Garden Plants That Are IPNI

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance: an overview of their legal status, commercial availability and risk status

A Report by Andreas Glanznig, Kristi McLachlan, and Ouerdia Kessal

WWF Australia

August 2004 WWF is one of the world's largest and most experienced independent conservation organizations, with almost 5 million supporters and a global network active in more than 90 countries.

WWF Australia's mission is to conserve biodiversity in Australia and the Oceania Region. With the help of more than 50,000 supporters across Australia, we are currently working on 180 projects across the region, employing more than 80 people, and raising and investing around $10 million annually in conservation activities.

For more information, contact: WWF Australia GPO Box 528 Sydney, NSW, Australia Toll Free: 1800 032 551 Fax: 02-9281-1060 www.wwf.org.au [email protected]

This report was prepared by Andreas Glanznig, Biodiversity Policy Manager, WWF Australia Kristi McLachlan, Project Officer, WWF Australia, and Ouerdia Kessal, Project Officer, WWF Australia

First published in August 2004 by WWF Australia GPO Box 528 Sydney NSW 2001

WWF Australia Report

ISBN 1 875941 75 4

For bibliographic purposes this paper should be cited as:

Glanznig, A., McLachlan, K, and Kessal, O. 2004. Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance: an overview of their legal status and commercial availability. WWF Australia: Sydney.

For copies of this paper or a full list of WWF Australia publications on a wide range of conservation issues, please contact us on [email protected] or call (02) 9281 5515

2 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Contents

Executive Summary iii 1.0 Introduction 1 2.0 Definitions 2 2.1 Garden Plants 2.2 Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) 2.3 Control Classes 3.0 Method 3 3.1 Source of IPNI Lists 3.2 National Border Control Status 3.3 State and Territory Declared and Control Categories 3.4 Naturalisation Status and Commercial Availability of Garden Plant Species that are IPNI 3.5 Risk Class Status 4.0 Results 8 4.1 Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) Weed Target List 4.2 Alert List of Environmental Weeds 4.3 Eradication from Natural Ecosystems Target List 4.4 Eradication from Agricultural Ecosystems Target List 4.5 Sleeper Agricultural Weeds Targeted for National Eradication List 4.6 Weeds of National Significance List 5.0 Discussion 31 6.0 References 37 Appendix 1: Australian Government interest in Invasive Plants of National 39 Importance Appendix 2: 40 Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Weeds Target List: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory Appendix 3: 42 Alert List of Environmental Weeds: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory Appendix 4: 44 Eradication from Natural Ecosystems Target List: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory Appendix 5: 46 Eradication from Agricultural Ecosystems Target List: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory Appendix 6: 48 Sleeper Agricultural Weeds Targeted for National Eradication: National border control status Appendix 7: 49 Weeds of National Significance: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report i Boxes 1 Example of Poor Coordination: Commonwealth Quarantine List – 10 Ceylon Hill Cherry (Rhodomytus tomentosa) 2 Example of Poor Coordination: Commonwealth Alert List of 12 Environmental Weeds – Horsetails (Equisetum spp.) 3 Example of Poor Coordination: Weeds of National Significance List – 23 Bridal Creeper (Asparagus Asparagoides) Figure 1 Determination of Risk Classes 6 Tables 1 Comparative Table of State and Territory Invasive Plant Control Categories 5 2 Risk Classes Based on Commercial Availability and Legal Control Status 7 3 Summary of Controls and Commercial Availability of Invasive Plants of 8 National Importance 4 Sleeper and Naturalised Garden Plants on NAQS List 9 5 Naturalised Garden Plants on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds 10 6 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 13 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in NSW 7 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 13 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in Qld 8 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 14 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in SA 9 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 14 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in Tas 10 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 15 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in Vic 11 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 16 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in WA 12 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 16 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in ACT 13 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List 17 that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in NT 14 Overall Risk Classes by State and Territory for Garden Plant 17 Species on the Alert List 15 Naturalised Garden Plants on the Eradication from Natural 18 Ecosystems Target List 16 Naturalised Garden Plants on the Eradication from Agricultural Ecosystems 19 Target List 17 Naturalised Garden Plants on BRS Sleeper Agricultural Weeds 20 Eradication Target List 18 Naturalised Garden Plants on the Weeds of National Significance List 21 19 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 24 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in NSW 20 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 25 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in Qld 21 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 26 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in SA 22 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 26 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in Tas 23 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 27 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in Vic 24 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 28 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in WA 25 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 28 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in ACT 26 Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the 29 WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in NT 27 Overall Risk Classes by State and Territory for Garden Plant Species 30 On the WONS List

ii Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Executive Summary This report presents firm evidence of how poorly coordinated legislative controls on Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) at both Commonwealth and State/Territory levels has enabled a significant number of these weeds to be commercially traded through the gardening industry and thus widely distributed. This situation increases the invasion risk of these nationally important invasive garden plants and undermines Commonwealth and State/Territory investments and action to control these species. In particular, it demonstrates how the combination of serious gaps in Australian Government quarantine law, lack of national regulation, and poorly harmonised and generally reactive State/Territory noxious weed legislation, is currently a major barrier to efforts by the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC) to establish a robust and effective national framework to prevent and control invasive species. In this report, Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) are defined to include plant species in three categories where the Australian Government currently has or may in the future have an interest: Commonwealth Quarantine Targets (Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy plant target list), Alert/ National Eradication Targets (eg. Alert List of Environmental Weeds, and National Control Targets (Weeds of National Significance).

The report first examines the national border controls and State and Territory controls for all IPNI species, followed by a more detailed analysis of legal controls and commercial availability of naturalised garden plants that are IPNI. The focus on the gardening sector is due to the fact that about 25,360 (94%) of the introduced plants in Australia were intentionally imported as garden or ornamental plants. Of these, over 1,300 (5%) are agricultural, noxious and natural ecosystem weeds, comprising 70% of all introduced weed species (Randall 2004). Three examples of poorly coordinated legislative responses to serious invasive garden plant species, one selected from the Commonwealth Quarantine Targets, Commonwealth Alert/Eradication Targets and National Control Targets, highlight the outstanding problems: Examples of Poor Coordination Across and Between Levels of Government Commonwealth Quarantine Target: Ceylon Hill Cherry (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) Weed Target List Ceylon Hill Cherry is a serious weed of Hawaii and Florida and is an AQIS NAQS plant targeted for eradication if detected in northern Australia. The plant is prohibited for importation into Australia but is not controlled in any State or Territory. It is recorded for sale in Aussie Plant Finder in NSW and Qld, and has also been promoted on a national gardening television show. This is an example of poor coordination between:

• The Australian Government and the States: the AQIS within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), which develops and implements the AQIS NAQS plant target list and all States and Territories, which are able to prohibit the sale of plant species. Commonwealth Alert/Eradication Target: Horsetails (Equisetum spp. particularly E. hyemale) Australian Government Alert List of Environmental Weeds Horsetails are generally considered to be among the world’s worst weeds of agriculture. The entire group or genus of horsetails are declared noxious weeds in six States, which prohibits

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report iii their sale and requires their full destruction where found. The genus is also listed on the national Alert List of Environmental Weeds. Despite this, all but three of the some 30 species in the Equisetum species group or genus can be legally imported, as it is currently a permitted genus under Schedule 5 of the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998. As such, it is currently legally permitted to import some of the world’s worst agricultural weeds into Australia with no Weed Risk Assessment, and in the case of Equisetum hyemale, commercially grow and sell this species in the ACT from where it could spread and naturalise in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia. This is an example of poor coordination between:

• two Australian Government agencies: the Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) that administers the national Alert List, and Biosecurity Australia that maintains the Schedule 5 quarantine permitted seed list. Thus on one hand the DEH is investing $100,000s on community education and detection of Alert List species, while on the other Biosecurity Australia still permits the legal importation of nearly all of the species in the Equisetum genus, despite this entire genus being under official control in all States • the States and Territories: Equisetum hyemale is a declared noxious weed in all States but is not declared in the ACT and NT. This weakness combined with the Biosecurity Australia weakness enables the potential legal importation, propagation and trade in one of the world’s worst agricultural weeds.

National Control Target: Bridal Creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) Weed of National Significance Bridal creeper threatens a range of native plant species and is a Weed of National Significance (WONS). Some 5 years after Bridal Creeper was officially adopted as a WONS on 1 June 1999, the species was belatedly prohibited for importation on 28 July 2004. In the intervening five years, the species was able to be legally imported into Australia with no Weed Risk Assessment through the permitted Asparagus genus in the Schedule 5 permitted list under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998. This potentially enabled new genetic material to be imported which could have increased the weed’s invasibility and impact, and potentially limited the effectiveness of national biocontrol efforts that target existing varieties of bridal creeper. Despite a 2001 agreement by all States and Territories to prohibit the sale of WONS species, bridal creeper has only been declared a noxious weed in five States and Territories (though only in some regions in NSW). It is prohibited for sale in some regions of NSW, but surprisingly is not prohibited State-wide. This enables nurseries to sell this plant in non- declared regions: Aussie Plant Finder (2002) records the plant as available for sale in NSW. This places the ACT at risk, since the potential range of bridal creeper includes the ACT. However, the ACT has put no preventative legislative measures in place to prohibit the importation or sale of this noxious weed. This is an example of poor coordination between:

• two areas within one Australian Government Department: the Natural Resource Management Division within DAFF that has Commonwealth responsibility with DEH for the Weeds of National Significance, and Biosecurity Australia also within DAFF that maintains the Schedule 5 quarantine permitted list. Thus on one hand, the Australian and State governments are investing millions of dollars on the control of bridal creeper and other WONS and the community is being encouraged to get involved in its control, while on the other until 28 July 2004 (some five years after the declaration of this species as a WONS) Biosecurity Australia permitted the legal importation of this WONS species with no Weed Risk Assessment as all the species in the Asparagus genus were able to be legally imported.

iv Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report • two States and Territories: Bridal creeper is not prohibited for sale State-wide in NSW, and is recorded for sale in NSW. This failure to prohibit sale State-wide, contrary to a 2001 agreement to do so, places the ACT at risk of being invaded by this invasive plant. The ACT provides suitable conditions for bridal creeper but has put no preventative legislative measures in place to prohibit the importation and sale of this invasive plant.

