In Australia, an invasive species - a tiny red fire ant - seriously threatens our wildlife and our outdoor lifestyle.   The Invasive Species Council of Australia outlines below the urgency of taking immediate action to stop the ants spreading from lower Queensland into NSW and beyond.   This petition aims to bring this problem to the attention of the wider Change.Org community for urgent action:

Invasive ants are on the march across Australia. 

Please act today, while there is still time to eradicate them.

In Australia, red imported fire ants are spreading throughout South East QLD and towards the Murray Darling Basin. If they are allowed to continue to expand they will relentlessly sting and destroy populations of native animals including the iconic platypus and echidna, the vulnerable painted button quail and even the endangered leatherback sea turtle hatchlings when on shore. 

Research shows that these tiny killer ants have the ability to cause extinctions. 

In total, invasive species have already pushed a whopping 42 native Australian animals into extinction. That’s 75% of ALL native animal extinctions in Australia since colonisation, including the desert bandicoot, the lesser bilby and the large-eared hopping-mouse.

This is an emergency for nature — entire species’ existence are on the line. And currently, eradication programs — including that for the red fire ant — urgently need more funding. 

Add your voice now and help us take 50,000 signatures to Federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek. 

Together we can loudly call for increased funding and urgent action to stop invasive species-led destruction, deaths and extinctions in Australia.

LEAVE A MESSAGE FOR TANYA PLIBERSEK
https://www.tanyaplibersek.com/  

Or fill out the Contact Form on her government channel:

https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members/Contact_Senator_or_Member?MPID=83M