Overview

• The Queensland government has announced a $24 million funding boost over two years to suppress fire ant populations in the suppression zone.
• Recent flooding from Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has caused a surge in fire ant populations, leading to 23 hospitalizations and 60 medical cases in March 2025 alone.
• The new funding will target 212,000 hectares within the 650,000-hectare suppression zone, aiming to reduce fire ant nest numbers by up to 80%.
• Stakeholders are urging the federal government to match Queensland's funding to strengthen suppression efforts and prevent the pest's spread to other states.
• Fire ants, first detected in Australia in 2001, have now spread to over 700,000 hectares in Queensland, posing significant risks to human health, agriculture, and the environment.