Amplifying our Impact: A bold strategy to keep nature safe from invasive species

Amplifying our impact

A bold strategy to keep nature safe from invasive species

FUNDING PROPOSAL MARCH 2024

Koala. Image: Istock

Our challenge

Our very identity is made up of what makes this country extraordinary. We are famous for our places of breathtaking beauty and home to a treasure trove of wildlife. Yet we are infamous for our inability to protect it. We are the leader in mammal extinctions.

Invasive species are a significant problem around the world, with the cost of invasive species quadrupling each decade for 40 years. Globally, they are in the top 5 drivers of biodiversity loss, but in Australia they are number one - the leading cause of loss and extinction. Australia is an invasive species hot spot. Over 3000 invasive species are conservatively estimated to cost Australia approximately $25 billion every year in agricultural losses.

When it comes to our treasured natural World Heritage sites, the IUCN reported that ‘invasive species along with climate change are the most prevalent current threats’ in Oceania, by a long shot.

It’s expected that the increase of invasive species, and their negative impacts, will be significantly greater with a growing global economy, accelerating trade and more intensive land and sea use.

To defend nature, invasive species need coordinated management across this rugged country. National leadership and major investment to tackle the red fire ant emergency and feral cats can not wait. A stronger biosecurity system to prevent the next cane toad is a must.

A unique convergence of events over the next 18 months could fast track progress toward our 2030 vision to stop invasive-led extinctions and lead a wildlife revival.

The confluence of the upcoming Global Nature Positive Summit to be hosted by Australia, a highly contested Queensland election and the looming federal election gives us an outstanding opportunity. We have a seat at the table as respected experts and have built effective relationships with senators, candidates and governments. They are interested in our solutions and watching the growing public support.

We are seeking additional funds to maximise these outstanding opportunities that can amplify our impact to a level not yet seen here at the Invasive Species Council. At the current rate of three invasive species-caused extinctions every decade, we need rapid action.

As a fellow advocate for our environment, I hope you are empowered by our strategy for the year ahead. We are poised to leverage these powerful moments to bring about a wildlife revival, with your help.

If we are to genuinely protect and restore our native wildlife and ecosystems, then stopping the next wave of invasive species driven extinctions and defending our national treasures must be a priority.

As the primary national advocacy organisation dedicated to the growing threat of invasive species, we welcome you on this journey with us.

Andrew Cox, CEO

Feral goats are one of several threats for the endangered Boronia Granitica. Image: Marc Newman

Feral cats have driven the numbat to the edge of extinction. 1000 remain in the wild. Photo: Jiri Lochman

Fixing the system to avert extinctions

The letter of the law

The federal government has made commitments of ‘no new extinctions’. Already, about 100 species are confirmed extinct since colonisation, more than half from invasive species. Another 100 species face a high (>50%) risk of extinction in the next 10–20 years, the overwhelming majority from invasive species.

To save these species Australia needs an effective threat abatement system. This includes the environment laws, policies and programs intended to systematically identify and overcome the major threats to nature.

Ambitious reform on the environment laws and institutions was expected in 2023, yet we still lack great detail on what the laws will look like and how these reforms will work.

Ironically, when it comes to the environment laws, all we need is an ‘s’ to make the word ‘plan’ plural. This will allow multiple invasive species plans to be produced and streamline effective threat abatement responses. An effective threat abatement system also needs dedicated, ambitious funding for implementation.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. We have been waiting for this for over a decade. 2024 may be the last chance we have to win improvements that will adequately stop threats and protect threatened species and wildlife.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: To achieve 1) ambitious, systematic, well-funded, and nationally coordinated threat abatement 2) threat abatement that is prioritised and streamlined in new environment laws by 2025.

Strategy: Engage with the current law reform process and leverage the federal election to win dedicated funding commitments.

Tactics:

• Develop threat abatement legislative solutions that can be implemented through the current reform of the EPBC Act that will address major drivers of biodiversity destruction and loss.

