Australian Advocacy Group

I refer to recent correspondence, 24 January 2025 (dated 24^th January 2024) and reissued 28 January 2025 with amended date 24 January 2025 (your ref. CTS 22832/24), detailing advise that the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will no longer engage in any further correspondence with me or any of my lawful business entities citing unfounded, untested and false accusations of (perceived) unreasonable complainant conduct, regarding the NFAEP.

My lawful business services and represents thousands of Queensland and Northern New South Wales residents that have reported feeling ignored, bullied, harassed, threatened and in several extreme cases, violated with feelings of rape. Stress, anxiety and feeling of hopelessness, leading to depression and anger, attributed directly to the actions of NFAEP, have been portrayed by many of my clients discussing the processes, procedures and objectives of Fire Ant eradication to be causing an overall decline in health. As a commercial business, to remain financially viable, I need to act for the benefit of the clients I represent, and I will continue to campaign on their behalf for,

1. recognition that fire ant eradication is impossible,
2. ending prophylactic distribution of toxic chemicals by utilising direct nest treatment,
3. providing alternatives to chemical treatment for managing fire ants,
4. subsidies for private property holders to utilise approved alternatives,
5. utilising alternatives to chemical treatment to manage fire ants in sensitive ego-systems and public use areas like playgrounds and parks,
6. respecting private property rights and personal individual choice,
7. utilising community to initiate policy change to meet these objectives.

My business endeavours provide sustainable, eco-friendly, non-toxic, fire ant treatment methods, licensed by the University of Central Florida. Dr Joshua King, Professor of Biology Department and member of one of the most active, continuously (US) federally funded research programs in the world, cites a lack of alternative management approaches and tools, other than widespread application of (surface) broadcast baits, as one of many concerns raised in his open letter dated 04 October 2024. Utilising this technology, on a commercial basis, has created positive impacts on the reduction of fire ants on private property within the suppression zone and positive emotions for farmers not wanting to expose their livestock or organic operations to unnecessary, toxic, chemical treatment. Recognising alternatives to chemical treatment will create better outcomes in the management of Fire Ants and provide positive feelings of emotions for those who choose to live a pesticide free lifestyle.

I have been able to establish a respectful, meaningful relationship with Professor Nigel Andrew, Chair of Science, Faculty of Science and Engineering for Southern Cross University and others in the private sector, who have agreed to work with me to conduct Australian scientific research to establish effectiveness of current NFAEP offerings, Dr Joshua King’s hot water treatment method and a mixture of both to create base line data of the effectiveness of these approaches in Australia. It has been noted that very little Australian research has been conducted to establish the best balance of treatment options to better manage Fire Ants. It is disappointing that the Government body engaged to manage Fire Ant initiatives fails to recognise that private, competitive, commercial business provides the most cost effective, fit for purpose solutions to the public.

My advocacy clients have been instructed not to engage with NFAEP field teams or agents and forward any received correspondence by email and/or phone to me to reply, in response to heavy handed, draconian, decision not to further engage with me, or any of my businesses. The decision of who the department chooses to engage with and under what circumstances remains with the decision makers of the program, subject to the approval of the department portfolio minister. My clients also have such power to decide who they communicate with and under what circumstances, providing the opportunity for NFAEP to fulfill its responsibility of community engagement under the Biosecurity Act 2014, Chapter 1, Part 3, Section 12, which states: ‘Community involvement in administration of Act This Act is to be administered, as far as practicable, in Consultation with and having regard to the views and interests Of, public sector entities, local governments, industry, Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders under Aboriginal tradition and Island custom, interested groups and persons and the community generally’, by providing my lawful business, Australian Advocacy Group, the authority of managing advocacy on their behalf.   With out engaging with Australian Advocacy Group, as requested by clients, the program will not only breach the biosecurity act which it is operating under, but will be unable to meet its obligation to establish site specific information about the property including:

1. tailoring a treatment plan to meet property requirements
2. discussion and information about treatment
3. understand any issues accessing your property, such as dogs, locked gates, animals, livestock, crops, or water sources.
   

Not only will this be reckless, but it will also create negative results to the NFAEP, community engagement, and build further disregard to the Fire Ant program in general. In addition, this will build on current Government trust issues and create difficulties for my lawful business to provide service and value for money for my clients. I urge decision makers to reverse this decision and start working with me to create better outcomes for the community and cease the current mandate to ignore the concerns of the community and desire to maintain choice and private property rights.

Should you wish to discuss these issues in person or would like to participate in mediation I would welcome the opportunity, until then I will (unapologetically) maintain a strong emphasis on my campaign to initiate change to the current NFAEP to meet community expectations.

Kind regard

Trevor Hold
0401 517 906