KAP state leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has said understaffing and insufficient government funding is at the heart of Queensland’s worsening prickly acacia problem.
The scourge of the introduced weed has been described as a “cancer in our landscape” that could destroy the productivity of local Mitchell grass downs.
Mr Katter called out the disparity in funding between Natural Resource Management groups across the state after learning only seven people were on hand to address the problem in the north west.
In Parliament Mr Katter asked the Minister for Natural Resources, Energy and Mines Dr Anthony Lynham why Southern Gulf Catchments, which oversees an area of 216,000km2 and tackles the Prickly Acacia problem, was staffed by so few people.
Too little is being done to address this weed crisis
- Robbie Katter
In comparison Natural Resource Management group NQ Dry Tropics covers just 126,000km2 (including 12,000km2 of sea) and has a staff of 43.
In his Question on Notice Mr Katter asked if the Minister would acknowledge this disparity and address the funding shortfall that is seriously threatening the sustainability of the Southern Gulf Catchments Natural Resource Management group and some of the critical activities they perform.
In his reply Dr Lynham said the NQ Dry Tropics and Southern Gulf were two of 14 NRM regional bodies across Queensland funded until 2022 in the Natural Resource Investment Program.
“Funding under the program is focused on achieving measurable natural resource outcomes aligned to the priorities within the respective regions,” Dr Lynham said.
“The disparity in total funding may arise from the ability of the regional bodies to attract funding from other sources such as the Commonwealth Government.”
Dr Lynham said it was up to each NRM group to make project applications targeted to the needs of their regions.
Mr Katter said the Government had not addressed the issue.
“I raised this matter out of dire concern that too little is being done to address this weed crisis, which is costing the state’s agricultural industry $4 billion each year,’’ he said.
Prickly acacia is native to the tropics and subtropics of Africa, Pakistan, India and Myanmar.
It was first imported into Australia as a shade and fodder tree.
It now prospers along water courses and out-competes native plants.
It is distributed from the New South Wales border, through Queensland, and across the Northern Territory to Western Australia’s Kimberley region.
Derek Barry
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
Editor of the North West Star Mount Isa since January 2016. Prior to that, an editor at several regional southern Queensland newspapers. Passionate about telling local stories. Comes with a strange accent to due an Irish accident of birth.
