Palaszczuk Government commits funding to war on weeds

Published Tuesday, 19 April, 2016 at 11:29 AM

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
The Honourable Leanne Donaldson

The Palaszczuk Government will play a leading role in a nation-wide war on aggressive pest weeds.

Queensland will take the national lead in research to find effective biocontrol for giant rat’s tail grass and prickly acacia, Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson said.

“The Palaszczuk Government has committed more than $2.3 million in funding and in-kind support to this important multi-agency strategy,” the Minister said.

“Last week Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce came to Queensland to announce a Commonwealth contribution to research and mitigate the impact of a series of established weeds as part of a nation-wide initiative valued at more than $13 million over four years.

“Contributions will come from state and local government agencies, research organisations and natural resource management groups.

“I am proud to confirm that our contribution will be a vital part of the initiative.

“Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) researchers have been working with CSIRO and other state government agencies and Queensland’s expertise in research to counter the impact of giant rat’s tail grass and prickly acacia has been recognised.

“Giant rat’s tail grass is widespread in coastal areas from Cooktown down to NSW.Prickly acacia infests Mitchell grass downs in western Queensland, as well as scattered coastal infestations in Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia.

“Both types of weeds are a menace as they reduce pasture productivity and significantly degrade natural areas, and have high potential for further spread.

“Queensland will take the national lead on the implementation of the giant rat’s tail and prickly acacia related components and will be involved in other research components to find effective biocontrol solutions for mother of millions and cabomba.

“The research initiative will run for four years, and it is expected landowners will be invited to participate when the biocontrol research progresses to releasing agents in the field. For best results, these releases will need to be integrated with conventional control methods.

“This will build on extensive best practice management and herbicide research previously conducted by DAF on giant rat’s tail grass, as well as work on prickly acacia via the War on Western Weeds project that has been running for the past three years.

“We will also continue with other research and operational projects targeting priority weeds including cat’s claw creeper, parthenium, cactus, Siam weed and red witch weed.

Minister Donaldson recognised that Queensland farmers’ profits were compromised by a number of well-established pest weeds but emphasised there were no easy solutions.

“This national project offers landholders the best long-term chance to effectively manage the impacts of weeds on their agricultural profitability,” Minister Donaldson said.

ENDS

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