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Department of Agriculture

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  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Biosecurity
  4. Committees and partnerships
  5. National Management Group for the National Fire Ant Eradication Program
  6. National Fire Ant Eradication Program reviews

Sidebar first - Biosecurity

  • Committees and partnerships
    • Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel
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      • National Biosecurity Response Team Arrangements 2017-2019
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Reviews of the National Fire Ant Eradication Program

The National Fire Ant Eradication Program (the Program) is a highly scrutinised eradication program. It has been independently reviewed many times since 2001 to help understand its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

The three most recent Program reviews and responses are found below.

Program audit 2023

In 2023, the Queensland Audit Office (QAO) reviewed the impact of invasive species in Queensland. The audit made eight recommendations to improve how entities assess, prioritise and mitigate the risk of invasive species. Two recommendations are relevant to the Program, with the Program reporting progress against these recommendations twice a year.

Download

These documents were prepared by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and may not meet Australian Government accessibility requirements. If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Progress report – July 2024

  • Download PDF - 168 KB
  • Download Word - 688 KB

Independent strategic review 2021

The Program was most recently independently reviewed in 2021. This review was initiated by the Program’s Steering Committee and examined:

  • the program’s ability to achieve the objectives of the Ten-Year Eradication Plan
  • effectiveness of the program’s strategy
  • alternative strategies for achieving the objectives.

Findings

The review found the Program had been successful in slowing fire ant spread to about 4.9 km per year (compared to 48 km in the USA and 80 km in China) greatly reducing densities, limiting local impacts and potential spread from those areas.

It found that eradication was still technically possible but needed major changes in eradication strategy and further investment to help achieve the goal of eradicating fire ants by 2032. A new approach was required to stop further spread and to shrink the operational zone.

Recommendations

The review recommendations included changing the eradication strategy, significantly increasing resources and strengthening governance arrangements to align with other national biosecurity response programs. These recommendations were used to develop the 2023-27 Response Plan.

Download

These documents were prepared by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and may not meet Australian Government accessibility requirements. If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Response update – 2024

  • Download PDF - 446 KB
  • Download Word - 416 KB

Strategic review report

  • Download PDF - 168 KB
  • Download Word - 688 KB

Terms of Reference

  • Download PDF - 168 KB
  • Download Word - 688 KB

Efficiency and effectiveness review 2019

The efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Program was reviewed in 2019, as required under the Ten-Year (2017-27) Eradication Plan.

The 2019 review made 37 recommendations. The Program’s Steering Committee responded in April 2020. Progress reports against the recommendations were completed in 2020 and 2021.

Download

These documents were prepared by the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and may not meet Australian Government accessibility requirements. If you have difficulty accessing these files, visit web accessibility for assistance.

Progress report – May 2021

  • Download PDF - 301 KB
  • Download Word - 222 KB

Progress report – October 2020

  • Download PDF - 260 KB
  • Download Word - 138 KB

Steering Committee response

  • Download PDF - 150 KB
  • Download Word - 290 KB

Steering Committee response to recommendations

  • Download PDF - 193 KB
  • Download Word - 299 KB

Efficiency and Effectiveness review report

  • Download PDF - 2.7 MB
  • Download Word - 5.7 MB

Terms of Reference

  • Download PDF - 178 KB
  • Download Word - 239 KB

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Page last updated: 04 March 2025

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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