Australian Advocacy Group

Primary producers in Southeast Queensland are raising serious concerns over what they describe as an unsustainable, bureaucratic, and overly punitive approach to fire ant management. Farmers working within designated fire ant suppression and eradication zones are grappling with growing regulatory pressure, compliance costs, and movement restrictions that are threatening their viability and tarnishing their reputations.

A key flashpoint is the impact on hay producers, who face strict limitations on baling times, restrictions on the movement of hay products, and burdensome compliance obligations. At the same time, inconsistencies in fire ant management have been noted—particularly the lack of treatment and oversight on government-owned land such as reserves, footpaths, and public spaces. Adding to producer frustrations are concerns that NFAEP compliance officers and their vehicles, which travel between properties, could inadvertently contribute to the spread of fire ants, despite the stringent measures enforced on private landholders.

The current policies and procedures implemented by Biosecurity Queensland and the National Fire Ant Eradication Program (NFAEP) are being criticised as unrealistic, lacking in practical application, and disconnected from the realities of modern farming. The approach has fostered an environment of frustration and mistrust across the agricultural sector, with industry representatives pointing to reduced sales, falling profit margins, and a decline in the mental health and wellbeing of producers.

Fear-based media campaigns have further damaged the image of hay producers operating within the fire ant zones—even those who are not affected by the pest. Reports on so-called “rafting fire ants” and exaggerated claims about the pest’s community impact have contributed to a damaging narrative, resulting in a loss of clients and long-term harm to farming businesses.

Adding to this, the approach taken by the Department of Primary Industries is seen by many as focused more on enforcement and revenue collection than on partnership and practical solutions. The result is a system that prioritises fines and penalties over collaboration, leaving primary producers without a voice in the development of the very regulations that govern their operations.

In response, a community meeting held at Stockyard Creek on April 12, 2025—facilitated by the Australian Advocacy Group (AAG)—saw the formation of the Producers Fire Ant Action Group, led by Jake Holzheimer and Don Bichel, with more than 30 hay producers and allied industry partners uniting to push for reform. The group is advocating for a shift from a top-down compliance model to one that is stakeholder-led and grounded in local knowledge and operational realities.

The group asserts that farmers are not to blame for the spread of fire ants, instead pointing to failures in biosecurity systems over the past 25 years as the root cause. Recognising that complete eradication of the pest is no longer achievable, producers are calling for a sustainable, long-term management strategy developed by those working directly with the land.

Farmers are proposing property-specific biosecurity plans tailored to their unique operations. These would place the responsibility and oversight in the hands of those most invested in maintaining safe, pest-free environments—while allowing Biosecurity and the NFAEP to play a supportive role through measures such as fire ant-free certification, movement declarations, and compliance subsidies.

The industry is also calling for fairer competition conditions and greater recognition of the role primary producers play in pest management. Targeting hay farmers as scapegoats, while excluding them from compliance and regulation development, is being cited as an example of the wider reform needed within the Department of Primary Industries, Biosecurity Queensland, and the NFAEP.

The formation of the Producers Fire Ant Action Group marks the start of a broader push for change. Organisers hope to build momentum and unite with other sectors of the agricultural community to press for policies that are practical, inclusive, and designed to secure a more stable future for farming in Queensland.

As more producers and allied partners join the movement, the message to decision-makers is clear – the current approach is no longer working, and the people who feed the state are ready to lead the way to a smarter, more sustainable path forward.  Those interested in joining or contributing to the Producers Fire Ant Action Group can reach out at www.aagpilot.com/australian-advocacy-group/  for more information and to get involved.