Find out what is required for each carrier material below
Controlled movement of carriers out of the Murwillumbah, Wardell or Tweed Heads fire ant movement control areas is regulated under Part 2 of the Order. A Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit allows controlled movements contrary to the Order under certain conditions. The Order and the Permit must be read together. The conditions are similar to the measures in the previous Order, except for the conditions for the newly added carriers. The Order and Permit apply to these controlled movements:
- into the NSW protection zone from a NSW fire ant movement control area (Murwillumbah, Wardell or Tweed Heads),
- into the NSW fire ant infested area from a NSW fire ant movement control area (Murwillumbah, Wardell or Tweed Heads),
- between the Murwillumbah fire ant movement control area, the Wardell fire ant movement control area and the Tweed Heads fire ant movement controls area.
If you carry out controlled movements of carriers from the Murwillumbah, Wardell or Tweed Heads movement control areas (coloured RED on the map) into the NSW Protection Zone, part 2 of the Order applies. You must consider the following:
Biosecurity (Fire ants) Emergency Order
The current Biosecurity (Fire Ant) Emergency Order defines the emergency zones and requirements for moving fire ant carriers.
If you are moving the defined fire ant carriers from the parts of QLD and NSW shown in red, orange or yellow on this map, you must comply with the current Emergency Order. View the current order and Plain English Guide.
GROUP PERMIT FOR HAY EXPIRED:
The Group Biosecurity Emergency Permit, which allowed movements of hay from lower risk areas in the Qld fire ant biosecurity zone under certain conditions between June 2024 and March 2025, expired on 2 June 2025.
The permit was suspended from 13 March to 13 April 2025 and then indefinitely following Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which heightened risk of fire ants moving in floodwaters.
If you are moving hay from the parts of Qld fire ant infested area, you must fully comply with requirements of the current Emergency Order. Read the current Order and understand your obligations.
Carrier requirements
Soil & plant-based products
Includes mulch, soil, compost, growing media, soil samples, hay, chaff, silage & turf.
Plants
Includes potted plants, indoor potted plants, excavated plants & stumps
Earth materials
Includes sand, rocks, stones, recycled concrete aggregate, coal fines & chitters.
Equipment and vehicles
Includes heavy vehicles, agricultural & horticultural equipment, earth moving equipment, pallets, packaging, containers & covers.
Waste products
Includes green waste & building waste
