Pest animals and weeds have significant negative impacts on agriculture and our environment.
Managing pest animals and weeds begins with preventing entry into Australia. For species that do enter Australia management focuses on eradication. In some cases, prevention is not possible, or eradication is unsuccessful. Once a species becomes established, management focuses on reducing the negative impacts.
Managing the impacts of pest animals and weeds is a shared responsibility. Farmers, industry, communities and governments all play a role.
Focus areas
We reduce the impacts of established pest animals and weeds. We do this through collaboration with states and territories, industry and non-government organisations.
National coordination and capacity building
We invest in national coordinator positions for priority pests and weeds. National coordination improves our capacity and ability to reduce impacts.
Priorities supported by us include:
- The National Carp Control Plan
- Priority pest animals
- National Established Weed Priorities (NEWP) Framework
Research and development
We invest in research and development into new and improved management tools. Management tools can include baits, biological control agents and artificial intelligence. This helps land managers, farmers and the community manage pests and weeds.
See Programs for a list of research and development projects funded.
Strategic investment in on-ground management
On-ground pest animal and weeds management is the responsibility of state and territory governments. We partner with states and territories to support control efforts. This helps reduce impacts on agriculture and the environment.
See Programs for a list of funded on-ground projects.
Better information
We work with the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences to understand:
- how many pest animals and weeds there are in Australia
- where they are in Australia
- their impact on Australian agriculture and our environment.
View the latest ABARES Pest animals and weed management survey
Strategies
Australian Pest Animal Strategy
The Australian Pest Animal Strategy, owned by the Environment and Invasives Committee, provides national guidance on pest animal management.
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2017 to 2027 PDF | 914 KB |
| Australian Pest Animal Strategy 2017 to 2027 DOCX | 2.0 MB |
Related links: Pests in Australia
Australian Weeds Strategy
The Australian Weeds Strategy, owned by the Environment and Invasives Committee, provides national guidance on weed management.
| Document | File size |
|---|---|
| Australian Weeds Strategy 2017-2027 PDF | 719 KB |
| Australian Weeds Strategy 2017-2027 DOCX | 1.7 MB |
Related link: Weeds in Australia
Programs
- Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program
- Established Pest Animal and Weeds Management Pipeline Program
Closed programs
- Communities Combating Pest and Weed Impacts During Drought Program
- Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper - Established Pest Animals and Weeds Measure
The Australian Government also invests in established pest animal and weeds management through:
- Management of Commonwealth land, including Department of Defence and Parks Australia
- The Regional Land Partnership component of the National Landcare Program and the Bushfire Recovery Program and support of Indigenous Protected Areas
- Rural Research and Development Corporations
- Cooperative Research Australia
- Centre for Invasive Species Solutions