Fire ants have been found within kilometres of the NSW border in the southernmost detection of the invasive pest. The discovery of a nest at Tallebudgera on Queensland’s Gold Coast has authorities on high alert and prompted further calls for fast-tracked funding.

The detection has prompted the Invasive Species Council to repeat it calls for increased eradication efforts.

Fire ants have been in Australia since 2001 when they were found in Brisbane. A meeting of agriculture ministers in Perth last week failed to agree on funding to combat the super pest, despite identifying the “very real threat” it poses and endorsing a new response plan.

‘They need to stop mucking around’ “They need to stop mucking around and get on with an urgent ramp-up of the eradication program,” Mr Pianta said.