• Promote high-profile examples to make invasive species a major issue in the public discourse, including on law reform.

• Strategic cross-sector supporter and stakeholder mobilisation to build public pressure for environmental law reform.

• Negotiations with key decision makers.

Economic solutions for biodiversity

The free ride for importers who create the risk of potentially devastating invasives entering Australia must end so that we can source increased and secure funding. The Invasive Species Council has been working toward adequate funding for invasive species prevention and management for years. Recent progress has been made toward a levy on importers and increased funding.

We’ll continue to leverage parliamentary opportunities, engage with decision makers and build alliances with key industries in the lead up to the federal election to back this in.

We’re co-hosting the 3rd Australian Biosecurity Symposium on the Gold Coast from 27-29 August 2024.This flagship event aims to improve Australia’s biosecurity system so that it’s fit for purpose by building a mass movement of Australians participating in a stronger biosecurity system.

High-impact and medium-impact threats to nationally listed threatened taxa (expert assessments).

Fire ant free Australia

These killer ants are on the move from Brisbane. Infestations were recently found in northern NSW and were intercepted in Tasmania having spread from Brisbane. Fire ants are also heading westward toward the Murray Darling Basin. If they reach the basin, they can float through the heart of Australia.

Fire ants are more active before or after rainfall and can form large floating rafts which move with water currents to establish footholds in new areas. Evidence of this rafting behaviour was recently seen on sugar cane farms south of Brisbane.

If they are allowed to spread across the continent, their economic impact will be greater than cane toads, rabbits, feral cats and foxes combined.

If we don’t eradicate fire ants, each year we could see up to 140,000 extra presentations to medical facilities, 3,000 anaphylactic reactions and a $630 million reduction in agricultural production. Sports fields and beaches may be shut down. Backyards and parks will be invaded. It’s estimated to cost a whopping $2 billion p.a.!

The Invasive Species Council has led the campaign for fire ant eradication since 2015, successfully achieving a Senate inquiry last year. In 2017, we won $411 million in government funding for Queensland’s 10year eradication program. However, years of dithering and delay by governments to start the enhanced program meant that the problem became bigger and the funding was inadequate to save Australia from a life sentence with fire ants. Last year the eradication program was only half of what was needed. These compounding issues, along with rising costs, means we now need a much larger program and more funding.

We ran a strong campaign in 2023 to expose secret reports and secure funding commitments of over $550 million for four years from the federal and state and territory governments except South Australia.

One of the world’s worst super pests for good reason.

They swarm in their thousands and sting in unison, overwhelming anything in their path. We’ll see a devastating list of extinctions — the number is yet to be quantified. Current predictions estimate that 45% of birds, 38% of mammals, 69% of reptiles and 95% of frog populations in South East Queensland alone could plummet.

The federal environment department is warning that iconic Australian animals like the koala, platypus, echidna and loggerhead turtle could be killed and injured by fire ants.

Echidna. Photo: istock

Now that immediate funding has been secured for red fire ants, we must win commitments to review and increase the 4 year eradication funding to 10 years and expand treatment inside containment zones. We’re calling on the federal environment minister to take an active role to ensure success amid concerns the current level of funding is insufficient. Further, we seek structural reforms to the way the fire ant program works including an independent authority, transparency, and a mechanism that allows any needed funding enhancements to be rapidly approved by governments.

Already, we’ve successfully eradicated fire ants from Perth, Sydney and Gladstone over the last 10 years. The only remaining infestation and by far the worst is the one centred on Brisbane. A successful eradication program for South East Queensland and northern NSW has to match the scale of the threat. As long as there are fire ants in Australia, no one is safe.

Fire ant eradication now sits on a knife’s edge. This year, we will rally for a Fire Ant Free Australia. We have one last shot to stop these tiny killers from devastating our environment, agriculture and communities. Eradication cannot be allowed to fail. You are critical to that success.

