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Weeds and pest animals

Weeds and pest animals cost Australian agriculture billions of dollars each year.

To protect primary industry, the natural environment and public safety we must control weeds and pest animals.

Weeds and pest animals:

  • compete with crops, pasture, livestock and native flora and fauna
  • contaminate crops and seeds
  • carry and spread disease
  • degrade our production resource
  • reduce the value of the natural environment
  • cause health problems.

The 2018 Report Card for established invasive species presents a ‘snapshot’ of the distribution and abundance of pest animals and weeds in South Australia. The report cards, and the data that underpins them, are used to support on-ground decision making at a local level, and inform policy making at a state lev​el.

Regional Natural Resource Management boards, through the Department for Environment and Water, and Invasive Species Unit within Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA) oversee programs to destroy or contain weeds and pest animals and to prevent new pests coming in to South Australia.

Due to their pest risk, certain animals and plants may be declared under the Natural Resources Management Act 2004 to regulate their movement, sale, notification and control.

Declared animals and plants in South Australia. (PDF 516.2 KB or DOC 320.0 KB)

Animals

Plants

National priority plant pests

Australia’s top 40 plant pests include a range of exotic invertebrates and pathogens that pose the most significant threat on a national scale. Go to the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources to learn more about the National priority plant pests.

Reporting pests

Early detection is important so the plant can be destroyed before it becomes a serious problem.

Contacts

For state policy advice

Biosecurity SA - Invasive Species Unit:

For regional control advice

Page Last Reviewed: 14 May 2019
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