{"id":"F2006L02611","name":"Threat Abatement Plan to Reduce the Impacts of Tramp Ants on Biodiversity in Australia and its Territories","slug":"threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":59893,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2006L02611-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Environment Protection and Biodiversity ","sectionType":"part","heading":"Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999","content":"# Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999\n\nSection 270B\n\nMaking of Threat Abatement Plans\n\nI, IAN GORDON CAMPBELL, Minister for the Environment and Heritage, under section 270B(2) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, hereby make the threat abatement plan for the listed key threatening process specified below and the respective plan is specified opposite the listed key threatening process:\n\n| Listed Key Threatening Process | Threat Abatement Plan |\n| -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| The reduction in the biodiversity of Australian native fauna and flora due to the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (fire ant) | Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity in Australia and its territories, Department of the Environment and Heritage, 2006, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra |\n\nThe above threat abatement plan will come into force on the date of signing of this instrument.\n\nDated this 14th day of June, 2006.\n\nIAN CAMPBELL\n\nMinister for the Environment and Heritage\n\n \n\nTHREAT ABATEMENT PLAN\n\nTO REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF TRAMP ANTS ON BIODIVERSITY IN AUSTRALIA AND ITS TERRITORIES\n\n![](image.001.jpeg)","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"CONTENTS","sectionType":"division","heading":"CONTENTS","content":"### CONTENTS\n\n1\\. INTRODUCTION 1 \n\n2\\. BACKGROUND 3\n\n2.1 THE THREAT 3\n\n2.2 IMPACT 3\n\n2.3 MANAGING THE THREAT 4 \n\n3\\. THREAT ABATEMENT 6\n\n3.1 GOALS 6\n\n3.2 OBJECTIVES 6\n\n3.3 OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS 6\n\n3.4 OTHER ECOLOGICAL MATTERS AFFECTED BY THE PLAN 16 \n\n4\\. DURATION & EVALUATION OF THE PLAN 17\n\n4.1 DURATION AND COST OF THE PLAN 17\n\n4.2 IMPLEMENTING THE PLAN 17\n\n4.3 REVIEWING THE PLAN 17 \n\n5\\. GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS 18 \n\n6\\. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 20\n\n7\\. APPENDIX A\n\nTHREATENED SPECIES AFFECTED BY TRAMP ANTS 21","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"7. APPENDIX A. Threatened species affect","sectionType":"division","heading":"7. APPENDIX A. Threatened species affected by tramp ants","content":"### 7\\. APPENDIX A. Threatened species affected by tramp ants\n\nThe following species are listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. It is considered that they may be adversely affected by the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) or the yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes). No other species listed under the EPBC Act are currently considered at risk from other tramp ant species considered in the plan.\n\nE = Endangered, V = vulnerable, U = unlisted.\n\nRed imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta)\n\n[http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicgetkeythreats.pl](http://www.deh.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicgetkeythreats.pl)\n\n```html\n

Common names

Species

Current status

Distribution

Listed threatened species that may be adversely affected and could become listed at a higher threatened category

Southern cassowary

Casuarius casuarius johnsonii

E

N Qld

Eastern bristlebird

Dasyornis brachypterus

E

SE Qld, NSW, Vic.

Star finch (eastern)

Neochmia ruficauda ruficauda

E

Qld, NT, WA

Night parrot

Pezoporus occidentalis

E

SW Qld, SA

Buff-breasted button-quail

Turnex olivei

E

N Qld

Golden-shouldered parrot

Psephotus chrysopterygius

E

N Qld

Gouldian finch

Erythrura trichroa

E

N Qld, NT, WA

Western whipbird (western heath)

Psophodes nigrogularis nigrogularis

E

WA

Western ground parrot

Pezoporus wallicus flaviventris

E

WA

Southern emu-wren (Fleurieu Peninsula), Mount Lofty southern emu-wren

Stipiturus malachurus intermedius

E

SA

Bathurst copper butterfly

Paralucia spinifera

V

S. NSW

Squatter pigeon (southern)

Geophaps scripta scripta

V

Qld, NSW

Plains-wanderer

Pedionomus torquatus

V

SA, Qld, NSW, Vic

Black-breasted button-quail

Turnix melanogaster

V

Qld, NSW

Slender-billed thornbill (western)

