THE state government has accused the opposition of being alarmist over claims that fire ant infestations were not being treated in the Scenic Rim and Logan districts.
Acting Agriculture Minister Anthony Lynham said fire ant nests in Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Ipswich were being eradicated despite claims of work not being done.
Opposition agriculture spokesman Dale Last said farmers and park rangers were complaining about major delays in treating nests but there had been no explanation about this in response to questions from Dr Lynham.
“It’s no wonder fire ants are spreading when it’s taking four, six and eight-week delays (to treat),” Mr Last said.
He said the government seemed to be mismanaging fire ant eradication.
“My office has been contacted by farmers, landholders and park rangers all concerned about the protocols being used by this government in firstly, identifying, and then the serious delays in treating fire ant nests,” Mr Last said.
“Dr Lynham, in his new role as Labor’s revolving-door minister for agriculture, might think it’s smart to bluster and criticise, but the four, six and eight-week delays between identifying and then treating these ant nests are simply ridiculous.
“You would have thought Dr Lynham would have taken a legitimate and reasonable question about this exotic pest seriously.
“Sadly no. The farmers and landholders around Rocky Point, the Lockyer Valley and Logan who have contacted my office are rightly concerned over the mismanagement of the fire ant program as these pests continue to spread.”
Mr Last said Labor had been in charge of this program for almost two decades and ants keept spreading.
He said fire ants were easy to identify and why the government continued to send out teams of staff to identify and flag, but not treat for weeks defied logic.
Dr Lynham said the first of three rounds of treatment was being applied between this month and June 2018, and would continue for two years.
“Our biosecurity officers can’t treat fire ant nests in wet weather as the chemicals used are ineffective in the wet conditions, so the recent rain, while welcome, has delayed treatment,” he said.
“Obviously, it would be a waste of taxpayers’ money to treat fire ant nests in wet weather.”
“It is very disappointing to see misleading statements from the LNP, when this serious issue should be bipartisan biosecurity response,” he said.
“I appreciate that politicking goes on but … I am sure all Queenslanders would prefer to see a bipartisan effort on fire ants.”
Dr Lynham said he had offered Mr Last a briefing on the $411 million 10-year eradication plan, as he had failed to attend one offered to all MPs in August or a demonstration in September.