An invasive weed species continues to be a big issue in the district with Northern Tablelands MP Brendan Moylan bringing the issue to the attention of State Parliament’s.

Mr Moylan says Harrisia Cactus, which is a nasty and aggressive plant that chokes out pastures to a level which is unsuitable for livestock, is causing great concern to the electorate, in particular in the Moree Plains and Gwydir Local Government Area’s.

The MP says the barbs of the harrisia cactus will not come out when the plant is disturbed, so livestock and native animals essentially become trapped in the cactus, where they will die a very slow and painful death if they are not found by the landholder or neighbours.

Despite the government running a program to combat the weed, which ends this June, Mr Moylan called for the government to do more to stop the spread of this awful weed.