Acanthiza iredalei iredalei

V

WA

Thick-billed grasswren (eastern)

Amytornis textilis modestus

V

NSW, SA, NT

Thick-billed grasswren (Gawler Ranges)

Amytornis textilis myall

V

SA

Thick-billed grasswren (western)

Amytornis textilis textiles

V

WA

Noisy scrub-bird

Atrichornis clamosus

V

WA

Partridge pigeon (western)

Geophaps smithii blaauwi

V

WA

Partridge pigeon (eastern)

Geophaps smithii smithii

V

NT

Malleefowl

Lipoid ocelot

V

WA, SA, NSW, Vic

Western whipbird

Psophodes nigrogularis

V

WA, SA, Vic

Southern emu-wren (Eyre Peninsula)

Stipiturus malachurus parimeda

V

SA

Mallee emu-wren

Stipiturus mallee

V

SA, NSW, Vic

\n```\n\n```html\n

Common names

Taxon

Current status

Distribution

Unlisted species or taxa that could be adversely affected

Ants

Subfamily Formicidae

U

Widely distributed

Butterflies and moths

Order Lepidoptera

U

Widely distributed

Flightless carabid beetles

Family Carabidae

U

Widely distributed

Land snails

--

U

Widely distributed

Earthworms

--

U

Widely distributed

Trap-door spiders

Family Mygalolomorpha

U

Widely distributed

Quails

Subfamily Phasianinae

U

Widely distributed

Button-quails

Family Turnicidae

U

Widely distributed

Australian brush-turkey, orange-footed scrubfowl

Family Megapodiidae

U

N. Australia and Qld, NSW

Bustards

Family Otididae

U

Widely distributed

Wetland birds (eg grebes; herons, egrets and bitterns; geese, swans and ducks)

Families Podicipedidae, Ardeidae, Anatidae

U

Widely distributed

Waders

Families Jacanidae, Burhinidae, Rostratulidae, Haematopodidae, Charadriidae, Recurvirostridae, Scolopacidae, Phalaropodidae, Glareolidae

U

Widely distributed

Pigeons, doves

Family Columbidae

U

Widely distributed

Ground-nesting seabirds (eg gulls and terns)

Family Laridae

U

Coastal regions

\n```\n\nYellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) \n[http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ktp/christmas-island-crazy-ants.html](http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/ktp/christmas-island-crazy-ants.html); [http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/e-a-enastri.html](http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/e-a-enastri.html)\n\n```html\n

Common names

Species/taxon

Current status

Distribution

Listed species that are adversely affected and could become listed at a higher threatened category

Christmas Island pipistrelle

Pipistrellus murrayi

E

Christmas Island

Christmas Island shrew

Crocidura attenuate trichura

E

Christmas Island

Christmas Island gecko

Lepidodactylus listeri

V

Christmas Island

Gove crow butterfly

Euploea alchathoe enastri

E

NE Arnhemland

Listed species that are adversely affected but for which there is no evidence that their listing status should change

Abbott’s booby

Papasula abbotti

E

Christmas Island

Christmas Island goshawk

Accipter fasciatus natalis

E

Christmas Island

Christmas Island frigatebird

Fregata andrewsi

V

Christmas Island

Christmas Island hawk-owl

Ninox natalis

V

Christmas Island

Unlisted species that are adversely affected and could become eligible to be listed as Vulnerable

Tahitian chestnut

Inocarpus fagifer

U

Christmas Island

Christmas Island flying fox

Pteropus melanotus natalis

U

Christmas Island

Emerald dove

Chalcophaps indica natalis

U

Christmas Island

Christmas Island thrush

Turdus poliocephalus erythropleurus

U

Christmas Island

Red land crab

Gecarcoidea natalis

U

Christmas Island

Unlisted ecological communities that are adversely affected and could become eligible to be listed as Vulnerable

Terrace rainforest

U

Christmas Island

Shallow soil rainforest

U

Christmas Island

Limestone scree slopes and terraces

U

Christmas Island

Deeper plateau and terrace soils evergreen forest

U

Christmas Island

Unlisted species or taxa that are adversely affected but for which there is no evidence that they would become listed

