Invasive Species Council Seeks National Buffel Grass Inquiry
The Invasive Species Council has asked for a national response to buffel grass, which is considered a weed in parts of Australia.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Botany
Live Poll
Should the federal government fund a national response to invasive grass spread?
The Invasive Species Council presented a submission to the Natural Resources Committee last week calling for a national inquiry into buffel grass management. A decision on listing the grass as a Weed of National Significance, originally expected mid-year, is now expected in December.
Why it matters
Buffel grass can displace native vegetation, increase fuel loads and alter fire regimes, and the submission argues South Australia cannot control it alone and needs federal support. A national response could reach jurisdictions where the grass is treated differently.
The submission cites a 100-year history of buffel grass as a pasture species in Australia and more than a decade of weed status in South Australia. The federal listing decision has been delayed from mid-year to December, and the submission does not resolve how management costs would be shared between jurisdictions.
The players
Invasive Species Council
An Australian environmental advocacy organisation focused on preventing and managing invasive species, which presented the submission calling for a national inquiry.
Natural Resources Committee
The parliamentary committee to which the buffel grass submission was presented for consideration.
The details
The submission was presented by Taigen Ryan and James Johnston. It argues that transport corridors act as pathways for spread, and that a surge of buffel grass reportedly moved southward earlier this year after significant rainfall. Victoria is in discussions with the government over changing the grass's status, while Queensland and Western Australia treat the issue as contentious.
Timeline
Earlier this year: an extensive buffel grass surge was reportedly heading southward after significant rainfall.
Last week: the submission was presented to the Natural Resources Committee.
Mid-year: the original timeline for the Weed of National Significance decision, now delayed.
December: the expected decision on listing buffel grass as a Weed of National Significance.
Big Picture
The push for a national response follows the Weed of National Significance listing process, under which species that cross state borders can be targeted for coordinated federal action. The December decision will show whether buffel grass receives that national status or remains a state-by-state management issue.
Landholders and pastoral operators in areas where buffel grass grows may face changing management obligations if the grass is listed nationally. Residents near transport corridors and fire-prone landscapes could also be affected by changes to fuel loads and fire risk.
The takeaway
Buffel grass is a national-scale problem that individual states struggle to manage alone, so the December listing decision is worth watching for changes to how it is controlled across Australia.
What happens next
A decision on listing buffel grass as a Weed of National Significance is expected in December.
Further reading
Explore more on Botany for background on invasive plant species like buffel grass.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Stock Journal.
Live Poll
Should the federal government fund a national response to invasive grass spread?