Yellow crazy ants in the Whitsundays.

Thanks to our campaigns, funding to eradicate yellow crazy ants from the Cairns World Heritage Wet Tropics Rainforests and from Townsville are well underway. However, the outbreak in the Whitsundays needs help.

We’re developing a critical report on yellow crazy ants in the Whitsundays to demonstrate what’s at risk and how to tackle the problem. We prepared a similar report that was essential to tackle the ants at Townsville. We’ll launch this report and provide workshops in the local community.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: The federal government and all states commit to an immediate funding increase and funding over the next 10 years.

Strategy: Build public and industry pressure, through Queensland and federal elections.

Tactics:

• Use anticipated recommendations from current Senate inquiry to build public awareness and back funding and strong actions.

• Maintain media spotlight on red fire ants spread.

• Build cross sector alliances and conduct collective advocacy with the agriculture, health and nursery sectors.

• Mobilise supporters to contact their local member to up the ante.

• Bring an expert over from the USA to assist in government negotiations in Canberra and Brisbane.

Hayman Island. Photo: Studio Sarah Lou

Baby turtles could be at risk from fire ants. Photo: Colin Davies

Island sanctuary Protected areas under siege

Australia has more than 8300 islands, critical habitat for around onethird of Australia’s threatened animals. Their conservation is an essential part of protecting our natural heritage, and island eradication can often be a great success story. 170 islands have had invasive feral animals successfully eradicated. Much more must be done to revive populations decimated on the mainland and protect unique island species.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: By 2025, targeted feral animal eradications are well underway on 5 priority islands (French, Bruny, Kangaroo, Lord Howe, Christmas); a national island eradication program starts.

Strategy: Utilise the federal election to win commitments to refocus on key island eradications and an increase of funding for feral cat management; utilise Tasmanian and Queensland elections.

Tactics:

• Showcase past successes and benefits of island biodiversity.

• Build popularity of ambitious island eradications.

• Mobilise supporter action amongst politically relevant audiences.

We’re also working to win bi-partisan commitments to prioritise island eradications at a state level.

Years of neglect and underfunding have left our protected areas – our jewels in the crown – trampled and trashed. Our most endangered animals have been left to defend themselves against relentless predators. The DOUBLE protection of national park and World Heritage can’t defend places like Barrington Tops (NSW) or Kakadu against the invasional meltdown.

The 2020 World Heritage Outlook report spells it out ‘In Oceania, by far the most prevalent current threats to natural World Heritage sites are invasive alien species and climate change which affect a disproportionately large number of sites’. Tasmania’s Wilderness Area, Queensland’s Wet Tropics, Kadadu and the Blue Mountains are at serious risk of deterioration from invasive species.

Ensuring our protected areas are truly protected is essential if we are to save wildlife and start their revival. A report to analyse urgent management and funding needs for World Heritage Areas, iconic national parks and key islands will be an essential tool to convince decision makers.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: In 2025, investment in invasive species management on protected land (indigenous and public) has doubled in 2 states, and incentives for managing invasive threats on private and indigenous land are driving effective action.

Strategy: Leverage State of Environmental Biosecurity Report and 2024 Global Nature Positive Summit to win commitments at the federal and Queensland state election.

Tactics:

• Build a powerful coalition of stakeholders to ramp up pressure.

• Increase public awareness via ‘World Heritage under Siege’ report.

• Mobilise Australians to contact their local member of parliament.

Lord Howe Island. Evolving in isolation, its precipitous mountains, golden beaches and dense subtropical forests are home to over a hundred species found nowhere else. But a battle with invasive weeds is still being fought. Photo: Robert Whyte

Wild Tasmania

Tasmania has flourished compared to the mainland, free from many pests and weeds, like the fox, that have caused populations to plummet and extinctions on the mainland. However, in the last two decades exploding feral deer populations, increases in cats and other invasive species now threaten this island sanctuary for small mammals and Tassie’s spectacular wilderness areas.

