Fire Ant Spread Could Kill Dozens, Cost Billions Annually in Australia

If Australia does not ramp up fire ant eradication efforts, the invasive species will cause billion-dollar economic impacts and the death of dozens of people and thousands of pets, a study has found.

An Australia Institute report warns a spike in stings could cause an extra 620,000 medical visits and kill more than 30 people due to anaphylaxis annually if red imported fire ants, an invasive species, are not contained.

The Australia Institute research director Rod Campbell said governments were not adequately funding eradication measures.

"If a murderer said they planned to kill 30 random Australians each year, the response would be enormous," he said.

"That's essentially what fire ants are doing, yet the response is minimal.

"Our research shows that investing in fire ant eradication is one of the best economic policies a government could adopt, as well as being good environmental and security policy."

Australia spends about $148 million each year on management and eradication activities under its fire ant response plan.

But The Australia Institute's study pointed to a separate 2021 report suggesting eradicating the invasive species would cost between $200 million and $300 million a year for a decade.

"If allowed to spread across Australia, red imported fire ants could cost Australian households $1.08 billion in medical, veterinary and management costs every year," the report read.

The report estimated fire ants could cause more than 2.3 million additional vet visits a year, at an overall cost of $228 million.

The study predicted 2,300 pets would die each year.

"Prime Minister Albanese, a renowned animal lover, could save Australian households $1 billion a year and a lot of heartache by properly funding and prioritising fire ant eradication," Mr Campbell said.