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Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

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  3. Invasive species

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  • Environment
    • Invasive species
      • Diseases, fungi and parasites
        • Beak and feather disease affecting endangered psittacine species
        • Chytrid amphibian fungus – Chytridiomycosis
        • Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii)
        • Phytophthora dieback
      • Feral animals in Australia
        • Cane Toads
        • Feral cats
          • Curiosity® bait for feral cats
          • Request for expressions of Interest
        • Feral pigs
        • Offshore islands
      • Insects and other invertebrates
        • Invasive bees
        • Tramp ants
          • Red imported fire ant
      • Threat abatement projects
      • Weeds in Australia
      • Publications and resources

Invasive species

An invasive species is a species occurring, as a result of human activities, beyond its accepted normal distribution and which threatens valued environmental, agricultural or other social resources by the damage it causes.

Invasive species have a major impact on Australia's environment, threatening our unique biodiversity and reducing overall species abundance and diversity.

Invasive species include:

  • diseases, fungi and parasites
  • feral animals
  • insects and other invertebrates
  • introduced marine pests
  • weeds

What is environmental biosecurity?

Environmental biosecurity is the protection of the environment and social amenity from the negative effects associated with invasive species; including weeds, pests and diseases. It occurs across the entire biosecurity continuum: pre-border preparedness, border protection and post-border management and control.

Our biosecurity system protects our unique natural landscapes and native flora and fauna, including the ecosystem services they provide, and our quality of life. The National Agreement on Biosecurity is being negotiated between the Australian and state and territory governments as an agreement for governments to work in partnership to improve key aspects of the national biosecurity system. Further information is available at:

  • Environmental Biosecurity

National strategies

Australian Weeds Strategy 2017 to 2027

​​The Australian Weeds Strategy provides a national framework for addressing weed issues whilst maintaining the sustainability of Australia’s primary industries and reducing the impact of weeds on the environment.

  • Australian Weeds Strategy 2017 to 2027

Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2017 to 2027

The Australian Pest Animal Strategy provides a national framework for addressing pest animal issues whilst maintaining the sustainability of Australia’s primary industries and reducing the impact of pest animals on the environment.

  • Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2017 to 2027

Australian Government funding

The Australian Government funds a range of activities to reduce the threat of invasive species:

  • Invasive species national projects
  • National Landcare Program

Legislation

The Department administers the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Under the EPBC Act, the Commonwealth can, among other things:

  • list key threatening processes. These processes threaten, or may threaten, the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community. Examples of invasive species key threatening processes that cover individual threats include rabbits, foxes, cats, pigs, unmanaged goats, rodents on islands, red imported fire ants, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Psittacine beak and feather disease, and chytrid fungus. Examples of key threatening processes that cover multiple or broad threats are ‘land clearance’ and ‘Novel biota and their impact on biodiversity’. Some individually listed key threatening processes for invasive species are considered to be covered by the ‘Novel biota and their impact on biodiversity’ key threatening process. These separate listing are considered warranted by the Threatened Species and Scientific Committee, and
  • develop and implement threat abatement plans (TAPs). These plans outline the research, management and other actions necessary to reduce the impacts of a listed key threatening process on affected listed threatened species and ecological communities.
  • Recovery plans
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Last updated: 26 July 2022

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.