Growing frustration at the Federal Government's lack of action has prompted angry weed researchers to lash out. One researcher, who was unable to comment publicly on the issue, said the Government was happy to blow $2 billion on its insulation scheme while failing to fully fund the weed threat. "It's still the case that weeds cost us $4 billion a year," she said.
Labor made its 2007 election commitment to weeds research in response to the former Howard Government's closure of the Weeds Co-operative Research Centre. Greens Senator Christine Milne said when the research centre was dismissed Labor was the first to make a commitment to look after the country. "But where's Tony Burke (now) on weeds?" Senator Milne said. "I'm calling on the Government to explain what happened to their concern for rural and regional Australia." Senator Milne said it was not just agriculture and farmers who had been let down by Mr Burke, but also local councils and rural communities who saw invasive weeds destroying ecosystems.
Former research centre founding director, weeds researcher and West Australian farmer, Stephen Powles, said Department of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries staff had told him on four occasions in the past 18 months that an announcement on funding was imminent. "They keep saying in the next few weeks there will be an announcement," Prof Powles said. When The Weekly Times asked Mr Burke's office why the money had not been allocated, the minister's spokesman said: "The Government is finalising arrangements for the next stage of the program."
The research centre's last director, Rachel McFadyen, said there was a clear indication from Labor in 2007 that it took the $4 billion cost of weeds to Australia seriously. "The sad thing is there was an established Weeds CRC structure they could have built on to set up a thriving research centre," Dr McFadyen said.