Overview of Controls and Commercial Availability of Invasive Plants of National Importance A summary of Commonwealth and State/Territory legislative controls on IPNI species, and the proportion of naturalised and commercially available garden plants is presented below. Table: Summary of Controls and Commercial Availability of Invasive Plants of National Importance

QUARANTINE ALERT / ERADICATION CONTROL Northern Alert List Eradication Eradication BRS Weeds of Australia from Natural from Eradication National Quarantine Ecosystems Agricultural Candidate Significance Strategy Target List Ecosystems List of Target Weed Target List Agricultural List Sleeper Weeds Number of listed invasive plants 41 28 34 26 17 20 National Border Controls

Number and % legally 3 permitted for import 0 (0%) 9 (32%) 11 (32%) 3 (12%) 3 (18%) 0 (0%) into Australia (A)

Number and % of (A) 3 legally permitted for 0 (0%) 9 (100%) 11 (100%) 3 (100%) 1 (33%) 0 (0%) import into Australia through permitted list loophole

Number and % of 3 naturalised 0 (0%) 8 (29%) 4 (12%) 1 (4%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) ornamental plants legally permitted for import into Australia State and Territory Controls Number and % under no State/Territory 29 (71%) 15 (54%) 21 (62%) 7 (27%) 0 (0%) legal control % prohibited for sale in State/Territory* 6.7 % 18.3 % 10.3 % 25.0 % 58.1 % % prohibited for import into 10.1 % 20.5 % 12.9 % 29.8 % 53.1 % State/Territory* % subject to eradication in 6.4 % 17.4 % 8.5 % 23.1 % 36.3 % State/Territory* % subject to control in State/Territory* 0.0 % 2.7 % 2.6 % 4.3 % 28.1 % Number and % able to be legally sold in at 28 (100%) 34 (100%) 26 (100%) 17 (100%) 20 (100%) least one State/Territory Naturalised and/or Commercially Available through Ornamental Plants/Nursery Industry Number and % of which are naturalised 4 (9.8%) 16 (57.1%) 10 (29.5%) 7 (26.9%) 2 (11.8%) 16 (80.0%) ornamental plants

Number and % of 1 2 4 which are available 1 (2.4%) 6 (21.4%) 4 (11.8%) 2 (7.7%) 1 (5.9%) 5 (25.0%) for sale

Notes: Current as of 10 August 2004

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report v * Average across all States and Territories 1 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa is the prohibited import that is recorded in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale 2 While 3 species were identified in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale, one species recorded as available for sale solely in Tasmania, Equisetum hyemale, was subsequently prohibited for sale in that State. 3 Three WONS species (bridal creeper, parkinsonia and chilean needle grass) were able to be legally imported into Australia until 28 July 2004 (AQIS 2004) 4 While 6 species were recorded in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale, one species recorded as available for sale solely in SA (Cabomba caroliniana) was subsequently prohibited for sale in that State. Key Findings

This report adds to and reinforces earlier studies that examined Commonwealth and State and Territory legislative regimes in relation to introduced plant species and Invasive Plants of National Importance (Glanznig and Kessal 2004; Spafford Jacob et al 2004). Commonwealth and State/Territory legislative regime currently provides a patchy and reactive national statutory framework • Commonwealth and State/Territory statutory mechanisms for the control of Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) are patchy and variable, which together provide a poor national regulatory approach to control the movement of IPNI species at strategic points along the invasion pathway. It has long been recognised that these regulations need to be harmonised and strengthened (ARMCANZ, ANZECC and FM 1999) and the reforms to date have been insufficient (Glanznig and Kessal 2004). Major hole in national border controls permits the legal importation of new invasive plants • A significant number of IPNI species are able to be legally imported into Australia. As of 16 August 2004, this comprises species that are under control in States and Territories, including Alert List species containing some of the world’s worst agricultural weeds. • While Australia’s border control system has been widely lauded, the permitted list includes a major loophole that permits the legal importation of nearly half of all the 270,000 plant species on Earth – with no Weed Risk Assessment (Spafford Jacob et al 2004; Whitton and Rajakaruna 2001:622). This includes over 125,000 plant species not yet present in Australia, of which over 4,000 are known agricultural and environmental weeds (Spafford Jacob et al 2004). The inevitable result will be border control failure to halt the importation of new weeds not yet present in Australia. Efforts to date by Biosecurity Australia have been tardy and grossly inadequate. Of great concern to WWF Australia is that after Biosecurity Australia failed to achieve their agreed 2001 national target deadline set out in the National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation, 2001-2005 (CoA 2001), no new deadline has been set nor a plan publicly released to show stakeholders how and when this serious border control gap will be closed. Instead, Biosecurity Australia have committed to review about 40 genera (a mere 1.4% to the total), and at this rate it will take over 70 years to comprehensively close the quarantine loophole and meet the 2001 national target. This failure is undermining the Australian Government’s very significant annual investment in quarantine measures. This investment to keep Australia safe from new weeds, pests and diseases is about $500 million (Truss 2004). Poor State and Territory controls permit the legal importation of new invasive plants into their jurisdictions • In general, the States and Territories have poor preventative measures in place to prohibit the import of new weeds not yet present in their respective States or Territories. The exception is Western Australia. • Lack of coherent national controls on the sale of invasive plant species is a major invasion pathway for new weeds. • All (100%) of IPNI species (quarantine list species aside) are potentially able to be legally sold in one or more States or Territories. To date, only Queensland and South Australia have banned the sale of all 20 Weeds of National Significance, despite a 2001 agreement

vi Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report by all States and Territories to ban the sale of all WONS (SCARM 2001). A major gap in a comprehensive State/Territory legislative response is the ACT whose legislation has no provision to prohibit the sale of declared species. This is a major weakness, which severely weakens the development of a coherent and comprehensive national response. Many invasive plants of national importance are still being sold and widely distributed • A large number and proportion of IPNI species are recorded as still being commercially available through the gardening sector, including over a fifth of Alert List species and a quarter of WONS species. This is a significant avenue for the continued spread of IPNI species. Of great concern to WWF Australia is that communities are being mobilised to detect Alert List species, while these efforts are being undermined by the continued sale of at least 6 Alert List species.

Poor national and State/Territory controls enable inter-State movement of IPNI species • The inter-state movement of IPNI garden plants that have the potential to naturalise and/or become noxious in States and Territories where they are not yet recorded as naturalised presents a major risk for those jurisdictions. For instance, on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds, a third (33%) (Risk Class 2b) of the invasive garden species that have the potential to naturalise in currently non-invaded States/Territories are not controlled at any level within the respective threatened State/Territory. The lack of interstate border control on these species greatly increases the risk for their dispersal and potential to become noxious in other States. The majority of IPNI species are naturalised invasive ornamental and garden plants • Over half (57%) the Alert List and the vast majority (80%) of the Weeds of National Significance are naturalised garden plants, highlighting that the major source of existing and emerging nationally important weeds are invasive garden plants. • Eight (29%) of the 16 naturalised garden species on the Alert List are legally permitted for import into Australia, and an average of 75% of garden plant taxa on the Alert List have no legal controls on their sale or import in the State/Territory in which they are naturalised or have the potential to naturalise. This highlights the potential for movement of Alert List invasive garden species between States and Territories in the absence of national controls. • With respect to the Alert List, 12% of species that have naturalised, or have the potential to naturalise, are for sale within threatened States or Territories (Risk Class 1a, b). A further 11% are for sale in Australia with no control over import (Risk Class 1c) into threatened States/Territories. Alert List species that are for sale, are inadequately controlled by legislation, and able to potentially naturalise in several States/Territories include Lachenalia (Lachenalia reflexa) and leaf cactus (Pereskia aculeata). • With respect to WONS, 7% of naturalised species and species with the potential to naturalise are for sale within the threatened State/Territory. Of these species, a further 13% are for sale nationally with no import controls. Recommendations Recommendation 1 As a matter of urgency, Biosecurity Australia systematically and comprehensively review the State and Territory noxious weed lists to determine those species and genera that satisfy IPPC and SPS Agreement ‘official control’ tests and place them on Schedule 4b (prohibited list) under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report vii Recommendation 2 That Biosecurity Australia develop a plan with a 2006 deadline that will result in the removal of all genus listings from the Schedule 5 permitted list and replacement with a comprehensive list of permitted species. If required, additional resources should be allocated by the Australian Government to Biosecurity Australia to ensure that the new deadline is met.

Recommendation 3 That the Department of Environment and Heritage as the responsible portfolio for the timely implementation of targets under the National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation, 2001-2005 work with Biosecurity Australia to develop a new agreed deadline for targets 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 that is not later than 2006.

Recommendation 4 As agreed in 2001, State and Territory governments declare all Weeds of National Significance under relevant noxious weeds legislation to prohibit their sale and importation into their respective jurisdictions.

Recommendation 5 That the Tasmanian Government amend its plant importation arrangements enabled through its Plant Quarantine Act, 1997 to implement a Weed Risk Assessment/ Permitted List system that only permits the importation of those plant species determined to be low risk, similar to the system in place in Western Australia.

Recommendation 6 That given their natural and transport barriers, the South Australian and Northern Territory governments review their border control system to assess the benefits of enacting plant quarantine legislation and a Weed Risk Assessment / Permitted List system, similar to the system in place in Western Australia.

Recommendation 7 Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), in cooperation with the States and Territories through the Australian Weeds Committee, develop and adopt one agreed national Alert List of Weeds targeted for national detection and eradication.

Recommendation 8

That the Australian Government in conjunction with State and Territory Governments develop a scientifically robust and comprehensive national list of invasive plant species, to provide a credible national strategic planning tool for undertaking coordinated action on invasive plant species at all levels of government.

Recommendation 9 As part of an effective national framework on invasive species, that the Australian Government make regulations or amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to provide for the prohibition on the trade of all Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI).

viii Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 1.0 Introduction

Invasive plant species are one of the biggest and growing immediate threats to Australia’s biodiversity. Weeds alone cost Australian agriculture about $4 billion each year (Sinden et al 2004). Increased international trade, human movement, and our continuing desire for new ornamental plants place Australia at significant risk of new invasive plant invasions. Of major concern is the large and growing pool of invasive plant species that have already been introduced to Australia, but are yet to naturalise in the environment. This includes garden plants that are serious weeds of agriculture, such as Mexican feathergrass (Nassella tenuissima) - a relative of serrated tussock – which has been found for sale in nurseries (DAFF 2002). Many of tomorrows weeds are already here.

