The NSW Government is in the middle of a three-day blitz to keep invasive fire ants out of NSW, with joint teams of personnel from NSW Police, Heavy Vehicle Regulation Authority and Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) undertaking random compliance checks of heavy vehicles entering NSW from Queensland as part of a $95 million investment to eradicate the destructive insects.

The Government’s plan is to prevent fire ants from taking hold in NSW by raising awareness amongst communities and businesses on both sides of the border, and establishing a community-wide monitoring effort, so that any infestations are identified early and then quickly eradicated.

The Government’s team for conducting this sixth wave of Operation Victa brings together biosecurity specialists, vehicle regulators, Police, and Transport officials to pull over vehicles, check their compliance credentials and inspect their loads and vehicle condition.

Over five previous waves, 382 heavy vehicles have been stopped, with 14 vehicles returned to Qld under individual biosecurity directions for failing to meet entry requirements, plus issuing 13 penalty notices and 3 warnings. 

(NSW Minister for Agriculture at Operation Victa. Photo: supplied)

This sixth wave of Operation Victa is a 3-day operation with NSW Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator that started yesterday (Thursday, 15 May) until Saturday, 17 May, at three key locations in the north of the state in Chinderah, Yelgun and Jennings.

This follows the NSW Government’s suspension of turf being moved from Queensland Fire Ant-infested areas into NSW in November last year. The Government then cracked down on the movement of hay after the near cyclone Tracey period in April, suspending any movement of hay into NSW from Queensland.

In February this year the NSW Government ensured that two Queensland businesses were prosecuted and then separately convicted in the NSW Local Court for breaching biosecurity regulations and in total ordered to pay $60,000. 

These successful prosecutions highlight the effectiveness of the Minns Government's surveillance and compliance activities. DPIRD has now issued over 100 biosecurity directions and 22 penalty notices totalling more than $39,000 since the fire ant emergency was declared in August 2023.

Anyone moving high-risk fire ant carriers such as soil, mulch, hay, sand, and plants must be aware of treatment and handling requirements according to the Biosecurity Emergency Order before they can be moved into NSW from the Queensland fire ant-infested area.

For more information on fire ants, call the Biosecurity Helpline on 1800 680 244 or visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fire-ants. 

NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said, “The NSW Government takes the threat of red imported fire ants seriously and we've proven so far in 2025 that this hardline approach to protect NSW is necessary.

“We’ve taken a risk-based approach. When the risk moves higher, we’ve made hard decisions, like suspending turf or hay movements.

“Our Fire Ant Teams are working hard with other agencies to keep fire ants out of NSW. Swift response, focus, and agility is required as we must keep going because this threat requires diligence.

“We also call for vigilance in the community, which is critical to the success of our program. We thank those community members whose quick actions calling our hotline have led to the state avoiding potential problems. 

“As I’ve said many times, fire ants aren’t marching into NSW, they’re being carried. This is why we increased funding for eradicating fire ants and boosted surveillance and control actions.”

“Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, so it’s critical that businesses moving these types of materials comply with the Biosecurity Fire Ant Emergency Order.”