Title: Governments join forces in $1.3m siam weed eradication program
[By Siobhan Barrym, 22 June 2009 - ABC News] The Commonwealth and several state and territory governments are joining Queensland to fight the highly invasive siam weed. Queensland Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says the class-one pest is contained in three pockets in the state's north - around Tully and Innisfail, Townsville and Thuringowa, and Innot Hot Springs and Mossman. He says the Northern Territory, New South Wales and Western Australian governments are contributing to a $1.3 million fund to eradicate the weed. Mr Mulherin says the weed could spread if it becomes endemic in Queensland. "Not only does it affect grazing, it's toxic to stock, it creates an increased fire hazard in rural areas and can easily spread into inaccessible areas which makes eradication more difficult," he said. "Siam weed can also be a risk to human health - it causes skin complaints and it exacerbates asthmatics."