Tasmania’s feral deer crisis has hit about 100,000, with herds moving into the iconic Walls of Jerusalem National Park in the World Heritage Area. Without systematic control they are likely to reach Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park. We’ll run a strong, effective campaign to defend against feral deer and seek greater commitments to protect Tasmania in 2024.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: By 2025, the protected status for deer is abolished; By 2027, feral deer are removed from the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, Tarkine, Tasman Peninsula, Bruny Island, King Island and key national parks.

Strategy: Hold the new Tasmanian government to account on its commitment to eradicate deer in key protected areas.

Tactics: Strengthen and build broad public and cross sector support.

We’re also campaigning for eradication of feral pigs from Flinders Island and feral cats from langtalanana.

We can transform Tassie’s natural advantage into a strategy to futureproof biodiversity and solve many of Tasmania’s seemingly intractable invasive species problems.

Right now, feral goats are at a stage where they could soon explode into a major problem. Permitted pet ferrets pose a huge risk to wildlife. Action is needed now. However, a more significant campaign in Tasmania will require significant, multi-year resources beyond our current level to have an impact.

Tasmanian election and beyond

At the time of writing, the Invasive Species Council was seeking crucial commitments to protect Tassie in the lead up to the snap Tasmanian election:

1. Set an ambitious goal of no new extinctions in Tasmania.

2. Take action to reduce the impacts of feral deer, including removing their legal protection.

3. Improve the management of cats to protect wildlife.

4. Declare feral goats as pests, eradicate feral pigs and phase out ferrets as pets.

5. Fund a dedicated island eradication and recovery program.

6. Tackle noxious weeds and prevent new weeds.

7. Increase First Nations leadership and employment.

8. Strengthen Tasmania’s environmental biosecurity and threat abatement planning.

Cushion plants - Walls of Jerusalem. Photo: ccdoh1

Queensland election

Queensland is Australia’s invasion hotspot. They are crawling with more invasive species than any other state and have not had the capacity to respond. Yet they are the most innovative and collaborative state on biosecurity. They are a global leader in eradication. Their strength in biosecurity provides opportunities to see our precious wet tropics, islands, national parks and endangered species saved from the invasive species that risk their extinction.

When it comes to investment and action on invasive species, state elections offer the best chance to amplify our impact and protect nature. This Queensland election will be close. Politicians will be feeling the pressure and looking for small gains, so they’ll be sensitive to constituents raising issues. The invasive species issue cuts across parts of society and all regions, and is expected to be an attractive platform to all parties and independents.

We’ll run a strong election campaign in Queensland and build the number of candidates and parties that focus on invasive species solutions and funding that could stop extinctions, save wildlife and prevent further destruction of protected areas. We’ll deploy an election team including an experienced local campaigner to engage the community to rally for election commitments.

We’ll show politicians that Queenslanders want them to provide popular, regionally based invasive species solutions. We’ll amplify the voices that want our Wet Tropics World Heritage Area protected, more eradications on islands of conservation significance and improved management of feral deer, horses and pigs to protect the critically endangered species like the Kroombit tinker frog and cassowary.

World Heritage Wet Tropics - double shot

Queensland’s Wet Tropics are a living museum with the oldest continuously surviving rainforests on earth hosting Australia’s greatest diversity of animals and plants. It’s a huge area and managed equally by the federal and Queensland governments providing a double shot during this election period. Feral pigs, myrtle rust and chytrid fungus already threaten this wonderland and feral deer are encroaching.

Historically, Queensland had a great track record for island eradications. But in the past 20 years islands have been mostly neglected. We’re also campaigning for key island eradications of feral animals in the Torres Strait and yellow crazy ants from the Whitsundays, including Hayman Island.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: Win critical commitments on invasive species management from all major parties in the lead up to the state election in 2024.

Strategy: Utilise the election to demonstrate to candidates and parties that Queenslanders want action on invasive species.

