Federal Member for Groom, Garth Hamilton, is demanding the Albanese Government urgently responds to the Senate inquiry into Red imported fire ants in Australia – ‘Don’t Let This Come Back to Bite Us’.
Earlier this year, Mr Hamilton called on all agencies involved in the fire ant response to prioritise containment, decontamination and communication.
“After the shameful spread of fire ants to the Darling Downs, at a number of sites in and around Oakey, the Albanese Labor government has wasted four months by failing to act on key Senate inquiry recommendations, allowing the eradication zone to explode.
“This issue has not been taken seriously by the Labor government, by the former or current Agriculture Minister and they are sitting on their hands,”
“They have failed to implement or act on key recommendations they were given in April, in the Senate inquiry’s final report,” Mr Hamilton said.
“Four whole months have passed and Labor is still ignoring the recommendations, including calls to investigate alternative models for delivery of the eradication program to improve independence, and transparency, improve public engagement and improve the delivery of the eradication program,” Mr Hamilton said.
The Committee also identified the urgent need to increase stakeholder engagement and community education, to assist the long-term eradication goal.
“Residents in our region deserve answers and reassurance that the funding is enough, and that the Queensland Labor Government is delivering its eradication program in an effective and timely manner. But communities are being left in the dark.
“There are huge concerns in our community about the eradication program and its failings,” Mr Hamilton said.”
ENDS.
Media contact: Greta Dwan 0414 211 908
