Biosecurity Qld's fire ant fiasco creates 300 jobs, chaotic management creates high turnover, gold mine for recruitment agencies, $80m wasted.

In 2001, Minister Henry Palaszczuk rejected scientific advice to tightly contain the spread of fire ants in south-east Queensland to use national funding for an eradication program to create 400 jobs when Queensland’s unemployment rate was 8.5%. Biosecurity Queensland’s 2001-2016 Fire Ant Eradication Program was a gold mine for recruitment...

Former govt employee Pam Swepson says fire ants out of control in Redland development areas

Minister Furner says more fire ants in Redlands because of new housing estates. Fact: Biosecurity Queensland does not control the movement of fire ant carriers. Time for a Royal Commission.

Minister Furner told Parliament that residents of Redlands are reporting more and more fire ant nests because semi-rural properties are being developed into high density housing estates, development sites create suitable habitat for fire ants and there is ‘potential movement’ of fire ant carriers like soil and mulch into those new housing esta...