• New Australian Government funding of $20 million to be matched by over $20 million in funding from states and territories
• Funding will reduce the impact of pests and weeds on agricultural production, our native wildlife and the environment, and the community.

On-ground management of problematic pests and weeds will see a significant boost through an Australian Government investment of $20 million, matched dollar for dollar by state and territory governments to maximise impact and deliver collaborative reduction and prevention activities across the country.

Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud and Minister for the Environment Sussan Ley said pest animals and weeds pose a significant threat to Australia’s primary production, environment and biodiversity.

“Pests and weeds are a huge and growing problem for Australia’s agriculture and environment,” Minister Littleproud said.

“Projects will reduce the overall burden of pests and weeds on-ground through activities such as coordinated control, destruction and removal, including trapping, baiting and culling along with biological control release.

“They will target nationally significant pest and weed species, such as feral deer, feral pigs, cats, foxes, rabbits, wild dogs and a range of invasive weeds across identified hot spots.

“I welcome the commitment from my state and territory colleagues to co-invest with us to address this significant issue.

Minister Ley said the funding would help better protect Australia’s unique environment from invasive plants and animals, as well as supporting the new Threatened Species Strategy.

“A reduction of pest animals and weeds will lead to more productive and profitable industries, and benefit native wildlife and the environment, including nature-based tourism industries and communities.

For more information see: Pest animals and weeds in Australia

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Fast Facts:

• Funding expands on the $29.1 million Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program (2021-22 to 2024-25) to deliver better solutions to combat established pest animals and weeds. The total program funding is now $49.1 million.
  
  
• Brings Australian Government investment in established pest animal and weed management programs to over $330 million since 2015 (2014-15 to 2024-25).

• Nationally, the annual cost of established vertebrate pest animals is estimated to be $800 million and over $4 billion for weeds in terms of production losses and control activities. The cost to the environment is difficult to calculate but is likely to be higher.

• A 2019 ABARES survey found land managers spent an average of $8,189 annually on pest animal management, up from $7,304 in 2016.