[ABC News 8 Oct. 2010] -- Federal MP Mike Kelly has hailed a recent
government decision as an important step forward in the control of fireweed in
south east New South Wales.The Federal Government will now invest $300 000 in
on-ground research, and the noxious plant will be considered for listing as a
Weed of National Significance. Authorities have described the spread of fireweed
in the Bega Valley as the worst outbreak in years, and say it can have
disastrous impacts on the livestock industry. Dr Kelly is now the Parliamentary
Secretary for Agriculture, and he says the problem needs national attention.
"We can't wait until a weed becomes an out of control problem before we put
it as a Weed of National Significance," he said.
"We need to include it in our management programs before it gets totally out
of control, so it is very important that we raise the profile."
"The project will gather data to ensure that we can put up a good case for it
to be considered as Weed of National Significance, which means it will get much
closer control measures applied to it.
"There'll be obligations of course, so I shouldn't be coy about that, there
will be greater obligations on people in relation to the management, reporting
and control of fireweed."