Australian Advocacy Group

In the wake of this weeks News cycle quoting Barnaby Joyce contradicting previously developed fire ant policy by One Nation, I have written to Pauline Hanson for clarity.

I have noted the concern of 100’s of AAG members and have spoken to Senator Malcolm Roberts who is trying to negotiate on Barnaby’s position.

I look forward to resolving this issue and getting an official response from One Nation on their fire ant policy.

Senator Pauline Hanson

Pauline Hanson’s One Nation

Dear Senator Hanson,

I write to congratulate you and the entire One Nation team on your strong performance in the recent South Australian state election. The result reflects growing public confidence in your party’s willingness to address issues that others often overlook.

By way of introduction, my name is Trevor Hold. I was the One Nation candidate for the federal seat of South Brisbane in the 2022 election, and I continue to take a strong interest in biosecurity, agriculture, and practical policy outcomes affecting regional and peri-urban Australia.

I am writing in response to recent public comments made by Barnaby Joyce regarding fire ants, and the broader narrative being advanced alongside commentary from the Invasive Species Council.

At the outset, it is important to acknowledge the constructive role Mr Joyce has played in highlighting serious national issues, including energy and fuel security, as well as his willingness to engage with and amplify policy areas aligned with One Nation’s platform.

However, while Mr Joyce is correct to identify fire ants as a serious and legitimate biosecurity threat, there are fundamental realities that must be clearly acknowledged.

When fire ants were first identified at the Port of Brisbane in 2001, their distribution was estimated at approximately 36,000 hectares, with evidence suggesting they had already been present—undetected—for up to two decades. Since that time, more than $1.2 billion has been spent on eradication efforts, yet the infestation has expanded to over 1.2 million hectares and continues to grow. For reference, the largest recorded fire ant eradication in history has a distribution of approximently 10,000 hectares.

These outcomes raise serious questions about the effectiveness of the current eradication strategy.

Importantly, these concerns are reinforced by international research. In correspondence dated October 4, 2024, Joshua R. King, Professor of Biology at the University of Central Florida, highlighted critical shortcomings in Australia’s approach. His work—alongside broader research in the field—points to several key conclusions:

• Widespread broadcast baiting using insect growth regulators has not halted the spread or dominance of fire ants
• Eradication efforts have historically failed once infestations exceed approximately 10,000 hectares or persist beyond a decade
• Fire ants rapidly re-establish in treated areas and continue to spread into “prophylactically” baited zones
• Broad-acre baiting may, in some cases, exacerbate outcomes while driving ongoing financial cost

These findings strongly suggest that the current strategy is not only ineffective at scale but may be contributing to the very problem it seeks to solve.

Further, the limited adoption of alternative, targeted, and non-toxic management approaches—such as those already in use internationally—represents a missed opportunity to reduce ecological harm while improving practical outcomes.

At the same time, concerns raised by members of One Nation—including Senator Malcolm Roberts—regarding regulatory overreach, landholder treatment, and pesticide use reflect genuine challenges being experienced on the ground by Australian communities.

This issue presents an opportunity for One Nation to lead with a clear, evidence-based and pragmatic position—one that moves beyond aspiration and focuses on outcomes.

I believe there is strong public appetite for:

• Honest acknowledgement of what has and has not worked
• A shift toward targeted, species-specific and integrated management approaches
• Greater transparency and accountability in program funding and performance
• Respectful engagement with landholders and local communities

In that spirit, I would also welcome the opportunity for constructive dialogue. I encourage Mr Joyce to engage directly with practitioners, researchers, and those working on the ground, so that future public messaging reflects both the scale of the challenge and the practical realities of managing it. A realistic approach—focused not only on eradication, but on safe and effective long-term coexistence strategies—may ultimately serve Australians far better.

I believe it would be beneficial for One Nation to publicly reaffirm its Fire Ant Policy, providing clarity and consistency in the party’s position, and resolving any apparent conflicts between prior messaging and Mr Joyce’s recent statements.

Thank you for your continued advocacy and leadership. I look forward to seeing One Nation continue to play a decisive role in shaping practical and accountable policy in this space.

For complete transparency I attach relevant supporting documentation. 

Yours sincerely,

Trevor Hold
Director / Advocacy Manager
Australian Advocacy Group
https://aagpilot.com/

04 April 2025