The dominant sector in the importation and distribution of exotic plant species is the garden industry. Of the over 27,000 introduced plants in Australia, 25,360 (94%) were intentionally introduced into Australia as garden or ornamental plants. Of these, over 1,360 (5%) are agricultural, noxious and natural ecosystem weeds, comprising 70% of all introduced weed species (Randall 2004).

Australia currently has a major mismatch between the magnitude of the growing threat posed by invasive plants, and the adequacy of the national response. Governments have traditionally taken a reactive approach to weed problems, waiting until they become widespread and a huge and costly problem before acting – too little too late. A new approach is needed that comprehensively prevents new weeds from entering Australia, reduces the supply, demand and spread of those already here, and enables early detection and eradication of high risk emerging and ‘sleeper’ invasive plant species, where this is feasible. Prevention rather than cure is the most effective and cheapest way to control the growing threat posed by invasive plants.

The Australian, State and Territory governments, through the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, recently recognised the “need to develop a robust national framework for a co-ordinated and strategic approach to preventing significant new invasive species establishing in Australia, and to reducing the impacts of major pests and weeds already present” (NRMMC 2004). This provides a major opportunity to identify and fix the weak links in this national response and ensure a truly “robust” and effective framework is implemented.

This report examines the national legislative regime in place for Invasive Plants of National Importance, focussing on those that are or were garden plants, to identify some of the weakest links that need to be resolved as a matter of urgency.

It is structured at two levels. First, the report identifies gaps at two key points in the invasion pathway for all IPNI species, namely national border controls and State/Territory border controls. Second, this is followed by identifying those IPNI species that are naturalised garden plants, their national and State/Territory legal status, and whether they are available for sale through the garden and nursery trade.

The analysis builds on an earlier analysis of the legal status by State and Territory of Invasive Plants of National Importance (Glanznig and Kessal 2004) and an examination of potential plant species able to be legally imported through the genus loophole in the Schedule 5 permitted list under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998 (Spafford Jacobs et al 2004).

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 1 2.0 Definitions

2.1 Garden Plants

Garden plants are defined as those plants and are or were grown in gardens in Australia. This definition follows Randall (2001), and was a criterion in the determination of plant species for inclusion on the National List of Naturalised Invasive and Potentially Invasive Garden Plants in Australia database (Randall 2001; Randall and Kessal 2004).

2.2 Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI)*

Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) are defined as the class of invasive plants that the Australian Government should have an interest, in cooperation with the States and Territories, to ensure a robust nationally coordinated and effective prevention, eradication and control response. The authority of this interest is outlined in Appendix 1.

There is currently no comprehensive list of Invasive Plants of National Importance agreed by the Australian, and all State and Territory governments, except the national weed control list – the Weeds of National Significance (WONS). In the absence of a formal comprehensive IPNI list, the authors have compiled a set of lists that either are official lists or lists recommended by scientists (see Method section).

2.3 Control Classes (From Glanznig & Kessal 2004)

Prohibited from Sale (I)

This class includes species that are prohibited from sale or trade in the State or Territory.

Prohibited from Import (II)

This class includes species not permitted entry into State or Territory.

Eradication (III)

This class includes species that must be continuously suppressed and destroyed in the State or Territory.

Control (IV)

This class includes species capable of spreading further and control measures are required to prevent their growth and spread in the entire State or Territory or on a regional level only.

2 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 3.0 Method 3.1 Source of IPNI Lists In this report, Invasive Plants of National Importance are defined to include three classes of lists:

• Quarantine List. This list should comprise invasive species that are a high invasion risk for Australia, may or may not have already invaded Australia, and whose early detection will enable cost-effective eradication. • Alert List. This list should comprise invasive species that are naturalised, have a restricted range, are predicted to have a major impact on the environment or agriculture, and whose eradication is feasible and cost-effective. • Control List. This list should comprise invasive species that are naturalised and widespread, are determined to pose a major threat to the environment or agriculture, and whose containment or control will assist protect the values of matters of national environmental significance. WWF Australia believes that the national framework to prevent and control invasive species and the revised National Weed Strategy should adopt these three standard national list classes of invasive species of national importance. An agreed national control list for invasive plant species has already been adopted – the Weeds of National Significance. In the absence of such an agreed national list covering these three classes, the authors have selected Commonwealth and other credible lists for analysis.

Commonwealth Quarantine Plant Lists

• Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) Weed Target List*

This list includes 41 plant species selected as target species by the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy. NAQS maintains, and periodically reviews, lists of exotic insect pests, plant diseases, animal diseases and weeds which could enter through Australia's northern border and are serious threats to Australia's productivity, export markets and the environment.

The list appears on the web at: www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86- BA1A-11A1-A2200060A1B01784 Alert / Eradication Plant Lists A comprehensive national list of potential and actual eradication targets for priority environmental and agricultural weeds developed, agreed and adopted by the Australian Government and all State and Territory Governments does not yet exist. In the absence of such a national list, four nation-wide lists either adopted by the Department of the Environment and Heritage, or recommended by scientists are used in this analysis to illustrate gaps in national, Commonwealth, State and Territory prevention and control measures.

• Commonwealth Alert List of Environmental Weeds* The list consists of 28 invasive plant species or genera that are or may be the subject of a national eradication project (May 2001). The Alert list identifies a select set of species that are in the early stages of establishment and have the potential to become a significant threat to biodiversity if they are not managed. The list has status as an official Australian Government list.

The list appears on the web at: www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/alert-list.html

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 3 • Candidate eradication and containment list impacting natural ecosystems*

This list consists of species indicated in table 4 in Weed Categories for Natural and Agricultural Ecosystem Management (Groves et al. 2003). The list is a recommended list compiled by scientists for further investigation; it has no official status.

¾ A list of 34 naturalised species that pose a direct threat to natural ecosystems because of their perceived impact on endangered native plant species.

• Candidate eradication and containment list impacting agricultural ecosystems*

This list consists of species indicated in table 8 in Weed Categories for Natural and Agricultural Ecosystem Management (Groves et al. 2003). The list is a recommended list compiled by scientists for further investigation; it has no official status.

¾ A list of 27 naturalised species presenting a perceived potential to impact agricultural ecosystems in the future should they ever spread further.

• Bureau of Rural Sciences eradication candidate list of sleeper agricultural weeds

This list identifies species as potential sleeper weeds that are short-listed candidates for eradication before they become major agricultural weeds. These species are listed and described in Prioritising sleeper weeds for eradication – Selection of species based on potential impacts on agriculture and feasibility of eradication, Bureau of Rural Sciences, NHT, 2003 (Cunningham D.C. et al., 2003). The list is a recommended list compiled by scientists for further investigation; it has no official status.

¾ A list of 17 species of short-listed candidates for cost-effective eradication before they become major agricultural weeds.

National Plant Control Lists

• Weeds of National Significance (WONS)*

This list consists of 20 weeds which have been identified under the National Weeds Strategy - developed by governments and industry on advice from the Australian Weeds Committee - as already causing significant environmental and agricultural damage. The list has official status as a national list adopted by the Australian Government and all State and Territory Governments on 1 June 1999 (Burley 1999).

The list appears on the web at: www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/wons.html

*From Glanznig & Kessal (2004)

3.2 National Border Control Status

The national border control status of IPNI species and taxa was determined by querying the AQIS ICON database at: http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/ex_querycontent.asp. The ICON database contains the Australian import conditions for more than 18,000 foreign plant, animal, mineral and human products.

4 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 3.3 State and Territory Declared and Control Categories* State and Territory government declared and control categories were examined in the report, Invasive Plants of National Importance and their Legal Status by State and Territory (Glanznig and Kessal 2004). The report used respective State and Territory legislation and declaration processes to develop a comparative table to assess the differing legal control status for Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI) against four standard categories: I. Prohibited for Sale and/or trade by State / Territory II. Prohibited Import by State / Territory III. Eradication required by State / Territory IV. Control required by State / Territory The outcome from this new approach is presented in Table 1, featuring four general categories (I, II, III, IV). The scope of the analysis covers both plants that are declared or are a controlled plant under respective State and Territory legislation to enable plants which are prohibited imports but not officially declared to be included in the study. An example is Lantana camara, which is on the non-statutory WA Quarantine List and is thus a prohibited import into Western Australia, but is not a declared plant under the Agriculture and Related Resources Protection Act, 1976.

Table 1: Comparative Table of State and Territory Invasive Plant Control Categories

Categories NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Prohibition on sale W1 / W4 C1 / C2 / sec. D S, P P1 N/A A / B / C (I) (a/b/c/d/e C3 54(1) /f/g) 1 Prohibition on W11 C1 / C2 / sec. D S Prohib N/A A / B / C import C3 52(1) Unass (II) P1/2/3/4/5 Eradication if W1, W2, C1 sec. D3 S P2 N/A A found W4(e) 1 57(1) (III) Control required W31 C22 sec. D C P3/5 D B (IV) 57(2)

Notes: 1 Applies regionally according to species 2 Qld C3 plants may require control in specific circumstances through a notice, where there is an impact on an environmentally significant area 3 Under Tasmanian legislation, the control option is defined in the required weed management plan and not under a legal class. As such, for the purposes of this analysis control for Tasmania also subsumes eradication. 4 For a compilation of the respective State/Territory control category definitions, refer to Glanznig and Kessal (2004)

Source: Glanznig and Kessal (2004) 3.4 Naturalisation Status and Commercial Availability of Garden Plant Species that are IPNI The naturalisation status of ornamental IPNI species was derived by cross-referencing the IPNI lists with the National List of Naturalised Potentially Invasive and Invasive Garden Plants (Randall and Kessal 2004), and where this list identified the plant as a ‘sleeper’ then Weed Categories for Natural and Agricultural Ecosystem Management (Groves et al 2003). There are some discrepancies between these two lists and these appear in the tables. The National List of Naturalised Potentially Invasive and Invasive Garden Plants database evolved from an original base list of invasive garden plants developed for the Garden Plants Under The Spotlight (GPUTS) report (Roush et al 1999). The original list comprised 720

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 5 naturalised flora plus a number of prohibited or noxious weeds. A revised and updated list of 958 species was published in 2001 (Randall 2001). The current database lists 1037 species (Randall and Kessal 2004). The commercial availability of IPNI species was derived from the most recent publicly available Aussie Plant Finder (Hibbert 2002), though since 2002 a number of IPNI species have been subsequently prohibited from sale and where this affected the overall totals, these have been noted in the respective tables. An example is the water weed, Cabomba caroliniana which is recorded in Hibbert (2002) as solely available for sale in South Australia; it has been subsequently banned for sale in South Australia, and for this report is assumed to have been removed from sale. Aussie Plant Finder was used as the sole reference as it the only published source that compiles information on commercial availability from a range of nurseries. The use of Aussie Plant Finder includes the following caveat. Hibbert (2002) is not comprehensive and as such the species that are recorded for sale should be considered conservative. It compiles information from only 411 suppliers (380 nurseries and 31 seed suppliers) in all States/Territory), and lists about 30,000 garden plants that are difficult to find and nursery or seed supplier they can be bought from. Additionally, given that there is some turn-over of product lines, some species reported as commercially available may have been subsequently taken out of production, while others that were not reported commercially available may now be available. 3.5 Risk Class Status 3.5.1 Rationale To illustrate the various levels of controls within and between States and Territories, risk classes were developed based on species availability for purchase, and controls on the sale and import throughout Australia. Legal control status was determined as described in Glanznig & Kessal (2004) and section 3.3., and risk levels were assessed as described in Table 2. These risk classes were applied to naturalised garden plant species on the three official Commonwealth or national lists: Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy list, the Alert List of Environmental Weeds and the Weeds of National Significance List. Class categories were based on intra- and inter-state sales, and the potential for inter-state transport where import was not prohibited, particularly in States and Territories where plants have naturalised or have the potential to naturalise.

