New South Wales has enacted a temporary prohibition on the importation of hay from certain parts of south-east Queensland, aiming to preempt an invasion by fire ants. This decision was spurred by an increase in the movement of fire ants due to the flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The Invasive Species Council has criticized this action as insufficient and accused the governments of Queensland, NSW, and the federal government of inadequate efforts in controlling fire ant populations within affected areas.
On the 13th of March, the NSW agriculture minister, Tara Moriarty, announced a month-long suspension on the group biosecurity emergency permit which previously allowed for hay importation from lower-risk parts of the fire ant biosecurity zone. This decision came in the wake of videos released by the Invasive Species Council showing fire ant colonies riding the floodwaters within the Logan River catchment.
Moriarty argued that farmers in northern NSW, who have already been impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, require support to recover without the additional burden of a fire ant infestation. She emphasized increased surveillance and the use of advanced tracking techniques as part of their response to prevent the spread of fire ants.
Jack Gough, interim CEO of the Invasive Species Council, labeled the measure as a “kneejerk reaction” to the national fire ant eradication program’s inadequacy. The plan focuses on eradicating nests along a containment line, while Gough insists that 100% of funds are being spent on this effort, neglecting to address antit numbers within the affected areas.
A Senate inquiry in March highlighted the shortcomings of the program. Gough pointed out that with high fire ant density, the risk of these ants spreading is significantly elevated.
From December 2023, NSW has reported 390 movement declarations for 6,500 tonnes of hay originating from Queensland. Tim Ford, managing director of Feed Central, a hay and fodder marketplace, acknowledged the Victorian and South Australian restrictions on the importation of plant material from fire ant areas. Despite this, he opined that the moratorium could be considered an overreaction, noting the absence of any fire ants found in hay shipments and the thorough management practices in place by growers in fire ant regions.
South Australia and western Victoria are experiencing a severe rainfall deficit, with spiked hay prices resulting from the lack of pasture. However, according to Ford, Victoria alone produces the vast majority of Australia’s hay, making the transportation of hay from Queensland to the southern states economically impractical. He added that while hay production persists in Victoria, buyers should be vigilant with niche products, like Rhodes hay, ensuring it originates from outside fire ant exclusion zones.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/mar/14/nsw-bans-hay-imports-south-east-queensland-fire-ants-fear-cyclone-alfred
