Government weeds lists' and strategies

The Australian Weeds Strategy (2017-2027) provides a national framework for addressing weed issues whilst maintaining the profitability and sustainability of Australia’s primary industries and the reducing the impact of weeds on the environment.

This strategy is overseen by the inter-jurisdictional Environment and Invasives Committee and its weeds working group.

A number of jurisdictions also have specific Biosecurity or Invasive Species strategies:

1. ACT Biosecurity Strategy (2016-2026)
2. NSW Invasive Species Plan (2018-2021)
3. NT Biosecurity Strategy (2016-2016)
4. QLD Invasive Plants and Animal Strategy (2019-2024)
5. WA Biosecurity Strategy

Thirty two Weeds of National Significance (WoNS) have been identified by Australian governments based on their invasiveness, potential for spread and environmental, social and economic impacts.

A list of 20 WoNS was endorsed in 1999 and a further 12 were added in 2012.

Note that some of  the 32 WoNS are grouped together together as one (e.g. Asparagus weeds, Brooms, Opuntioid cacti, and Bitou bush / Boneseed).

1. African boxthorn
2. asparagus weeds
3. alligator weed
4. athel pine
5. bellyach bush
6. bitou bush/boneseed
7. blackberry
8. bridal creeper
9. brooms
10. cabomba
11. cat’s claw creeper
12. Chilean needle grass
13. fireweed
14. gamba grass
15. gorse
16. hymenachne
17. lantana
18. Madeira vine
19. mesquite
20. mimosa
21. opuntioid cacti
22. parkinsonia
23. parthenium weed
24. pond apple
25. prickly acacia
26. rubber vine
27. sagittaria
28. salvinia
29. serrated tussock
30. silverleaf nightshade
31. water hyacinth
32. willows

Many of these WONS have their own management manuals and guides. More detailed information about these WONS and their Manuals can be found via our Weeds Profile section.

Successful biological control is the most effective way to control most weeds in the long term. Weeds are listed as target species for biological control  through a cross-jurisdictional government process that allows for research on biological control for that weed.

The introduction of a potential biological control agent is separately assessed under the Biosecurity Act 2015 and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The assessment involves comprehensive host testing (testing what plants the biological control agent will attack) before release.

Distribution and Description of Agents

A national site for recording the distribution of weed biological control agents is available at Biocollect. This website aims to centralise information on the known distribution, availability and redistribution methods of weed biological control agents in south eastern Australia. This enables land managers and community groups seeking agents to identify sources of supply and apply appropriate redistribution techniques.

Target species

The table below lists the target weed species approved for biological control by the Australian Weeds Committee (AWC) (prior to February 1983 and from March 2009) and the Natural Resource Management Standing Committee or its predecessors (February 1983 to February 2009) or under the Biological Control Act 1984. A link to the procedure for determining candidate weed species and/or control agents for biological control is at the bottom of this page.

In March 2009 the National Biosecurity Committee advised that AWC is to conduct the whole process and that Natural Resource Management Standing Committee approval is no longer required.

Please note this table has not been updated since 2014, so care should be taken when referencing it.

Abbreviations

• AAC=Australian Agricultural Council
• APCC=Animal and Plant Control Commision (SA)
• AWC=Australian Weeds Committee
• BCA=Biological Control Act 1985
• DCFL=Victorian Department of Conservartion
• DPI=Department of Primary Industry
• DPIF=Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
• DPIR=Department of Primary Industries and Resources
• NBC=National Biosecurity Committee
• NPWS=National Parks and Wildlife Service
• NRMSC=Natural Resource Management Standing Committee
• PPC=Plant Production Committee (a subcommittee of SCARM)
• SARDI=South Australian Research and Delevopment Institute
• SCA=Standing Committee on Agrticulture
• SCARM=Standing Committee on Agriculture and Resource Management, Forests and Lands.

There are additional weed biological control programs which pre existed the AWC approval process. Included in this group are prickly pear and lantana programs, where agents were first introduced in 1914.This list is included below. Public interest in these weeds may have changed over the years.

