Comments on this plan closed 30 November 2018. The documents below remain available for reference only.
Invitation to comment
Invasive ant species threaten Australia’s biodiversity and our social and economic wellbeing. The National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan has been prepared by the Australian Government Departments of the Environment and Energy, and Agriculture and Water Resources, to provide a nationally agreed approach to enhance Australia’s capacity to manage the threat from invasive ants. This National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018-2028 may serve to address the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act’s Key Threatening Processes for the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity following invasion by the Yellow Crazy Ant (Anoploepis gracilipes) on Christmas island, Indian Ocean, and the reduction in the biodiversity of Australian native fauna and flora due to the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis Invicta (fire ant).
How can I get involved
Comments are invited on the draft National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018-2028. Please submit your written comments by Friday 30 November 2018.
Read the Plan
Draft National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018-2028 (PDF - 1.17 MB)
Draft National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018-2028 (DOCX - 771.55 KB)
Draft National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan - Implementation summary (PDF - 403 KB)
Draft National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan - Implementation summary (DOCX - 42.08 KB)
About the draft plan
A number of invasive ant species are amongst the most serious global invasive pests. Australia’s environmental, economic, and social wellbeing is threatened by these ants, some of which have already been introduced and have become established in Australia. The environmental impacts of invasive ants can be complex; ranging from predation and competition through to modifying habitat. Economically, invasive ants impact primary production through seed consumption or animal attack, and biting or stinging farm workers; and impact electrical infrastructure in buildings. Communities are also affected by invasive ants by making outdoor areas un-usable and invading houses.
Exotic invasive ants, as a group, have been identified nationally as the seventh most important National Priority Plant Pest. In recognition of this serious threat, the National Biosecurity Committee requested the development of this national plan.
This biosecurity plan provides a nationally agreed approach to enhance Australia’s capacity to manage the ongoing threat of invasive ants establishing in Australia and the impacts caused by those species already established. This plan covers the biosecurity spectrum, specifically broken into the stages of prevention, detection, response, containment and asset-based protection/ongoing management. This plan describes the actions required to best address the biosecurity threats posed by invasive ants offshore, at the border and onshore. It includes the elements of a national approach to prevent, prepare for and respond to invasive ants, including surveillance, and how this could be achieved.
The inter-governmental Environment and Invasives Committee will formally oversee the implementation of the plan on behalf of the National Biosecurity Committee.
Send your comments
To assist the Australian Government in considering comments, the Department encourages you to provide them against the specific areas of:
- Introduction, scope and structure of the plan
- Prevention
- Detection
- Response
- Containment
- Asset-based protection
- Cross-cutting actions
- Implementation summary
- Other
Comments should be addressed to:
Assistant Director
Environmental Biosecurity Section
Department of the Environment and Energy
GPO Box 787, Canberra ACT 2601
Email address for comments is: invasivespecies@environment.gov.au
Confidentiality
Any comments received will form part of the documentation provided to the Australian Government, state and territory governments, the Minister’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee and the Minister for the Environment for a decision on the final plan. Copies of comments may be made available to other parties with a particular interest in the application. If you wish to claim confidentiality for any part of your comments, please label your comments.
Privacy
Personal information that you provide will only be used for these purposes. Personal information may be disclosed to employees of Australian Government agencies, state and territory governments, the Minister’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee and the Minister of the Environment.