NSW Farmers is reminding holidaymakers to follow biosecurity orders to help prevent the spread of fire ants when travelling from Queensland to NSW this holiday season.
Red Imported Fire Ants were detected twice in NSW during 2024 and it was vital the ants did not breach the state's borders again, NSW Farmers Biosecurity Committee Chair Tony Hegarty said.
"Fire ants are one of the most extreme threats to biosecurity Australia has faced to date, and there is no room for complacency when it comes to these dangerous pests," Mr Hegarty said.
"Everyone has a responsibility to follow biosecurity orders, and there are serious consequences for those found to be doing the wrong thing and creating a vector for these pests to harm our communities.
"If you see something, say something, and we urge everyone not only keep a close eye out for any signs of fire ants in NSW this holiday season, but to report anything unusual you see straight to authorities."
Current biosecurity orders prohibit the movement of turf from Queensland fire-infested areas into NSW, with a number of other restrictions in place for other fire ant carriers including heavy vehicles.
As interstate travel remained at peak levels, Mr Hegarty said the NSW Government must take all necessary measures to ensure fire ants could be eradicated swiftly.
"This is a threat that could radically change our way of life and slam our economy with a $60 billion dollar damage bill to boot," Mr Hegarty said.
"Fire ants - if they spread into NSW and beyond - could well mean the end of many sport and leisure activities because of the threat they pose to human health, not to mention the serious risk to animals.
"Be it round-the-clock border checkpoints or detection dogs along state lines, the NSW Government needs to take leadership and escalate all our responses with this threat to keep us all safe for many summer holidays to come."
