Queensland Allocates $24 Million to Combat Fire Ant Surge Following Cyclone Alfred

The funding aims to suppress fire ant populations across 212,000 hectares, but concerns remain about underfunding and the need for federal support.

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.