Tactics:

• Leverage the fire ant issue to raise the profile of invasive species, and breadth of the issue in the public eye.

• Give politicians and candidates a platform and range of solutions to champion that are popular to Queenslanders.

• Mobilise supporters to tell their local member and candidates to do a better job on invasive species.

Kroombit Tinker Frog. Photo: Scott Eipper

Cassowarys

A year of opportunity at the federal level

Already our work has led the Albanese Government to declare a ‘war on feral animals’. They’ve released a draft feral goat plan, a draft feral cat plan and a feral deer action plan. They have publicly called for action to reduce feral horses. They’ve also made a huge and important promise of no more extinctions.

But the funding committed to tackle the invasive species mega threat is still woefully inadequate. Without the funding, all these plans and promises are not much more than fantasy.

The great news is they’ve put themselves in the world spotlight hosting the first Global Nature Positive Summit this October in Sydney. They’re touting Australia as a world leader in reversing catastrophic wildlife loss – despite the nation’s invasive species crisis.

Putting the right public pressure on the federal government via increased media attention when Australia is in the global spotlight – and in the lead up to the federal election – will fast-track our progress.

We aim to challenge them into a race to the top and hold them to their claims in the next federal budget and the 2025 election and continue to build the social licence to give them the confidence to take visionary action.

Biosecurity - biodiversity’s best shot

At the upcoming federal election, we’re calling for critical improvements:

• sustainable funding increases via a levy on importers.

• build funding and profile of the Environmental Biosecurity Office.

• creation of Environmental Health Australia - an independent body to coordinate environmental biosecurity preparedness and response, similar to Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia.

State of Environmental Biosecurity Report

An independent assessment of the status of environmental biosecurity in Australia, and the dire trajectory of nature due to invasive species, is essential. This will put invasive species at the centre of the extinction crisis and shine the spotlight on biosecurity in a huge year where we can amplify our impact. Once exposed it will vastly improve our biosecurity by catalysing policy improvements and funding increases.

STRATEGY

Goal: Win critical commitments from all major parties for dedicated funding for feral cat management, world heritage protection, threat abatement, island eradications and environmental biosecurity; win a suite of biosecurity levers for systemic change.

Strategy: Leverage global attention to generate critical funding commitments to prevent further extinctions and protect key conservation areas.

Tactics:

• Launch our State of Environmental Biosecurity Report to the media prior to the Global Nature Positive Summit, putting invasive species at the centre of the nature crisis.

• Launch our World Heritage Under Siege report.

• Mobilise supporters and cross sector alliances to seek more funding for nature.

State of Environmental Biosecurity Report 2024: Exposing the mega threat to nature

CAMPAIGN

Helmeted honeyeater

Invasive species are destroying our totems and degrading our land and sea Country. Our Country is crying out for an end to this damage.

As the nation’s first land managers, our culture understands the importance of caring for Country. Unfortunately, modern Australian culture continues to allow invasive species to threaten our land. Bringing our native plants and animals back from the brink will require a culture shift that prioritises the protection and healing of our ancient and diverse landscapes.

We urgently need a culture of connectedness. A culture of accepting our shared responsibility of custodianship.

Voice of Country aims to build a national, Indigenous-led distributed network of leaders and communities to save Country from invasive species. With the hands of Indigenous people and the hearts and minds of modern Australian communities, it will take all of us to care for Country.

All Australians, Indigenous or not, are invited to join us to care for and heal Country. To accept this land as your heritage and accept caring for it as part of your culture. To take responsibility for protecting our ancient rivers, diverse landscapes and unique wildlife.

Associate Professor Richard Swain is a Wiradjuri man, the Invasive Species Council’s Indigenous Ambassador and leads the Voice of Country program. He co-founded the Reclaim Kosci campaign, which aims to save Kosciuszko National Park from destructive feral horses. Visit this page to hear Richard at the Federal Senate Inquiry into feral horses in the Australian Alps.