Figure 1: Determination of Risk Classes

In the above diagram, if the hypothetical weed was available for sale in Queensland, Queensland would be assigned Risk Class 1a, while if the weed was only for sale in the Northern Territory, it would be assigned Risk Class 1b, while sale of the weed in Tasmania would result in this State being assigned Risk Class 1c. If the weed was not available for sale

6 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report in Queensland, and no controls were in place, Queensland would be assigned Risk Class 2a. On the other hand if Queensland had controls in place that prohibited the sale of the weed, it would be assigned Risk Class 3a.

3.5.2 Risk Class Definitions

1a. Available for sale in State/Territory where naturalised. 1b. Available for sale in State/Territory where potential for naturalisation exists. 1c. Available for sale outside of State/Territory where naturalised or potential for naturalisation exists. 2a. Not available for sale but no controls on sale and/or import in State/Territory where naturalised. 2b. Not available for sale but no controls on sale and/or import in State/Territory where potential for naturalisation exists. 3a. Controls in place in State/Territory where naturalised. 3b. Controls in place in State/Territory where potential for naturalisation exists. 3c. Controls in place outside of State/Territory where naturalised or potential for naturalisation exists.

Table 2: Risk Classes Based on Commercial Availability and Legal Control Status

In State/Territory In State/Territory Where Outside of State/Territory Where Potential for where Naturalised or Potential Naturalised1 Naturalisation Exists2 for Naturalisation Exists Available for Sale 1a 1b 1c No controls in Place but Not 2a 2b Available for Sale Controls in Place 3a 3b 3c

Notes: 1 Data assimilated from Randall and Kessal 2004 and Groves et al. 2003. 2 Potential to Naturalise data taken from http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/index.html for Alert List of Environmental Weeds and Weeds of National Significance list

Two caveats are included in the following analyses. First, lists of naturalised species in the State and Territory lists are assimilated data from Randall and Kessal (2004) and Groves et al. (2003). Second, as some species identified in the Aussie Plant Finder (2002) as available for sale have been subsequently prohibited for sale in the given State, it is assumed that these species have been subsequently withdrawn by nurseries in the given State to comply with their laws. In all of the State and Territory summaries below, these cases are referred to with the symbol **. When risk classes were assigned, it was assumed that nurseries had withdrawn the species from sale.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 7 4.0 Results

Overview of Controls and Commercial Availability of Invasive Plants of National Importance

A summary of Commonwealth and State/Territory legislative controls on all IPNI species, and the proportion of commercially available naturalised IPNI garden plants is presented below.

Table 3: Summary of Controls and Commercial Availability of Invasive Plants of National Importance

Number and % 3 legally permitted for 0 (0%) 9 (32%) 11 (32%) 3 (12%) 3 (18%) 0 (0%) import into Australia (A)

Number and % of (A) 3 legally permitted for 0 (0%) 9 (100%) 11 (100%) 3 (100%) 1 (33%) 0 (0%) import into Australia through permitted list loophole

Number and % of 3 naturalised 0 (0%) 8 (29%) 4 (12%) 1 (4%) 0 (0%) 0 (0%) ornamental plants legally permitted for import into Australia State and Territory Controls Number and % under no 29 (71%) 15 (54%) 21 (62%) 7 (27%) 0 (0%) State/Territory legal control % prohibited for sale in State/Territory* 6.7 % 18.3 % 10.3 % 25.0 % 58.1 % % prohibited for import into 10.1 % 20.5 % 12.9 % 29.8 % 53.1 % State/Territory* % subject to eradication in 6.4 % 17.4 % 8.5 % 23.1 % 36.3 % State/Territory* % subject to control in State/Territory* 0.0 % 2.7 % 2.6 % 4.3 % 28.1 % Number and % able to be legally sold in 28 (100%) 34 (100%) 26 (100%) 17 (100%) 20 (100%) at least one State/Territory Naturalised and/or Commercially Available through Ornamental Plants/Nursery Industry Number and % of which are 4 (9.8%) 16 (57.1%) 10 (29.5%) 7 (26.9%) 2 (11.8%) 16 (80.0%) naturalised ornamental plants

Number and % of 1 2 4 which are available 1 (2.4%) 6 (21.4%) 4 (11.8%) 2 (7.7%) 1 (5.9%) 5 (25.0%) for sale

8 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Notes: Current as of 10 August 2004

* Average across all States and Territories 1 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa is the prohibited import that is recorded in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale 2 While 3 species were identified in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale, one species recorded as available for sale solely in Tasmania, Equisetum hyemale, was subsequently prohibited for sale in that State. 3 Three WONS species (bridal creeper, parkinsonia and chilean needle grass) were able to be legally imported into Australia until 28 July 2004 (AQIS 2004) 4 While 6 species were recorded in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale, one species recorded as available for sale solely in SA (Cabomba caroliniana) was subsequently prohibited for sale in that State.

4.1 Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) Weed Target List The Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy aims to protect Australia from exotic pests, weeds and diseases that could enter Australia from countries to its north. Of the 41 invasive plants on the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) weed list (AQIS 2004), 4 are listed in Randall and Kessal (2004) as naturalised garden plants. Table 4 summarises the control status by State/Territory and the risk class on an Inter-state basis.

The national border control status and legal status by State and Territory of all NAQS weeds target list species is at Appendix 1.

4.1.1 National

Table 4: Sleeper and Naturalised Garden Plants on NAQS List

Species Name Common Naturalised Potential for National State/Terr. For Risk Class Name1 Where Naturalisation2 Border Controls3 Sale Control Status Amaranthus Chinese Sleeper1 NSW, Qld4 Prohibited WA - II NSW - 2b dubius spinach species * Qld – 2b WA – 3c Mikania Mile-a- Qld2 NSW, WA, NT Prohibited Qld – I, II, III Qld – 3a micrantha minute weed species WA – II WA – 3b NSW – 2b NT – 2b Mucuna pruriens Cow-itch Qld2 NT, WA Prohibited None Qld – 2a species WA – 2b NT – 2b Rhodomyrtus Ceylon Hill Sleeper1 Qld, WA, NT5 Prohibited None NSW, NSW - 1c tomentosa Cherry species Qld Qld - 1b WA – 1c NT – 1c

Notes: 1 From Randall and Kessal (2004) 2 Groves et al. (2003) 3 From Glanznig and Kessal (2004); Randall, R. (WA Ag.) pers. comm. 16 August 2004. 4 Randall (1998) 5 Randall, R. (WA Department of Agriculture) pers. comm. 16 August 2004. * Has been detected for sale as a green vegetable at a Cairns market (Randall 1998). Not included in analysis since not being sold as a garden plant Results

• All 4 NAQS list species considered to be potentially invasive garden plants are prohibited for importation into Australia. • Of the 4 NAQS list species considered to be potentially invasive garden plants, 1 species (Rhodomytus tomentosa) is available for sale in 2 States. • One species, Cow-itch, is naturalised in Queensland, but has no controls for this invasive species. Additionally, Ceylon Hill Cherry has the potential to naturalise in the State, is available for sale but this invasive species is also not controlled.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 9 • No controls are in place in any State/Territory for 2 of the 4 species. Only 2 States (Queensland and Western Australia) have any controls in place regarding NAQS potentially invasive garden plants. • While the Northern Territory is at risk from invasion by Mile-a-minute weed and Cow- itch, it has no legal control measures in place.

Box 1 – Example of Poor Coordination: Commonwealth Quarantine Target: Ceylon Hill Cherry (Rhodomytus tomentosa) AQIS Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) Weeds Target List

Ceylon Hill Cherry is a serious weed of Hawaii and Florida and consequently is an AQIS NAQS plant targeted for eradication if detected in northern Australia. The plant is not controlled in any State or Territory, and is recorded for sale in Aussie Plant Finder in NSW and Qld. The plant has also been promoted nationally on at least one well known gardening television show.

This is an example of poor coordination between:

The Australian Government and the States: the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service within DAFF which develops and implements the AQIS NAQS plant target list and all States and Territories, which are able to prohibit the sale of plant species.

4.2 Alert List of Environmental Weeds

The Australian Government Alert List of Environmental Weeds contains 28 non-native taxa identified on the basis of their potential to become threats to biodiversity if they are not managed. Of these 28 taxa, 16 are listed as naturalised garden plants in 1 or more states/territories. Table 5 summarises the distribution, commercial availability, and control status of naturalised garden plants on the Alert List.

