Battle on crazy ants firing up

LABOR is hinting at its own war on yellow crazy ants after the Coalition announced a “long-term” plan to extend eradication efforts.

Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has unveiled $3m funding to maintain the Wet Tropics Management Authority’s campaign to eliminate the species for the coming year.

He also announced a reelected Morrison government would transfer management of crazy ants to the National Landcare program, so it had funding certainty into the future, effective from July 2023.

“The WTMA have done a fantastic job on this, and they are actually succeeding with eradication,” he said.

“This is about securing a longer-term vision to ensure we can achieve eradication.”

Labor candidate for Leichhardt Elida Faith said a 12month funding commitment was nowhere near enough.

“We will have more to say on this issue soon, and I can assure you it won’t be shortsighted like this,” she said.