CEBRA tells public inquiry on red imported fire ants: impacts could cost Australia “half a COVID”

At a public hearing on red imported fire ants, CEBRA CEO Andrew Robinson and Deputy CEO Susie Hester warned of major economic damages if the pest becomes widespread. At the hearing of the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport held in Newcastle, expert witnesses gave evidence on the impacts of RIFA on agriculture, the environment, human health, and way of life, as well as the potential for eradication.

Using CEBRA’s Value Model , which calculates damages of invasive species if they are allowed to establish and spread throughout Australia, potential damages due to the impact of RIFA were estimated to range from $40 billion to over $60 billion over 30 years. The model combines predictions the spatial spread of RIFA originating from Queensland and New South Wales with damages to 16 different asset categories, which include agriculture, recreation, and infrastructure. These damages can escalate rapidly with large numbers of uncontrolled outbreaks and over a longer time period. “We project that the combined damage to agriculture and recreation and tourism will exceed 1.5 per cent of Australia's GDP and that the silent cost to the environment will be 1.3 per cent of GDP. Jointly, this is 2.8 per cent of GDP, which is approximately half of a COVID”, Professor Robinson said.

CEBRA also presented evidence on the cost-saving benefits of community engagement in managing RIFA. Community engagement enables passive surveillance, which is where members of the public report sightings of the pest. In a study conducted by Associate Professor Susie Hester and colleagues , $1m invested in public engagement activities for RIFA had saved $60m in active surveillance costs between 2006 and 2010.

RIFA has been present in Australia since at least 2001, when it was first detected in Queensland. The Greater Brisbane area is the centre of widespread infestation and in November last year RIFA was detected in, and has since been confirmed to have spread to New South Wales.