Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has responded to New England MP Barnaby Joyce’s questions in relation to the detection of Red Fire Ants in the Prime Ministers electorate in Sydney
Yesterday in parliament, Mr Joyce asked questions surrounding the detection of the red ant which Minister Collins says the government is taking very seriously.
Minister Collins says the detection was made on the 23th September, notified the NSW Dept of Primary Industries on the 24th, confirmation of red fire ants on the 25th of September and treatment works on one nest completed on the 28th of September.
Minister Collins says the Federal and State governments had acted together, adding under the Biosecurity arrangements, the state government is responsible for managing the on-ground response.
Me Joyce stated on social media that the story about the discovery and treatment of fire ants in Inner Sydney just does not stack up.
