Joint media release: Northern Territory and New South Wales join Australian Government to tackle invasive grasses

Invasive grasses are a threat to biodiversity and can have a devastating impact on the native plants, animals and cultural values of the Australian environment. The five invasive grasses included in the updated plan are Gamba grass, Perennial mission grass, Annual mission grass, Para grass and Hymenachne. These grasses were originally introduced from Africa and South America for use in pastures but are now displacing native vegetation, choking waterways and fuelling intense wildfires, threatening at least 64 species listed as threatened under national environment law, including the water mouse and the yellow-snouted gecko.

They also threaten Ramsar wetlands, World Heritage sites and National Heritage places, including Kakadu National Park and the Wet Tropics of Queensland. The plan will coordinate efforts to prevent further spread, prevent landscapes from being dominated by these grasses and to protect areas of high biodiversity value and cultural significance from infestation, as well as drive actions to improve the protection of the many threatened species and ecological communities, including the masked owl and the northern quoll.

The plan will also: guide effective management of existing invasive grass infestations improve coordination of invasive grass management encourage increased reporting, monitoring and mapping of invasive grasses increase awareness about invasive grass impacts and best practice management improve invasive grass management through the development of new tools and understanding of interactions that facilitate invasion.

An outcome of the March 2026 Environment Ministers Meeting, New South Wales and the Northern Territory agreed to jointly make the updated plan with the Australian Government to facilitate knowledge and resource sharing, help address cross-border issues and improve uptake of best practice management of invasive grasses. The plan also builds on the joint making of the national feral cat threat abatement plan in 2024.

Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt: “These grasses are one of the main drivers of habitat loss, and unless we get on top of this issue, we will continue to see species and ecosystems decline. “The updated threat abatement plan will benefit from the combined expertise of governments, as well as the knowledge of First Nations communities and landholders.

“The Albanese Government will continue to work with all state and territory governments to address biodiversity decline.” Quotes attributable to NSW Minister for Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Heritage Penny Sharpe: “Invasive grasses can dominate native plant communities and displace native species. We need to work together to control and eliminate them to protect our biodiversity.

“This joint approach will allow us to share knowledge, monitoring techniques and management tools, to reduce the threat of invasive grasses to the NSW environment.” Quotes attributable to Northern Territory Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment Joshua Burgoyne: “Gamba grass, perennial mission grass, and annual mission grass are known invasive grasses that impact many areas across the Top End.

“The Northern Territory’s Department of Lands, Planning and Environment has played a key role in supporting the update to the Threat Abatement Plan, contributing regional knowledge to strengthen national action against invasive grasses and ensuring the Territory’s experience and priorities are reflected. “Our government is pleased to be working with the Federal Government to strengthen the plan, which will support more effective, coordinated management on the ground and deliver real benefits for communities, industry and the environment.” We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture.

We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.