4.2.1 National

Table 5: Naturalised Garden Plants on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds

Alert Species Naturalised Common Name Naturalised Potential for National Border State/Terr. Available where?^ Naturalisation^^ Control Status Control Status for sale

Barleria prionitis Barleria Qld, NT, WA WA Prohibited import - WA-II (Qld, NT) WRA required NT-I, II, III Calluna vulgaris Scotch heather Sleeper NSW, Vic Permitted genus None Vic (Tas) (ACT, NSW, Vic) Cynoglossum creticum Sleeper Vic, Tas, SA, WA Permitted genus None (NSW) Cytisus multiflora White Spanish broom Vic NSW, Tas, WA Permitted genus WA-II (Vic, SA) (NSW, Tas, WA) ACT-IV Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead WA NSW, Vic, Tas, SA Prohibited import - None (WA) WRA required Equisetum spp. Horsetail Vic (ACT), Tas^^^ Permitted genus NSW-I, II, III*** Equisetum arvense (NSW) Prohibited species Qld-I,II, III*** Equisetum hyemale (NSW, Vic) Permitted genus SA-I, II, III*** Equisetum ramosissimum (NSW) Prohibited species Tas-I, II, III*** Vic-I, II, III*** WA-I, II, III*** ACT-IV*** Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Senegal tea plant Sleeper (SA) Prohibited import - NSW-I, II, III (Qld, NSW) WRA required Qld-I, II, III SA-I, II, III Tas-I, II, III WA-I, II, III ACT-IV Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed, NSW NSW, SA Prohibited species NSW-I, II, III Qld, Tas** Orange paintbrush (Vic, Tas) (ACT, NSW, SA) Tas-I, II, III

10 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Alert Species Naturalised Common Name Naturalised Potential for National Border State/Terr. Available where?^ Naturalisation^^ Control Status Control Status for sale

Vic-I, II, III WA-II Lachenalia reflexa Lachenalia WA NSW, Vic, Tas, SA Permitted genus None Vic (WA) Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon Sleeper Vic, SA, WA Prohibited species NSW-I, II, III (NSW, Tas)^^^^ (Vic, SA, WA) Qld-I,II, III SA-I, II, III Tas-I, II, III Vic-I, II, III WA-I, II, III ACT-IV NT-I, II Pelargonium Vic NSW, Vic, Tas, SA Permitted genus None alchemilloides* (WA) Pereskia aculeata Leaf cactus Sleeper WA Permitted species None NSW (NSW) Retama raetam White weeping broom SA, WA NSW, Vic, Tas Prohibited import - None (SA, WA) WRA required Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio, NSW, WA Vic, Tas, SA Prohibited species None Water dissel, Large (NSW, WA) (Vic, Tas, SA) senecio Thunbergia laurifolia Laurel clock vine Qld, NT NT, WA Permitted genus Qld-I, II, III NT (Qld) WA-II Tipuana tipu Rosewood Qld NT, WA Prohibited import - None NSW, NT, (Qld) WRA required Qld, Vic, WA Total: 16 8 permitted taxa 7 6

Notes * On the National Alert list, Pelargonium alchemilloides is listed, whereas the current list of naturalised garden plants available for sale includes all Pelargonium spp. ** Refers to those species identified in Aussie Plant Finder (2002) as available for sale that were subsequently prohibited for sale in the given State or Territory. *** All species in the Equisetum genus are declared noxious weeds in all States. E. arvense only is declared in the ACT. **** Permitted genus may include one or several prohibited species other than the Alert List species ^ Randall R. (2001) and Groves et al., 2003 (between brackets) have been used for assessing in which States and Territories the invasive garden plants are reported naturalised. ^^ Potential to naturalise information from http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/alert-list.html and http://www.weeds.org.au (in brackets) ^^^ C. Goninon, Tas DPIWE (pers. comm. 25 August 2004) ^^^^ Tas DPIWE advise that Lagarosiphon major is no longer naturalised in the State but has the potential to do so (C. Goninon, Tas DPIWE (pers. comm. 25 August 2004)

Results

• Of the 28 taxa on the national Alert List, 9 (32%) are able to be legally imported into Australia. Of these, 8 (29%) are able to imported through the genus listing loophole in Schedule 5 under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998 (see Appendix 3). • Of the 28 taxa on the national Alert List, 16 (57%) are on the list of naturalised garden plant species (Table 5). • Of the 16 naturalised garden plant taxa on the national Alert List, 8 taxa are able to be legally imported into Australia. Seven of these are able to be imported through the genus listing loophole in Schedule 5 under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998. • Of the 28 taxa on the national Alert List, 6 (21%) are recorded as available for sale: 3 in Victoria, and 2 in NSW, Qld and NT. • Of the 16 naturalised garden plant taxa, 6 (38%) are recorded for sale in one or more States or Territories. • Out of the 16 naturalised garden plants, 7 (44%) are controlled at some level in one or more States or Territories.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 11 Box 2: Poor Coordination: Horsetail (Equisetum spp.) Commonwealth Alert List of Environmental Weeds

The response to Equisetum spp. provides a useful example to highlight the poor level of coordination and harmonisation that exists between Australian Government agencies, in this case Biosecurity Australia and the Department of the Environment and Heritage. The Equisetum genus consists of approximately 30 species, of which 12 are considered weeds (Csurhes and Edwards 1998:37). The landmark study, The World’s Worst Weeds – distribution and biology ranks Equisetum species as some of the world’s worst weeds of agriculture, as a result of their resilience, toxicity and ability to dominate poorly-drained farmland and pastures (Holm et al 1977).

The following species have been detected in Australia or are likely to be detected in the future:

• E. arvense L., common or field horsetail. Native to temperate areas of the northern hemisphere and a weed in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and New Zealand. Naturalised in NSW and ACT, present in gardens in Victoria and sold at markets. • E. bogotense. Native to Central and South America. • E. debile (E. ramosissimum subsp. debile). Tropical and sub-tropical species occurring from India to Taiwan, New Guinea and Fiji. A potential threat to northern Australia. • E. hyemale L. (E. hiemale), scouring rush, greater horsetail. Native of most of Europe and widespread from Canada to Mexico. Infestations are on record in Tasmania and NSW. Recently detected under cultivation by herb growers and known from home gardens. • Equisetum palustre L., marsh horsetail. A weed in Europe, North America and Asia. • Equisetum ramosissimum (E.campanulatum, Hippochaete ramosissima), branched scouring rush, drill grass, mare's tail, Transvaal horsetail. Native to Madagascar. A weed in Europe, North and South America and Asia. An infestation on record in northern NSW. • E. scirpoides, dwarf horsetail. Northern Europe and North America (Faithfull 2003).

The report, Potential Environmental Weeds in Australia, recommends that:

“It is preferable to prevent the sale and cultivation of Equisetum as garden plants or as medicinal herbs rather than attempt control of wild plants… The plants should be prohibited from sale nationally” (Csurhes and Edwards 1998:38).

Despite the very strong recommendations from scientists, the entire Equisetum genus being listed on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds and national nursery and gardening body “garden thug” list, and all species of the genus being declared noxious in all States (AWC 2004), as of 20 July 2004 Biosecurity Australia still permits the legal importation of all but 3 of the some 30 species in the genus. This is despite the known trade in these high risk species. As the entire genus is being controlled in all States, this status should readily satisfy international ‘official control’ tests and enable Biosecurity Australia to prohibit the importation of all species in the genus recorded in Australia and require the remainder to be subject to a Weed Risk Assessment. If the Australian Government had implemented a coordinated response, Biosecurity Australia would have reviewed this genus in the lead up to, or soon after, the Alert List was announced in May 2001 (Hill 2001) and replaced the genus listing with listings of permitted and prohibited species.

This is a prime example of poor coordination between Biosecurity Australia and the Department of the Environment and Heritage. It also is symptomatic of the major flaw that exists in Schedule 5 (permitted list) under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998 maintained by Biosecurity Australia. A comprehensive study of the Schedule 5 loophole, Front Door Wide Open to New Weeds, examines the full extent of this flaw elsewhere and recommends a comprehensive overhaul of the list (Spafford Jacob, Randall and Lloyd 2004).

12 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 4.2.2 By State and Territory

New South Wales

Table 6: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in NSW

Name Common Name State Control Available for sale Risk Class Status Naturalised Cynoglossum creticum None 2a Equisetum arvense, Horsetail I, II, III 3a Equisetum ramosissimum Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Senegal tea plant I, II, III 3a Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed I, II, III Qld, Tas** 3a Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon I, II, III 3a Pereskia aculeata Leaf cactus None NSW 1a Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio None 2a Potential to become Naturalised Calluna vulgaris Scotch heather None 2b Cytisus multiflora White spanish broom None 2b Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead None 2b Lachenalia reflexa Lachenalia None Vic 1c Pelargonium alchemilloides None 2b Retama raetam White weeping broom None 2b

Note ** Prohibited for sale subsequent to 2002

Results

• Seven of the 16 naturalised garden plant taxa on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in New South Wales (the 2 Equisetum species are considered one taxa). Of these 7 taxa, 4 (57%) are prohibited for sale and import, 2 have no controls but are not commercially available nationally, and 1 has no controls and is commercially available in the State (Leaf cactus). The commercial availability of Leaf cactus in NSW increases the risk of this weed increasing its range and abundance. • A high risk species for future invasion into NSW is Lachenalia given its commercial availability in Victoria, and lack of legal controls in NSW. • Six of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in New South Wales. Of these 6 species, none are controlled for sale or import and 1 is commercially available in another State.

Queensland

Table 7: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in Qld

Name Common Name State Control Available for Sale Risk Class Status Naturalised Barleria prionitis Barleria None 2a Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Senegal tea plant I, II, III 3a Thunbergia laurifolia Thunbergia I, II, III NT 3a Tipuana tipu Rosewood None NSW, NT, Qld, 1a Vic, WA

Results

• Four of the 16 naturalised garden plant species on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in Queensland. Of these 4 species, 2 (50%) are prohibited for sale and

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 13 import, 1 (50%) has no controls but are not commercially available nationally, and 1 is commercially available in the State. • The wide commercial availability of Tipuana tipu increases the risk of this species of increasing its range and abundance in Queensland. • No Alert List species are identified as being able to potentially naturalise in Queensland.

South Australia

Table 8: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in SA

Name Common Name State Control Available for Sale Risk Class Status Naturalised Cytisus multiflora White Spanish broom None 2a Retama raetam White weeping broom None 2a Potential to become Naturalised Cynoglossum creticum None 2b Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead None 2b Gymnocoronis spilanthoides Senegal Tea Plant I, II, III 3b Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed None Qld, Tas** 1c Lachenalia reflexa Lachenalia None Vic 1c Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon I, II, III 3b Pelargonium alchemilloides None 2b Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio None 2b

Note ** Prohibited for sale subsequent to 2002

Results

• Two of the 16 naturalised garden plant species on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in South Australia. Of these 2 species, neither has any controls on sale nor import, but was not recorded for sale in Australia in 2002. • Eight of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in South Australia. Of these 8 species, two are prohibited for sale or import, and 2 are available for sale out of the State. No controls exist on 6 of the species, including the 2 available for sale in other States. • The high risk Alert List species for future invasion into SA (Risk Class 1c) are Orange Hawkweed and Lachenalia given their commercial availability in other States and lack of legal controls in South Australia.