Because everything’s connected and everything is struggling. At the moment, we’re putting out spot fires. Everyone’s getting around, lobbying for one certain species or one certain thing, but really, we’ve got to realise it’s all part of the bigger picture.

This work will cut across all invasive species issues in all states and territories. Ensuring truth telling of the impact of invasive species on Indigenous culture and totems is crucial to negate opposition from those fixated on colonial versions of history and who glorify feral animals like the horse and deer. It adds a compelling element and acts as an antidote to despair. It will transform the terrible state of environmental biosecurity into a heartfelt community opportunity for people to join together and care for Country.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: By 2024 commitments are made to appoint a new Indigenous Caring for Country Commissioner in 3 jurisdictions. Strategy: Empower First Nations peoples to be advocates on invasive species on Country; insert invasive species management as the leading solution to protect Country.

Tactics:

• Neutralise opponents who block solutions, with a forced choice between invasive species or a healthy Country.

• Increase resources and capacity for Indigenous-led caring for Country and invasive species management on their land.

Image right: Richard in the Snowy Mountains, Ngarigo Country, NSW.

Australia needs a Caring for Country Commissioner

An independent, authoritative First Nation’s voice could guide the protection and management of natural and Indigenous cultural heritage values. The Commissioner should be an empowered First Nations voice and public champion on protecting and restoring Country.

Proposed functions of a Commissioner:

• Support First Nations land managers with resources.

• Facilitate two-way knowledge exchange.

• A strong focus on invasive species and protection of biodiversity.

• A public advocate for nature and culturally significant species.

• Hold decision-makers and land managers to account.

Proposed governance:

• Defined in law.

• Sit as an independent voice outside of existing departmental structures.

• Report to parliament on the protection of natural and cultural heritage values.

• Strong focus on managing invasive species in protected areas.

The final battle for Kosciuszko National Park

Our flagship campaign, Reclaim Kosci, has reached the final battle to save Australia’s iconic Kosciuszko. Our recent success has seen significant reductions in feral horses to protect our highly sensitive alpine and subalpine regions. The federal government has also announced a zero-tolerance approach to feral horses in the Alps. This year we strive to repeal the ridiculous NSW Kosciuszko Wild Horse Heritage Act. We’ll also be working hard to maintain the social licence that has been built.

Additionally, our campaign efforts will set a precedent for the removal of feral horses from protected areas including Blue Mountains and Barrington Tops, Kroombit Tops National Park and Alpine National Park and provide stronger national safeguards for all listed world heritage places, national parks and nationally listed wetlands, such as Barmah forest in Victoria. We’ll ride the momentum from the Kosciuszko campaign to demand more action.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goal: Reduce the number of feral horses in the Alps by 30% by 2025; establish eradication programs in key protected areas in NSW, Victoria & Queensland; repeal feral horse protected status in NSW. Strategy: Maintain social licence to protect nature by rapidly removing feral horses.

Tactics:

• Secure high profile media coverage of the impact of feral horses.

• Mobilise passionate politicians in NSW to repeal the Wild Horse Heritage Act.

• Support volunteers to run an on-ground petition in key seats seeking repeal of the Wild Horse Heritage Act.

Kosciuszko. Photo: Carol Sechtig

Feral animals in South Australia

Our successful efforts to protect Australia’s Alps from feral horses and deer has increased social licence, giving governments more confidence to take greater action, like South Australia. They’ve announced an ambitious 10-year feral deer eradication plan.

However, a lack of funding and escalating pressure from opponents risks success. Hunters are seeking to block feral deer eradication, the feral goat harvesting industry wants goat farming restrictions lifted and there is opposition to feral cat management. We’ll counter this to ensure the South Australian environment is protected from feral animals. The Invasive Species Council can intervene and ensure wins for South Australia.

Successful eradication of feral deer holds national significance. It would be the first state to demonstrate that eradication is possible with focus and funding, setting an important precedent for other states, especially where deer are not yet widespread.

