Long term government assistance to tackle prickly acacia would be more secure if weed and pest management programs were treated as distinct challenges and funded in separate allocations, according to Queensland LNP Senator Barry O’Sullivan.
Senator O’Sullivan joined the western Queensland NRM group, Desert Channels Queensland, to host a senior representative from the federal Department of Agriculture last week in Longreach and Barcaldine.
It was the latest effort to raise awareness about what Senator O’Sullivan calls “one of the greatest threats to farm productivity in central and north western Queensland”.
Senator O’Sullivan said a significant portion of current funding for pest and weed management is allocated by the federal government.
“However, it is the state governments that decide the specific projects that tackle wild dogs or weeds,” he said.
Mr O’Sullivan said there was a real challenge to ensure adequate funding was reasonably and efficiently split between pest and weed management programs.
He said weed management should be allocated as a separate government funding pool to pest management to ensure both challenges are effectively addressed.
“The federal government has invested significant funds to combat pest management since the release of the Agriculture White Paper,” he said.
“While many millions of dollars are being set aside to tackle wild dogs, especially in central Queensland, we need to also see adequate funds dedicated to specifically tackle prickly acacia.
“This is a distinct and separate issue confronting the bush and funding allocations must reflect this.
“If left unchecked, prickly acacia will continue to substantially weaken farm productivity across our state.
“I am encouraged by the response from the federal Department of Agriculture during this latest journey through regions confronting prickly acacia.”
