Weed categories
What is a weed? Simply, a weed is defined as a plant growing where you don't want it. However, in reality it is a bit more complicated than that. In NSW there are many other definitions for weeds too. You may have heard of environmental weeds, agricultural weeds, Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) and National Environmental Alert List weeds.
These are all different classifications of weeds and interestingly some weeds can be several of these classifications. For instance, serrated tussock is a WoNS and a serious agricultural weed in some parts of NSW. Similarly, alligator weed is a WoNS, an environmental weed and is now emerging as an agricultural weed as well.
You can check what weeds are in your area and how they need to be managed using NSW WeedWise.
In NSW all plants are regulated with a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
Freshwater ecosystems are highly vulnerable to invasion by weeds. Many exotic plants have been accidentally or deliberately introduced into waterways in New South Wales, and have become widespread.
Some Australian native plants have become invasive in areas beyond their natural range or habitat. This is partly due to their popularity as ornamental plants, and partly due to landscape changes.
Many areas of native vegetation are protected in Australia. Always check native vegetation requirements before undertaking control of a weedy native plant.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 places restrictions on the trade and movement of plants that harm the NSW environment, economy and community. Those plants are called 'priority weeds' and the restrictions on trade and movement apply to all parts of the plant including cuts, cultivars and hybrids.
'State priority weeds' MUST NOT be sold anywhere in NSW. People that buy or sell state priority weeds in NSW are committing an offence under the Biosecurity Act 2015 that carries large penalties. The following legal instruments apply:
Prohibited Matter – A person who deals with prohibited matter or a carrier of prohibited matter is guilty of an offence. The definition of 'dealing' is broad and includes having, buying, selling, moving, growing and disposal.
Control Order – Requires all parts of the plant to be destroyed until eradicated.
Mandatory Measure (Prohibition on Dealings) – Must not be imported into the State or sold.
'Regional priority weeds' should not be sold or moved in certain Local Land Services regions of NSW. If you buy, sell or move regional priority weeds you may be failing to discharge your general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise risks as far as is reasonably practicable, and this also carries large penalties.
Visit NSW WeedWise for details of each weed’s biosecurity duties.
NOTE - all sellers and traders of plants have a general biosecurity duty to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk they may pose. Any person who deals with any plant, who knows (or ought to know) of any biosecurity risk that their activities create, has a duty to ensure the risk is prevented, eliminated or minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable.