Now is the time for the Invasive Species Council to ramp up action to protect South Australia’s environment. We seek to win a further $11million in feral deer eradication funding, a feral cat strategy and ensure feral goats and pigs do not get a foothold in the state.

Forest transitions in Victoria

An outstanding opportunity exists to improve the quality of Victoria’s state forests as logging ends. We seek jobs and investment in invasive feral animal control by retraining and aligning hardwood timber industry workers, who are experienced in working in these remote and rugged areas, with control programs that align with the biosecurity approach to invasive species control.

Goals: Increase federal and state funding for feral animal management; commitments for strong laws preventing further spread of feral animals.

Strategy: Leverage built social licence and federal election for action and funding.

Tactics: Mobilise environmental and agricultural groups; demonstrate social licence to governments and in the media to counter damaging narratives of opponents.

Goal: Invasive species management plays a leading role for a just transition out of forestry in Victoria.

Strategy: Promote social and economic benefits of transition; build alliance with key union, environmental and tourism groups.

Tactics: Negotiate with governments on job transition; regular high profile media; coordinated advocacy with alliance partners.

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Mountain ash along the Black Spur, Victoria. Photo: THP Creative

Shooters are illegally transporting feral pigs into South Australia from NSW and Victoria to establish new populations.

Stopping a catastrophe

Feral cats kill billions of animals annually. Roaming pet cats are estimated to add another 340 million native mammals, birds and reptiles to that toll. They are the reason why Australia’s the world leader in mammal extinctions causing 25 extinctions.

Since launching Australia’s first, continuous advocacy campaign to stop feral and free-roaming cats from driving species to extinction we’ve won an inquiry into pet cats in NSW – the only state that has laws preventing councils from enforcing 24 hour cat curfews. We’ve deployed AI to defend our most vulnerable in several places around the country. And we’ve created the conditions that are ripe for change. The federal government declared a war on cats and have improved the federal feral cat management plan. However, funding for this plan is not yet committed.

This year we’ll ramp up our campaign to ensure the government steps up with enough funding, focus and reform to match the seriousness of this threat. Otherwise, it’s no different than the former government’s ‘war on cats’; a plan with little funding which left our wildlife relentlessly hunted.

We’re also asking for a national feral cat research program that develops and operationalises improved control tools, including regulatory approvals and detailed national mapping of key biodiversity areas under threat. We must also continue to build public support for lethal feral cat control to protect native wildlife to ensure political action.

In addition to our island protection strategy which includes feral cat eradications (see page 6), we want to expand our work for pet cats contained with a Safe cat, safe wildlife alliance in NSW, then expand across South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland. We’re also seeking commitments from the federal government.

This specimen from 1896 informed the scientific description of the desert bandicoot. It is extinct, the primary cause being 50% cats and 40% foxes.

Photo: David Staples (c Museums Victoria)

CAMPAIGN STRATEGY

Goals: $60m of new federal funding dedicated to feral cat control, in place by 2025, with a commitment for long term investment; commitments to at least 4 statewide feral cat strategies, and state funding commitments totalling at least $20m in new funds by 2026.

Strategy: Utilise Tasmanian, Queensland and federal elections to win increased funding and pet cat containment commitments.

Tactics:

• Increase public and political awareness of all cat impacts on native wildlife and the risk of further extinctions.

• Mobilise supporters and conservation land managers to build pressure on local MPs to call on decision-makers to fund feral cat control.

A crucial investment

As the only advocacy-focused environmental NGO committed to stopping invasive species-led extinction and destruction, the Invasive Species Council provides a crucial investment in our future. Your investment of core funds can help us rapidly grow into a larger, stronger organisation, capable of scaling and accelerating our impact. The simple fact is, money is power. Your investment can also leverage critical government funds. This is how we can successfully amplify our impact, ensure zero extinctions and lead a wildlife revival.

