My Open Letter to the Australian Government

Dear Members of the Australian Government,

I write to you today with a heavy heart and a sense of urgency regarding the National Fire Ant Eradication Plan that is currently underway in our community. Recent events have brought to light troubling reports of adverse reactions among humans and animals as a direct result of the treatments being administered. This has highlighted the urgent need for transparency and accountability in the execution of this program.

The use of chemicals such as S-Methoprene and Pyriproxyfen raises serious concerns about the potential health risks posed to our community members and the environment at large. As a concerned resident, I implore you to intervene and issue an immediate injunction to halt this program until alternative measures, like those shared with our Government from Dr. Joshua King, University of Central Florida. Highlighting his concern for the health and environment, as well as the failures in the system we are using.

I demand you rethink, for us, for the bees, for the future children that will feel the full effects of the chemicals we dump and spray into our land and air.

As a woman who has dedicated the last six months to balancing my hormones and managing my PMDD naturally, I am deeply disturbed by the potential health implications of these chemicals. Exposure to potentially hormone-disrupting substances can have severe consequences, including:

• Endocrine Disruption: Interference with the body's hormonal system.

• Reproductive Health Issues: Increased risk of infertility, birth defects, and miscarriages.

• Neurological Disorders: Potential impact on brain development and function.

• Increased Cancer Risk: Certain hormone-disrupting chemicals have been linked to various cancers.

I urge you to reconsider the use of harmful chemicals and explore alternative, environmentally friendly methods of fire ant control. By choosing safer, sustainable approaches, we can protect both human health and the environment. Like those shared with the Queensland Government and Biosecurity Queensland by Dr. Joshua King. He stated: “My concerns with the fire ant eradication programs that are ongoing and developing in Queensland and New South Wales are focused on two issues:

1) Excessive, potentially ecologically harmful over-application of toxic baits.
2) Lack of alternative management approaches and tools, other than widespread application”

Adding that: “no eradication program has ever succeeded in preventing fire ant establishment and spread over larger areas and longer time spans. This is not anecdotal but has unfortunately been repeatedly demonstrated”

And “Given the reality of this extremely challenging invasive species, and the lessons that failed eradications have taught us, it is extremely important that the National Fire Ant Eradication Program consider the costs and benefits of enacting a widespread toxic baiting program. It is especially important that the potential ecological costs (and other non-target impacts) of enacting such an eradication program in areas that are not yet invaded be weighed against the actual outcome of an invasion.”

“In summary, I strongly disagree with the current prophylactic approach to fire ant management and suggest that alternative approaches, like the hot water method, to fire ant management be considered. The current approach is not sustainable, excessively costly, and ultimately may hasten fire ant spread and establishment. This outcome runs directly counter to the goals of the Australian government’s fire ant management program.” Stated Dr. Joshua King

I implore you to listen to the concerns of your constituents and take immediate action to halt the use of potentially hormone-disrupting chemicals.

How are we meant to heal, if we continue to spread toxins in the air, water, on our food, and the land where we grow it.

If we have learnt anything from the past, it is that we have no way of knowing the effects of chemicals used until well after the fact.

Why, when you have evidence and first hand witnesses saying this way doesn’t work, and that better options are available, that those witnesses asked us to not follow their wrong steps.

And with proof it hasn’t worked so far, are you continuing to poison for one species when you know, based on evidence and knowledge, other species, species Science says we cannot naturally survive without will be directly affected.

Chemicals that block a species from maturing to breed, cannot with reasonable knowledge of nature, be considered safe for any other species. Humans included. And how do we know what safe limits are if only a few studies have been done on mice. Those results weren’t good. And with the program planned to run until 2032, what will the long term effects be on us and the environment?

This is about so much more than fire ants and honey bees...