Invasive biosecurity matter prevention and control program

A prevention and control program for invasive biosecurity matter (the program) has been authorised under the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Biosecurity matter

The program relates to the following species:

    • Ana tree (Faidherbia albida)
    • Anchored water hyacinth (Eichhornia azurea)
    • Badhara bush (Gmelina elliptica)
    • Bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera)
    • Bitter weed (Helenium amarum)
    • Black willow (Salix nigra)
    • Bunny ears cactus (Opuntia microdasys)
    • Catechu (Senegalia catechu)
    • Cha-om (Senegalia insuavis)
    • Eve's pin cactus (Austrocylindropuntia subulata)
    • Gorse (Ulex europaeus)
    • Grey-haired acacia (Vachellia gerrardii)
    • Grey willow (Salix cinerea)
    • Honey locust tree (Gleditsia triacanthos)
    • Horsetails (Equisetum spp.)
    • Hudson pear (Cylindropuntia rosea syn C. pallida and C. tunicata)
    • Karroo thorn (Vachellia karroo)
    • Jumping cholla (Cylindropuntia prolifera)
    • Knobthorn (Senegalia nigrescens)
    • Madras thorn (Pithecellobium dulce)
    • Mexican bean trees (Cecropia spp. including C. pachystachya, C. palmata and C. peltata)
    • Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima)
    • Mimosa pigra (Mimosa pigra)
    • Monkey thorn (Senegalia galpinii)
    • Paperbark thorn (Vachellia sieberiana)
    • Pencil cactus (Cylindropuntia leptocaulis)
    • Peruvian primrose (Ludwigia peruviana)
    • Prickly pears:
      • Aaron's beard cactus (Opuntia leucotricha)
      • blind cactus (Opuntia rufida)
      • Cochineal nopal cactus (Opuntia cochenillifera)
      • Engelmann's prickly pear (Opuntia engelmannii)
      • Florida beach prickly pear (Opuntia keyensis)
      • puberula cactus (Opuntia puberula)
      • purple prickly pear (Opuntia macrocentra)
      • violet prickly pear (Opuntia gosseliniana)
      • red-flowered prickly pear (Opuntia elatior)
      • sulphur cactus (Opuntia sulphurea)
      • wheel cactus (Opuntia robusta)
    • Red sesbania (Sesbania punicea)
    • Red wood (Acaciella glauca)
    • Riverina pear (Opuntia elata syn O. bonaerensis)
    • Splendid thorn (Vachellia robusta)
    • Smooth mesquite (Prosopis laevigata)
    • Snake cactus (Cylindropuntia spinosior)
    • Soap pod (Senegalia rugata)
    • Squalida (Chromolaena squalida)]
    • Tropical soda apple (Solanum viarum)
    • Umbrella thorn (Vachellia tortilis)
    • Water mimosa (Neptunia oleracea and N. plena)
    • White ball acacia (Acaciella angustissima)
    • White willow (Salix alba)
    • White witchweed (Striga angustifolia)
    • Yellow fever tree (Vachellia xanthophloea)
    • African rock python (Python sebae)
    • African spurred tortoise (Centrochelys sulcata)
    • Aldabra giant tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantea)
    • Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii)
    • American corn snake (Pantherophis guttatus)
    • Asian spined toad (Duttaphrynus melanostictus)
    • Ball python (Python regius)
    • Barbary sheep (Ammotragus lervia)
    • Blackbuck antelope (Antilope cervicapra)
    • Blood python (Python curtus)
    • Boa constrictor (Boa constrictor)
    • Burmese python (Python molarus bivittatus)
    • Californian kingsnake (Lampropeltis getula californiae)
    • Chameleons in the family Chamaeleonidae
    • Chinchilla (Chinchilla lanigera)
    • Chinese pond turtle (Mauremys reevesii)
    • Chinese stripe neck turtle (Mauremys sinensis)
    • Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina)
    • Diamondback terrapin (Malaclemys terrapin)
    • Dumeril's boa (Acrantophis dumerili)
    • Emerald tree boa (Corallus caninus)
    • Ferret (Mustela putorius furo)
    • Gaboon viper (Bitis gabonica)
    • Green (common) Iguana (Iguana iguana)
    • Hedgehogs in the family Erinaceidae
    • Hermann's tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
    • Hog deer (Axis porcinus)
    • Hognose snakes in the genus Heterodon
    • Horned vipers (Cerastes spp.)
    • Indian palm squirrels (Funambulus spp.)
    • Indian python (Python molurus)
    • Java pipistrelle (Pipistrellus javanicus)
    • King cobra (Ophiophagus Hannah)
    • Kukri snakes (Oligodon spp.)
    • Leopard gecko (Eublepharis macularius)
    • Marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
    • New Guinea tree boa (Candoia carinata)
    • Nose-horned viper (Vipera ammodytes)
    • Puff adder (Bitis arietans)
    • Rainbow boa (Epicrates cenchria)
    • Red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans)
    • Reticulated python (Broghammerus reticulatus)
    • Rosy boa (Lichanura trivirgata)
    • Russel's viper (Daboia russelii)
    • Russian tortoise (Agrionemys horsfieldii)
    • Sambar deer (Rusa unicolor)
    • Sand boas (Eryx spp.)
    • Sand boas (Gongylophis spp.)
    • Saw-scaled viper (Echis carinatus)
    • Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis)
    • Spotted pond turtle (Geoclemys hamiltonii)
    • Star tortoise (Geochelone elegans)
    • Uracoan rattlesnake (Crotalus vegrandis)
    • White lipped pit viper (Trimeresurus albolabris)
    • Yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus)

Purpose and scope

The purpose of the program is to allow entry by authorised officers of the Department of Primary Industries to places in Queensland to undertake activities to:

  • prevent the entry, establishment or spread of invasive biosecurity matter (listed above) in Queensland, where it poses a significant biosecurity risk
  • manage, reduce or eradicate invasive biosecurity matter (listed above) in Queensland, where it poses a significant biosecurity risk.

Invasive plants

  • Biosecurity Queensland leads state-wide eradication projects in partnership with local governments to address high-risk invasive plants that threaten Queensland's economy, environment or social amenity.
  • The program also ensures preparedness for reoccurrences of high-risk invasive species previously eradicated from Queensland.
  • Ongoing surveillance for invasive plants (not yet present in Queensland) is conducted under the surveillance program for prohibited matter, restricted matter and locusts.

Invasive animals

  • The program enables the Department of Primary Industries to undertake actions to prevent the entry, establishment or spread of invasive animals posing significant biosecurity risks.
  • New incursions often result from unlawful importation or possession of illegal animals as pets or for other purposes.
  • The program also manages, reduces or eradicates restricted invasive animals in areas where they pose significant risks, including responding to new populations or escapes of animals held under restricted matter permits.
  • Ongoing surveillance for invasive animals (not yet present in Queensland) is conducted under the surveillance program for prohibited matter, restricted matter and locusts.

Commencement and duration

The program starts on 7 October 2026 and continues until 6 October 2031.

Access to biosecurity program

You can view the program via any of these methods:

Enquiries

Contact us online, by phone or in person.