These are some of our successes since 2002:

• In 2023, won commitments of over $550 million from the federal government and most states and territories toward fire ant eradication from South East Queensland.

• In 2023, won commitments from the incoming NSW Labor government that are being implemented, including: 100 new National Parks and Wildlife Service pest and weed officers; an independent biosecurity commission; a permitted list to stop the sale of weedy plants through nurseries; feral horse reductions in Kosciuszko National Park to 3000 by 2027; a comprehensive independent inquiry into invasive species management.

• In 2022 won federal funding commitments to protect Queensland’s Wet Tropics World Heritage area, $24.8M for Queensland’s yellow crazy ant eradication programs and $9.8M to tackle gamba grass.

• In 2022 protected Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area from feral deer by securing a commitment, in the Tasmanian government’s deer strategy, to keep it deer free.

• In 2021 protected Kosciuszko National Park by winning a new NSW plan to reduce feral horses from 14,000 to 3,000 by 2027.

• In 2021 won a stronger feral horse plan for Victoria’s Alpine National Park.

• In 2020 secured a new Victorian deer management strategy that prioritises the environment including $18M over 4 years for on-ground feral deer control.

• In 2019 protected NSW from feral deer by removing protected status and official recognition as a priority pest.

• In 2018 secured the appointment of a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer.

• In 2017 protected SE Queensland and Australia by securing $411M in a 10-year commitment to eradicate red fire ants.

Wilpena Pound - Flinders Ranges National Park. Photo: ccdoh1

Funding needed

We urgently need your help to build a committed network of funding partners to prevent invasive species-led extinctions and catalyse a wildlife revival.

Our science-based campaign strategy is poised to deliver transformative change in this critical fight. Yet achieving our ambitious goals requires matching the $2.5 million 5-year grant awarded by the Ian Potter Foundation in December 2021. This foundational support is not just a testament to our capabilities, it validates our approach and also offers the platform for further investment to magnify our capacity for impact.

Your vital contribution will enable you to play a key role in stopping invasive species-led extinctions and saving wildlife.

Together we can amplify our impact and lead a wildlife revival.

Please contact CEO Andrew Cox on 0438 588 040 or email andrewcox@invasives.org.au

Thank you

We’ve been helping the Invasive Species Council with the feral horse issue in Kosciuszko National Park. The destruction caused by feral horses is significant, and there is a real need to address it. No other environmental groups are focusing on this issue, and that’s one of the reasons why we are helping the Invasive Species Council.

We are impressed with Andrew as a CEO and also with the organisation. Using science to advocate for better environmental outcomes is not a new trick of the trade, but one that Andrew and his team use effectively. We are very supportive of the Council and we’d like others who are interested in biodiversity to consider joining us in funding the organisation.

Robert Purves AM, Purves Environmental Fund

The Invasive Species Council is a registered charity with DGR 1 status.

Visit www.invasives.org.au/donate

Via EFT: Account: Invasive Species Council Inc.

Bank: Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited BSB: 633000 Account: 117645358

Critically endangered mountain pygmy possum.

Photo: Chris Humfrey

Our vision

By 2050, invasive species are no longer a major driver of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation in Australia.

Our mission

We catalyse strong, collaborative biosecurity to protect and restore Australia’s extraordinary wildlife and ecosystems.

We value being

Advocates for nature Committed to science Fearless and persistent Collaborative with First Australians

Our 2030 goal is for Australia to have a strong environmental biosecurity system, enabling more effective:

Prevention: the establishment of new invasive species in Australia has substantially slowed, and no new very-high-risk species have permanently established.

Eradications: priority invasive species are being systematically eliminated from the Australian mainland and islands.

Containment and control: invasive species have not caused any more extinctions, high priority invasive species are being effectively contained or controlled, and priority biodiversity sites are being protected.

Thankyouforyoursupport

The Chuditch (Western Quoll) faces predation by foxes and feral cats.

Photo: Lochman Transparencies