Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order
The current Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order defines the emergency zones and requirements for moving fire ant carriers.
If you are moving the defined fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order. View the current order and Plain English Guide.
GROUP PERMIT FOR HAY EXPIRED:
The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allowed movements of hay from lower risk areas in the Qld fire ant biosecurity zone under certain conditions between June 2024 and March 2025, expired on 2 June 2025.
The permit was suspended from 13 March to 13 April 2025 and then indefinitely following Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which heightened risk of fire ants moving in floodwaters.
If you are moving hay from the parts of Qld fire ant infested area, you must fully comply with requirements of the current Emergency Order. Read the current Order and understand your obligations.
Fire ants infest around 830,000 ha in Southeast Queensland, close to the NSW border which poses an ongoing risk of new infestations in NSW. Most of NSW has been free of fire ants. Nests found in South Murwillumbah (November 2023), Wardell (January 2024) and Tweed heads (July 2025) were destroyed and surveillance and treatment are ongoing, in partnership with the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program.
The movement of fire ant carrier material from fire ant infested areas is prohibited unless certain conditions are met. Conditions are detailed in the Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency order.
The Department has a NSW Fire Ant Strategic Plan 2024-2025 (PDF, 184.47 KB) that sets out key actions to prevent fire ants from establishing in NSW.
Fire ants in NSW
South Murwillumbah
Fire ants were detected at South Murwillumbah on 24 November 2023.
Wardell
Fire ants were detected at Wardell on 19 January 2024.
Tweed Heads
On July 2, 2025 fire ants were found at a property in Tweed Heads.