Note: Number in brackets is the meeting number.

The first biological control approved listing was implemented by the Australian Weeds Committee. Following this the NRMSC Procedure for Determining Candidate Weed Species and/or Control Agents for Biological Control was developed.

The current full procedure can be downloaded in PDF format – NRMSC Approved Procedure for Determining Candidate Weed Species and/or Control Agents for Biological Control (90 kb)

Weed Biological Control Programmes in Operation Prior to the Introduction of the Formal Target List

• Acacia nilotica ssp. Indica, prickly acacia;
• Acanthocereus pentagonus, sword pear;
• Ageratina adenophora, crofton weed;
• Alternanthera philoxeroides, alligator weed;
• Baccharis halimifolia, groundsel bush;
• Cryptostegia grandiflora, rubbervine;
• Cytisus scoparius, broom;
• Harrisia bonplandii, Harrisia cactus;
• Harrisia martini, Harrisia cactus;
• Harrisia tortuosus, Harrisia cactus;
• Lantana camara, lantana;
• Lantana montevidensis, creeping lantana
• Mimosa pigra, mimosa;
• Opuntia aurantiaca, tiger pear;
• Opuntia dillenii, spiny pest pear;
• Opuntia imbricata, rope pear;
• Opuntia monocantha, drooping tree pear;
• Opuntia streptacantha, white spine prickly pear;
• Opuntia stricta, common prickly pear;
• Opuntia tomentose, velvet tree pear;
• Parthenium hysterophorus, parthenium weed;
• Pistia stratiotes, water lettuce;
• Salvinia molesta, salvinia;
• Sida rhombifolia, paddy’s lucerne;
• Xanthium strumarium, noogoora burr;

There are lists that identify what plant species are permitted entry into Australia. This list can found via this Australian Government website.

The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer has released an interim list of priority exotic environmental pests, weeds and diseases.

The Priority List focuses on exotic pests, weeds and diseases that are not established in Australia and that pose the highest risk to our environment and public spaces. This list will be used to enable activities that help prevent the entry, establishment and spread of exotic pests and diseases.

You can find the list here

The National Environmental Alert List (the Alert List) for environmental weeds identifies 28 plant species that are in the early stages of establishment and have the potential to become a significant threat to biodiversity if they are not managed.

The Alert List complements the Weeds of National Significance (WONS) list, which includes weeds already causing significant agricultural, forestry and environmental damage.

Species were identified for the Alert List based on three criteria:

• posing a high or serious potential threat to the environment
• having limited distribution within Australia at present
• being amenable to successful eradication or containment programs.

We will be providing a list of species here imminently, as it is currently being updated.

Sleeper weeds are plants that appear benign for many years, but which may suddenly spread rapidly following certain natural events such as flood, fire, drought, climate change, or change in land or water management. Sleeper weeds are not always recognised as a significant problem, even though the potential threat they pose to industry, people or the environment may be extreme.

Agricultural sleeper weeds are naturalised exotic plants, that are currently only present in small areas but that have the potential to spread widely and have a major impact on agriculture.

The potential agricultural sleeper weed list complements the Weeds of National Significance list, which includes weeds that are already widespread.

We will be providing a list of species here imminently, as it is currently being updated.

The National Four Tropical Weeds Eradication program targets:

• Koster’s Curse (Clidemia hirta)
• Limnocharis (Limnocharis flava)
• Mikania Vine (Mikania micrantha)
• Miconia (Miconia calvescens, M. racemosa, M. nervosa)

The programme maps and monitors the full distribution of these species, and coordinates activities to eradicate the species from Australia. The programme involves extensive community engagement to:

• identify infested areas
• conduct targeted weed surveys for weed control
• identify research components.

In addition to the national lists above, state and territory governments have their own lists of noxious weeds. The Weeds Australia profiles contains a summary of the state and territory noxious weed legislation and associated lists.

We will be providing a list of species here imminently, as it is currently being updated.