Christmas Island giant gecko

Cyrtodactylus sadlieri

U

Christmas Island

Blue-tailed skink

C. egeriae

U

Christmas Island

Forest skink

Emoia nativitatis

U

Christmas Island

Robber crab

Birgus latro

U

Christmas Island

Blue crab

Cardisoma hirtipes

U

Christmas Island

Little nipper

Geograpsus grayi

U

Christmas Island

Endemic litter invertebrates

U

Christmas Island

\n```","sortOrder":2}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The instrument implements a threat abatement plan for the listed key threatening process identified (tramp ants). The text contains no statement that it expands or narrows the plan’s statutory scope compared with the enabling provision; it lists affected taxa and territories and sets out goals, objectives, actions, implementation and review arrangements consistent with a standard s.270B plan."},"complexity_factors":["Legal basis and formality: instrument is made under EPBC Act s.270B(2) (ministerial decision-making and statutory process).","Broad ecological scope: covers multiple tramp-ant species (red imported fire ant, yellow crazy ant and others) and a long list of listed and unlisted taxa and communities (Appendix A).","Geographic breadth: applies across Australia and its territories, including discrete island jurisdictions (e.g. Christmas Island) with different management contexts.","Multi-jurisdictional implementation: requires coordination between Commonwealth, state/territory agencies and local land managers (see headings 4.2 Implementing the plan).","Operational complexity: contains goals, objectives and specified actions (3.1–3.4) that imply surveillance, control operations, technical capability and sustained funding (see 4.1 Duration & cost).","Monitoring and adaptive management: explicit review and evaluation requirements (4.2–4.3) create ongoing data, reporting and governance demands.","Scientific uncertainty and technical input: background sections (2.1–2.3) and action prescriptions imply need for specialist ecological, entomological and biosecurity expertise.","Diffuse beneficiaries / concentrated effort: many species are potentially affected, but implementation effort and expense concentrate on contaminated locations and high-risk pathways.","Implementation discretion: the Department and Minister set and review actions, producing administrative discretion about prioritisation and resource allocation (instrument formality limits but does not prescribe detailed funding sources)."],"plain_english_summary":"Mechanically, the Minister (under s 270B(2) of the EPBC Act) adopts a Threat Abatement Plan titled “Threat abatement plan to reduce the impacts of tramp ants on biodiversity”, putting in place goals, objectives, actions, implementation and review arrangements to address red imported fire ants, yellow crazy ants and other tramp ants across Australia and its territories. It applies to federal and state/territory agencies, land managers and the listed species/ecological communities in Appendix A. Claimed purpose is to reduce biodiversity loss; the plan shifts costs, technical responsibilities and coordination burdens to governments and land managers for surveillance, control and monitoring."},"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":1948},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is the original 2006 threat abatement plan. The scope covers tramp ants (specifically red imported fire ant and yellow crazy ant) affecting biodiversity across Australia and its territories, which aligns with the original key threatening process listing. No expansion beyond this original purpose is evident."},"complexity_factors":["Scientific nomenclature for 40+ species across multiple taxonomic groups (birds, reptiles, insects, mammals, plants)","Classification system using EPBC Act conservation categories (Endangered, Vulnerable, Unlisted)","Multi-jurisdictional scope covering mainland states and Christmas Island territories","Operation under the 'key threatening process' framework of the EPBC Act (section 270B)","Distinction between listed threatened species and unlisted species that may become threatened"],"plain_english_summary":"This Threat Abatement Plan under the EPBC Act creates a national strategy to combat invasive \"tramp ants\" (red imported fire ant and yellow crazy ant), coordinating Commonwealth, state and territory action on eradication, research, monitoring and protection. It targets ants that kill or displace native wildlife and degrade ecosystems—threatening ground‑nesting birds, reptiles, insects and Christmas Island rainforests—and activates legal and funding measures to reduce impacts and prevent spread."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri","history":"/api/acts/threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri/history","analysis":"/api/acts/threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/threat-abatement-plan-to-reduce-the-impacts-of-tramp-ants-on-biodiversity-in-australia-and-its-terri/documents"}}