Tasmania

Table 9: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in Tas

Name Common Name State Control Available for Sale Risk Class Status Naturalised Calluna vulgaris Scotch heather None Vic 1c Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed I, II, III Qld, Tas** 3a Potential to become Naturalised Cynoglossum creticum None 2b Cytisus multiflora White Spanish broom None 2b Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead None 2b Lachenalia reflexa Lachenalia None Vic 1c Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon I, II, III 3b Pelargonium alchemilloides None 2b Retama raetam White weeping broom None 2b Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio None 2b

Note ** Prohibited for sale subsequent to 2002

14 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Results

• Two of the 16 naturalised garden plant species on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in Tasmania. Of these, 1 has controls on sale or import, and both are commercially available in Australia. • Eight of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in Tasmania. Of these 8 species, one is prohibited for sale or import, and 1 is commercially available out of state. • The highest risk species for future invasion into Tasmania is Lachenalia given its commercial availability in Victoria and lack of legal controls in Tasmania. • The commercial availability of Scotch heather in Victoria increases the risk of this weed increasing its range and abundance in Tasmania, due to the lack of legal controls in Tasmania.

Victoria

Table 10: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in Vic

Name Common Name State Control Available for Sale Risk Class Status Naturalised Cytisus multiflora White Spanish broom None 2a Equisetum hyemale Horsetail I, II, III 3a Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed I, II, III Qld, Tas** 3a Potential to become Naturalised Calluna vulgaris Scotch heather None Vic 1b Cynoglossum creticum None 2b Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead None 2b Lachenalia reflexa Lachenalia None Vic 1b Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon I, II, III 3b Pelargonium alchemilloides None 2b Retama raetam White weeping broom None 2b Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio None 2b

Note ** Prohibited for sale subsequent to 2002

Results

• Three of the 16 naturalised garden plant species on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in Victoria. Of these 3 species, 2 have controls on sale or import, and 1 is commercially available in Australia. • Eight of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in Victoria. Of these 8 species, one is prohibited for sale or import, and 2 are commercially available within the State. • Alert List species that are at high risk (Risk Class 1b) for future naturalisation and invasion of the Victorian environment are Scotch heather and Lachenalia due to the combination of them being commercially available in the State but not controlled in the State.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 15 Western Australia

Table 11: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in WA

Name Common Name State Control Available for Sale Risk Class Status Naturalised Barleria prionitis Barleria II 3a Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead None 2a Lachenalia reflexa Lachenalia None Vic 1c Pelargonium alchemilloides None 2a Retama raetam White weeping broom None 2a Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio None 2a Tipuana tipu None NSW, NT, Qld, 1a Vic, WA Potential to become Naturalised Cynoglossum creticum None 2b Cytisus multiflora White Spanish broom II 3b Lagarosiphon major Lagarosiphon I, II, III 3b Pereskia aculeata Leaf cactus None NSW 1c Thunbergia laurifolia Laurel clock vine II NT 3b

Results

• Seven of the 16 naturalised garden plant species on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in Western Australia. Of these 7 species, 1 is controlled for import only, 1 is commercially available in Australia, and 1 is commercially available within the state. • Five of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in Western Australia. Of these 5 species, 2 are prohibited for import, 1 is prohibited for sale and import, and 2 are commercially available within Australia. • The commercial availability and lack of legal controls on Tipuana tipu in WA increases the risk of this weed increasing its range and abundance. • The commercial availability of Lachenalia in Victoria and lack of legal controls in WA increases the risk of this weed increasing its range and abundance. • A high risk Alert List species (Risk Class 1c) for future invasion into WA is Leaf Cactus given its commercial availability in NSW, and lack of legal controls in WA.

Australian Capital Territory

Table 12: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in ACT

Name Common Name Territory Available for Sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised None Potential to become Naturalised Calluna vulgaris Scotch heather None Vic 1c Equisetum spp. Horsetail IV (E. arvense 2b only) Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed None Qld, Tas** 1c

Note ** Prohibited for sale subsequent to 2002

16 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Results

• None of the garden plants on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds is naturalised in ACT. • High risk species (Risk Class 1c) for future invasion are Scotch heather and Orange hawkweed given their commercial availability in other States and lack of preventative controls in place in the ACT.

Northern Territory

Table 13: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List that are Naturalised or with Potential to Naturalise in NT

Name Common Name Territory Available for Sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Barleria prionitis Barleria I, II, III 3a Thunbergia laurifolia Laurel clock vine None NT 1a Potential to become Naturalised Tipuana tipu Rosewood None NSW, NT, Qld, Vic, 1b WA

Results

• Two of the 16 naturalised garden plant species on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds are naturalised in Northern Territory. Of these 2 species, 1 is controlled for sale and import and 1 (Laurel clockvine) is commercially available within the Territory. • A high risk species (Risk Class 1a) for future naturalisation in the NT is Tipuana tipu given its commercial availability and lack of legal controls in the Territory.

4.2.3 Overall Risk Classes by State and Territory

Table 14: Overall Risk Classes by State and Territory for Garden Plant Species on the Alert List

State/Territory Risk Class NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Totals 1a 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 4 (6%) 1b 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 4 (6%) 1c 0 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 7 (11%) 2a 2 1 2 0 1 4 0 0 10 (15%) 2b 5 0 4 6 5 1 1 0 22 (33%) 3a 4 2 0 1 2 1 0 1 10 (15%) 3b 0 0 2 1 1 3 0 0 7 (10%) 3c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0%) Total number of 13 4 10 10 11 12 3 3 66 naturalised or potentially naturalised garden plants

Results

• Of the highest Risk Classes 1 a, b, and c, across Australia, an average of 12% of species that have naturalised or have the potential to naturalise are for sale within the threatened State or Territory (1a, b). A further 11% are for sale in Australia with no control over import (1c) into threatened States/Territories. • From the Alert List, only 25% of naturalised garden species and those species with the potential to naturalise are controlled for sale and import within threatened States/Territories (Risk Class 3a, b).

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 17 • Relative to the number of species naturalised in their respective states, Western Australia has the most controls on import of Alert list weeds that have the potential to naturalise (3 of 5), while Victoria has the fewest (1 of 8). • New South Wales has the highest number of controls on sale and import over already naturalised garden plants on the Alert List, but no controls on garden plant species with the potential to naturalise. • Western Australia has fewer controls on already naturalised garden plants but has the strongest preventative laws with import controls on 3 of 5 species with the potential to naturalise in the State. • Northern Territory has 67% (2 of 3) of naturalised or potentially naturalised garden plants for sale within the Territory. • Overall, very few States/Territories have preventative controls in place against Alert List plant species with the potential to naturalise.

4.3 Eradication from Natural Ecosystems Target List 4.3.1 National

Table 15: Naturalised Garden Plants on the Eradication from Natural Ecosystems Target List*

Species Target for Eradication Common Name Naturalised where?^ National Border State/Terr. Available for impacting Natural Ecosystems Control Status Control Status sale Naturalised Centaurea maculosa Spotted Knapweed Sleeper Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III (NSW) WA – II ACT – IV Crataegus azarolus Azarole Sleeper Permitted genus SA – I, IV Vic (SA) WA – II Dittrichia viscosa False yellowhead WA Prohibited import - None WRA required Gliricidia sepium Mother of cacao Sleeper Permitted genus None (WA) Lachenalia reflexa Cape cowslip WA Permitted genus None Vic

Retama raetam White weeping Sleeper Prohibited import - None broom (SA, WA) WRA required Schoenoplectus californicus California brush Sleeper Prohibited genus None (NSW) Senecio glastifolius Holly leaf senecio, NSW, WA Prohibited species None Water dissel, Large senecio Thunbergia laurifolia Laurel clock vine Qld, NT Permitted genus Qld – I, II, III NT WA – II Tipuana tipu Rosewood Qld Prohibited import - None NSW, NT, WRA required Qld, Vic, WA Total: 10 4 Permitted 3 4 Species

Notes

* Derived from Table 4 from Weed Categories for Natural and Agricultural Ecosystem Management, Groves et al. (2003) ^ Randall R. (2001) and Groves et al., 2003 (between brackets) have been used for assessing in which States and Territories the invasive garden plants are reported naturalised.

Results

• Of the 34 naturalised non-native plant species that are impacting on natural ecosystems and recommended for national eradication or containment (listed in Table 4 of Groves et al. 2003), 11 (32%) are able to be legally imported into Australia. Of these, all 11 (32%) are able to imported through the genus listing loophole in Schedule 5 under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998 (see Appendix 4).

18 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report • Of the 34 species on the eradication from natural ecosystems target list, 10 (29.5%) are on the list of naturalised garden plant species. • Of the 10 naturalised garden plant species on this eradication list, 4 (12%) are able to be legally imported into Australia. All 4 are able to be imported through the genus listing loophole in Schedule 5 under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998. • Of the 34 national eradication target species, 4 (11.8%) are recorded as available for sale. • Of the 10 naturalised garden plant species, 4 (40%) are recorded for sale in one or more States or the Northern Territory. • Of the 10 naturalised garden plant species, only 3 are controlled for sale and/or import in one or more State/Territory.

