have forcibly baited private property without landowner’s consent. Is a new strategy needed for managing fire ants? We all have a stake in protecting our properties and ensuring we have the right to choose how to manage fire ants in a way that works best for us.

Guest Speakers –

• Professor Gigi Foster, UNSW School of Economics; BA Ethics, Politics and Economics, PhD Economics
• Dr Conny Turni - Research Scientist, Uni of Qld
• Mia Behlau, Lawyer,  Behlau Associates
• Jim Willmott - Biosecurity Consultant
• Trevor Hold - Australian Advocacy Group
• Q & A Panel

What’s Really Happening?

The current approach focuses heavily on indiscriminate chemical baiting, even in areas where fire ants have not been found. This means baiting 4-6 times over 2 years, then during the following three year period of surveillance, if any nests are found in the area, the 2 year baiting program begins again. How much pesticide can Samford Valley cope with before it is too much?   Meanwhile, fire ants continue to spread beyond the so-called "eradication zone,” creating more questions than answers. If eradication is still feasible, why is the infestation growing? And if it’s not viable, why are we being forced to accept widespread chemical treatments when we could be managing fire ants ourselves?

In Logan alone, fire ant infestations number in the thousands, yet restrictions on the movement of materials, like soil, turf, mulch, and hay out of infested areas, are not effectively enforced. Local Councils & individual landowners are largely responsible for suppressing numbers in these areas whilst in the Eradication Zone, we are given no options.

 Whether you believe eradication is possible or think a different strategy is needed, your voice matters. The meeting will provide a space for open discussion about the best way forward—including how to protect your land from fire ants whilst ensuring property rights are respected.