$24.8m for crazy pest
LABOR has pledged $24.8m to combat yellow crazy ants in Townsville and Cairns, if it is elected on May 21 in what could be a “game changer” ” for the North.
Herbert candidate John n Ring said about half of the e cash would go towards eradicating Yellow Crazy Ants in Townsville.
“Yellow Crazy Ants pose a serious risk to our natural en- vironment and deserve a seri- ous response,” Mr Ring said.
“Thousands of jobs in North Queensland rely on our rainforests and the tourism they generate.”
Labor made the announcement in Cairns on Friday at the same time as promising an additional $194.5m in reef protection programs over the forward estimates.
Invasive Species Council conservation director James Tezise said yellow crazy ants were one of the world’s worst invasive species, turning forests silent, making homes unliveable and severely impacting tourism and trade.
“The Townsville infestations are out of control and are seeding new infestations like one that now threatens the Whitsundays,” Mr Tezise said.
‘Getting on top of these two major infestations would mean that we have a real shot at eradicating yellow crazy ants from northern Queensland. This new funding is what the experts say is required.”
Mr Tezise said the infestation was only a few kilometres away from a hotspot of threatened species at Mount Elliot in Bowling Green Bay National Park.
“Labor’s announcement also locks in funding for the successful eradication program at Cairns being run by the Wet Tropics Management Authority,” he said. “Continuing this funding is vitally important if we are to safeguard Australia’s World Heritage-listed rainforests, and it’s pleasing to now see bipartisan support for this measure.”
Herbert MP Phillip Thompson has previously said he would work with experts in the field to combat the issue. Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch has promised $3m for the eradication of yellow crazy ants in the Far North.