4.4 Eradication from Agricultural Ecosystems Target List

4.4.1 National

Table 16: Naturalised Garden Plants on the Eradication from Agricultural Ecosystems Target List*

Species Target for Eradication Common Name Naturalised where?^ National Border State/Territory Available for impacting Agricultural Control Status Control Status sale Ecosystems Naturalised For eradication or being eradicated at present Centaurea maculosa Spotted knapweed Sleeper Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III (NSW) WA – II ACT – IV Equisetum arvense Field horsetail NSW, ACT Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III (NSW) Qld – I, II, III SA – I, II, III Tas – I, II, IV Vic – I, II, III WA – I, II, III ACT – IV Equisetum hyemale Scouring rush Tas, WA Permitted genus NSW – I, II, III Tas** (NSW, Vic) Qld – I, II, III SA – I, II, III Tas – I, II, IV Vic – I, II, III WA – I, II, III Hieracium pilosella Mouseear Sleeper Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III Tas**, Qld hawkweed (Tas) Tas – I, II, IV Vic – I, II, III WA – II Mikania micrantha Mile-a-minute weed Sleeper Prohibited species Qld – I, II, III (Qld) WA – II Recommended for eradication Brillantaisia lamium Sleeper Prohibited import - None (Qld) WRA required Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed NSW Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III Qld, Tas** (Vic, Tas) Tas – I, II, IV Vic – I, II, III WA – II Total: 7 1 2 (3)***

Notes

* Derived from Table 8 from Weed Categories for Natural and Agricultural Ecosystem Management, Groves et al. (2003) ** Refers to those species identified in Aussie Plant Finder (2002) as available for sale that were subsequently prohibited for sale in the given State. *** While 3 species were identified in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale, one species recorded as available for sale solely in Tasmania, Equisetum hyemale, was subsequently prohibited for sale in that State. ^ Randall R. (2001) and Groves et al., 2003 (between brackets) have been used for assessing in which States and Territories the invasive garden plants are reported naturalised.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 19 Results

• Of the 26 species targeted for national eradication and impacting agricultural ecosystems listed in Groves et al. (2003), 3 (12%) are able to be legally imported into Australia. Of these, all 3 are able to be imported through the genus listing loophole in Schedule 5 under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998 (see Appendix 5). • Of the 26 species on this national eradication list, 7 (27%) are on the list of naturalised garden plants. • Of the 7 naturalised garden plant species on this national eradication list, 1 species is able to legally imported into Australia through the genus listing loophole in Schedule 5 under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998. • Of the 26 species on this national eradication list, 2 (8%) are recorded as available for sale. • Of the 7 naturalised garden plant species on this national eradication list, 2 (29%) are recorded as available for sale (3 are recorded for sale in Hibbert (2002) but Tasmania subsequently prohibited the sale of Equisetum hyemale). • Of the two species recommended for eradication, only one (Brillantaisia lamium) has no controls in any State/Territory. • State/Territory controls on agricultural ecosystem eradication targets were far more comprehensive than those in place for natural ecosystem eradication targets.

4.5 Sleeper Agricultural Weeds Targeted for National Eradication

Of the 17 candidate species listed in Prioritising sleeper weeds for eradication – Selection of species based on potential impacts on agriculture and feasibility of eradication (Cunningham et al. 2003), 2 are naturalised garden plants.

Table 17: Naturalised Garden Plants on the BRS Sleeper Agricultural Weeds Eradication Target List

Naturalised sleeper weeds for Naturalised where?^ National Border Control Available for sale eradication Status Brillantaisia lamium Sleeper Prohibited import - (Qld) WRA required Hieracium aurantiacum NSW Prohibited species Qld, Tas** ssp. carpathicola (Vic, Tas) Total: 2 1

Notes

** Refers to those species identified in Aussie Plant Finder (2002) as available for sale that were subsequently prohibited for sale in the given state. It is assumed that these species have been either subsequently withdrawn by nurseries in the given state to comply with state laws, or are now being sold illegally.

^ Randall R. (2001) and Groves et al., 2003 (between brackets) have been used for assessing in which States and Territories the invasive garden plants are reported naturalised. Results

• Of the 17 candidate sleeper weeds for eradication listed in Cunningham D.C. et al., 2003, 2 (11.8%) are on the list of naturalised invasive garden plants. • 1 (5.9%) is available for sale in one or more State or Territory.

20 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 4.6 Weeds of National Significance List

4.6.1 National

Table 18: Naturalised Garden Plants on Weeds of National Significance (WONS) List

WONS Species Common Naturalised Potential to National Border State/Terr. Available Naturalised Name where?^ Naturalise1 Control Status Control Status for Sale Alternanthera Alligator NSW, Qld, ACT SA, Tas Prohibited genus NSW – I, II, III, IV philoxeroides weed (Qld, NSW, Vic, WA, (SA, Tas) Qld – I, II, III NT) SA – I, II, III Tas – I, II, III Vic – I, II, III WA – I, II, III ACT – IV NT – I, II, III Annona glabra Pond Apple Qld NSW, WA, NT Prohibited species Qld – I, II, IV NSW (Qld) (NSW, WA, NT) SA – I WA – II Asparagus Bridal Vic, SA, NSW, Tas, Qld, ACT Prohibited species NSW – I, IV NSW*** asparagoides creeper WA (Qld, ACT) Qld – I, II, III (Vic, SA, NSW, Tas, SA – I, II, IV WA) Tas – I, II, III WA – II Cabomba Cabomba Vic, NSW, Qld, NT, WA, SA, Tas, ACT Prohibited species NSW – I SA** caroliniana ACT (Tas, WA) Qld – I, II, IV (Vic, NSW, Qld) SA – I Tas – I, II, III WA – I, II, III ACT – IV NT – I, II, III Chrysanthemoides Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III, IV monilifera Qld – I, II, III ssp. Bone seed Vic, SA, NSW, Qld, SA – I, II, IV monilifera Tas, WA Tas – I, II, IV (Vic, SA, NSW, Tas) Vic – I, II, III, IV WA – IV ssp. Bitou bush Vic, SA, NSW, Qld rotundata (Vic, NSW, Qld ) Cryptostegia Rubber Qld, NT, WA NSW Prohibited import - Qld – I, II, IV grandiflora vine (Qld, NT, WA) (NSW) WRA required SA – I WA – I, II, III NT – I, II Lantana camara Lantana NSW, Qld, NT, WA Vic, SA, Tas Prohibited genus NSW – III, IV NT**, WA, (NSW, Qld, NT, WA, Qld – I, II Vic Vic, SA) SA – I Tas – I, II, III WA – II NT – I, II, IV Mimosa pigra Mimosa NT (Qld, NT) WA, Qld Prohibited species Qld – I, II, III (WA) SA – I WA – I, II NT – I, II, III, IV Nassella trichotoma Serrated Vic, ACT WA, Qld Prohibited species NSW – I, III, IV tussock (NSW, Vic, Tas) (WA, SA, Qld) Qld – I, II, III SA – I, II, IV Tas – I, II, IV WA – II ACT – IV Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia SA, NSW, Qld, NT, Vic, SA Prohibited species NSW – I, II, III WA (Qld, NSW, SA, (SA) Qld – I, II, IV WA, NT) SA – I, II, III WA – I, II, III NT – I, II, IV Prosopis spp. Mesquite Qld, WA Prohibited import - NSW – I, II, III (Qld, NSW, WA) WRA required Qld – I, II, III, IV SA – I, II, III glandulosa var. (Qld, WA) Vic – I, II, III glandulosa X WA – I, II, III P. velutina NT – I, II, IV Juliflora var. (Qld, SA, WA) juliflora

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 21 WONS Species Common Naturalised Potential to National Border State/Terr. Available Naturalised Name where?^ Naturalise1 Control Status Control Status for Sale pallida (Qld, WA, NT) velutina (Qld, NSW, Vic, NT) (NSW, SA) Rubus fruticosus Blackberry Vic, SA, NSW, Qld, Prohibited species NSW – III, IV Tas, WA, ACT Qld – I, II SA – I, II, IV Tas – I, II, IV Vic – I, II, IV WA – I, II, III ACT – IV Salix spp.* Willows SA, Tas Requires DAFF NSW – I, II Salix alba Vic, ACT approval Qld – I, II, III Qld** var. alba (NSW, Vic, Tas, SA) SA – I ssp. vitellina (NSW, Vic) Tas – I, II, IV NSW Salix babylonica WA – II NSW, WA Salix cinerea Vic, ACT ACT – IV Vic ssp. cinerea (NSW, Vic, Tas, SA) ssp. oleifolia (Vic) Salix fragilis Vic, Tas, ACT var. fragilis (NSW, Vic, Tas) var. fragilis x S. (Vic) matsudana cv. tortuosa var. fragilis x S. (NSW) nigra var. furcata (Vic) Salix nigra ACT (NSW, Vic) Salix purpurea ACT (NSW, Vic) Vic Salix viminalis ACT (NSW) Salix X sepulcralis NSW, ACT (NSW, NSW** var. chrysocoma Vic) Salvinia molesta Salvinia Vic, NSW, Qld, NT, Tas Prohibited genus NSW – I, II, III WA, ACT Qld – I, II, IV (Vic, NSW, Qld, NT, SA – I, II, III WA, ACT) Tas – I, II, III Vic – I, II, III WA – I, II, III ACT – IV NT – I, II, III, IV Tamarix aphylla Athel pine SA, NT, WA Prohibited import - Qld – I, II WA (Qld, NSW, WA, NT) WRA required SA – I Tas – I, II, III WA – II NT – I, II, IV Ulex europaeus Gorse Vic, SA, NSW, Tas, Prohibited import - NSW – III WA, ACT WRA required Qld – I, II, III (Vic, SA, NSW, Tas, SA – I, II, IV WA, Qld) Tas – I, II, IV Vic – I, II, III, IV WA – I, II, III ACT – IV Total: 16* 0 permitted taxa 5 (6)****

Notes

* Salix species listed on the national WONS include Salix spp. except S. babylonica, S. X calodendron and S. X reichardtiji, whereas only one taxa (Salix spp.) is taken into consideration for the current statistics. ** Refers to those species identified in Aussie Plant Finder (2002) as available for sale that were subsequently prohibited for sale in the given state. This reduces the number of WONS for sale legally in one or more States to five species *** Regional declarations prohibit sale of bridal creeper in a number of regions in NSW **** While 6 species were recorded in Hibbert (2002) as available for sale, one species recorded as available for sale solely in SA (Cabomba caroliniana) was subsequently prohibited for sale in that State. ^ The sources for reporting which States and Territory invasive garden plants have naturalised are Randall R. (2001) and Groves et al., 2003 (between brackets). ^^ Potential to naturalise information taken from http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/alert-list.html and http://www.weeds.org.au (in brackets).

22 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Results

• Of the 20 taxa declared as WONS, as of 28 July 2004 0 (0%) are able to be legally imported in Australia. Previous to 28 July 2004, three WONS were able to be legally imported, including two WONS species on the list of naturalised garden plants. Their belated prohibition by Biosecurity Australia occurred over 5 years after the public announcement of the WONS (on 1 June 1999) (see Appendix 7). • Of the 20 taxa on the WONS list, 16 (80%) are on the list of naturalised invasive or potentially invasive garden plants. • 6 taxa (30%) are recorded as available for sale in one or more States or Territories in Aussie Plant Finder (Hibbert 2002), though one species recorded for sale solely in South Australia (Cabomba caroliniana) was prohibited for sale after 2002. Accordingly, 5 taxa are still considered as available for sale.

Box 3: Poor Coordination Example 3: Bridal Creeper (Asparagus Asparagoides): Weed of National Significance

Bridal creeper threatens a range of native plant species and is a Weed of National Significance. Despite a 2001 agreement by all States and Territories to prohibit the sale of WONS species (SCARM 2001), this serious weed has been declared a noxious weed in only five States (though only in some regions in NSW) (see Appendix 7). Until 28 July 2004, the species was able to be legally imported into Australia with no Weed Risk Assessment through the permitted Asparagus genus in the Schedule 5 permitted list under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998 (AQIS 2004). This potentially enabled new genetic material to be imported which could increase the invasibility and impact of this serious weed.

Bridal creeper is prohibited for sale in some regions of NSW, but surprisingly is not prohibited State-wide. This enables nurseries to sell this plant in non-declared regions, which is indeed the case: Aussie Plant Finder records the plant as available for sale in NSW (Hibbert 2002). This places the ACT at risk, since the potential range of bridal creeper includes the ACT. However, the ACT has put no legislative measures in place to prohibit the import or sale of this noxious weed.

This is an example of poor coordination between:

• two areas within one Australian Government Department: the Natural Resource Management Division within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) that has Commonwealth responsibility with DEH for the Weeds of National Significance, and Biosecurity Australia also within DAFF that maintains the Schedule 5 quarantine permitted list. Thus on one hand, the Australian and State governments have been investing millions of dollars on the control of bridal creeper and other WONS, while on the other until 28 July 2004 Biosecurity Australia permitted the legal importation of this WONS species with no Weed Risk Assessment, as all the species in the Asparagus genus are able to be legally imported (AQIS 2004). • two States and Territories: Bridal creeper is not prohibited for sale State-wide in NSW, and is recorded for sale in Aussie Plant Finder. This failure to prohibit the sale State-wide, contrary to a 2001 agreement to do so (SCARM 2001), places the ACT at risk of being invaded by this invasive plant. The ACT provides suitable conditions for bridal creeper but has put no legislative measures in place to prohibit the importation and sale of this invasive plant.

4.6.2 By State/Territory As in section 3.2.2., some caveats are included in the following analyses. First, lists of naturalised species in the State and Territory lists are assimilated data from Randall (2001), Randall and Kessal (2004) and Groves et al. (2003). Second, some species identified in the Aussie Plant Finder (Hibbert 2002) as available for sale solely in a given State/Territory and

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 23 have been subsequently prohibited for sale in the given state. It is assumed that these species have been either subsequently withdrawn by nurseries in the given State to comply with state laws, or are now being sold illegally. In all of the State and Territory summaries below, these cases are referred to with the symbol **. When risk classes were assigned, it was assumed that nurseries had withdrawn the species from sale. Third, risk class calculations include all individual Salix species.

New South Wales

Table 19: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in NSW

WONS Species Common name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed I, II, III, IV 3a Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper I*, IV NSW 1a Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba I SA** 3a Chrysanthemoides monilifera I, II, III, IV 3a ssp. Monilifera Bone seed ssp. Rotundata Bitou bush Lantana camara Lantana III, IV NT, WA, Vic 1c Nassella trichotoma Serrated tussock III, IV 3a Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia I, II, III 3a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry III, IV 2b Salix X sepulcralis var. chrysocoma Willow I, II NSW** 3a Salvinia molesta Salvinia I, II, III 3a Ulex europaeus Gorse III 2a Potential to become Naturalised Cryptostegia grandiflora None 2b Prosopsis pallida Mesquite I, II, III 3b Total: 13 2 (4)

Note * Regional Declarations apply only

Results

• Of the 16 WONS that are naturalised garden plants, 11 are naturalised in New South Wales (69%). Of these 11 taxa, 5 have controls on both import and sale, and one (Cabomba) is prohibited for sale only. Another, (bridal creeper) is subject to regional controls on sale only but is recorded as available for sale • Two species have the potential to naturalise in NSW. Of these species, only Mesquite is controlled for import and sale. • Four WONS taxa on the list of naturalised garden plants are recorded as available for sale (Hibbert 2002), but 2 of them have since been prohibited in the State where they were solely available (willow and Cabomba). • Bridal creeper is recorded as available for sale in NSW, and the ACT and Victoria are at risk of this WONS being legally imported and becoming naturalised. This weed also has the potential to naturalise in neighbouring Queensland, though this State has controls on its sale and import.

24 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Queensland

Table 20: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in Qld

WONS Species Naturalised Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed I, II, III 3a Annona glabra Pond apple I, II, IV NSW 3a Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba I, II, IV SA** 3a Chrysanthemoides monilifera I, II, III 3a Ssp. monilifera Bone seed Ssp. rotundata Bitou bush Cryptostegia grandiflora Rubber vine I, II, IV 3a Lantana camara Lantana I, II NT, WA, Vic 3a Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia I, II, IV 3a Prosopis spp. Mesquite I, II, III, IV 3a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry I, II 3a Salvinia molesta Salvinia I, II, IV 3a Potential to become Naturalised Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper I, II, III NSW 3b Mimosa pigra Mimosa I, II, III 3b Nassella trichotoma Serrated tussock I, II, III 3b Total: 13 3 (4)

Results

• Of the 16 WONS that are naturalised garden plants, 10 are naturalised in Queensland. Of these 10 taxa, all are controlled for sale and import. Three are recorded as available for sale in Australia, but one of them (Cabomba) has since been prohibited for sale in the State where it was solely available. • Three of the 16 taxa have the potential to naturalise in Queensland. These 3 are all prohibited for sale and import, as well as targeted for eradication. One is available outside of the State (bridal creeper).

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 25 South Australia

Table 21: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in SA

WONS Species Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper I, II, IV NSW 3a Chrysanthemoides monilifera I, II, IV 3a ssp. monilifera Bone saeed ssp. rotundata Bitou bush Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia I, II, III 3a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry I, II, IV 3a Tamarix aphylla Athel pine I WA 1c Ulex europaeus Gorse I, II, IV 3a Potential to become Naturalised Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed I, II, III 3b Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba I SA ** 1b Lantana camara Lantana I NT**, WA, Vic 1c Nassella trichotoma Serrated tussock I, II, III 3b Prosopsis pallida Mesquite I, II, III 3b Total: 11 3 (4)

Results

• Six taxa of the 16 naturalised garden plants on the WONS list are naturalised in South Australia. Of these taxa, 5 are controlled for sale and import, while one is only prohibited from sale (Athel pine). Two are available for sale in Australia. • Five of the 16 taxa have the potential to naturalise in South Australia. All of these five species are prohibited for sale, as part of a SA government prohibition on the sale of all WONS species. One species (Lantana) is available for sale in another State.

Tasmania

Table 22: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in Tas

WONS Species Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper I, II, III NSW 3a Chrysanthemoides monilifera I, II, IV 3a ssp. monilifera Bone seed Nassella trichotoma Serrated tussock I, II, IV 3a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry I, II, IV 3a Salix fragilis Willow I, II, IV 3a Ulex europaeus Gorse I, II, IV 3a Potential to become Naturalised Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator weed I, II, III 3b Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba I, II, III SA** 3b Lantana camara Lantana I, II, III 3b Salvinia molesta Salvinia I, II, III 3b Total: 10 1 (2)

Note Control status for WONS that have the potential to naturalise in Tasmania is to eradicate if detected.

26 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Results

• Of the 16 naturalised garden plants on the WONS list, 6 species are naturalised in Tasmania. Of these species, all are controlled for sale and import. One (Bridal creeper) is available for sale in another State (NSW). • Four of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in Tasmania. All are prohibited for sale and import. Of these species, Cabomba caroliniana was recorded for sale in Australia in 2002, but has since been prohibited for sale in the sole State it was available. • Tasmania has robust legal controls in place for all WONS that are naturalised, or have the potential to naturalise in Tasmania.

Victoria

Table 23: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in Vic

WONS Species Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper None NSW 1c Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba None SA** 1c Chrysanthemoides monilifera I, II, III, IV 3a ssp. monilifera Bone seed ssp. rotundata Bitou bush Nassella trichotoma Serrated tussock None 2a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry I, II, IV 3a Salix Willow None alba Qld 1c cinerea Vic 1a fragilis 2a nigra 2a purpurea Vic 1a X sepulcralis var. NSW** 1c chrysochoma Salvinia molesta Salvinia I, II, III 3a Ulex europaeus Gorse I, II, III, IV 3a Potential to become Naturalised Lantana camara Lantana None NT**, WA, Vic 1b Tamarix aphylla Athel pine None 2b Total: 10 5 (7)

Results

• Eight taxa of the 16 garden plants on the WONS list are naturalised in Victoria. Of these taxa, 4 are prohibited for sale and import while 4 are not controlled. • 6 Salix species are not controlled, and 4 are available for sale (two in Victoria) though one has been subsequently prohibited from sale in the sole State it was available. • Two of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in Victoria. There are no controls on their sale or import and 1 (Lantana) is available for sale within the State and elsewhere in Australia. • Victoria is at high risk of invasion (Risk Class 1b) by lantana

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 27 Western Australia

Table 24: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in WA

WONS Species Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper II NSW 3a Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. Bone seed IV 2a Monilifera Cryptostegia grandiflora Rubber vine I, II, III 3a Lantana camara Lantana II NT, WA, Vic 1a Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia I, II, III 3a Prosopis spp. Mesquite I, II, III 3a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry I, II, III 3a Salvinia molesta Salvinia I, II, III 3a Tamarix aphylla Athel pine II WA 1a Ulex europaeus Gorse I, II, III 3a Potential to become Naturalised Annona Glabra Pond Apple II NSW 1c Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba I, II, III SA** 3b Mimosa pigra Mimosa I, II 3b Nassella trichotoma Serrated tussock II 3b Total: 14 4 (5)

Results

• Ten species of the 16 naturalised garden plants on the WONS list are naturalised in Western Australia. Of these species, 6 are controlled for sale and import, 3 are prohibited for import (however, of these, Lantana and Athel pine are recorded for sale within the State), and 1 (Bone seed) is not controlled for sale and/or import. • Four of the 16 species have the potential to naturalise in Western Australia. All are prohibited for import and 2 are controlled for both sale and import. One (Pond Apple) is available for sale outside the State.

Australian Capital Territory

Table 25: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in ACT

WONS Species Naturalised Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Alternanthera philoxeroides Alligator Weed IV 2a Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba IV SA** 1c Nassella trichotoma** Serrated tussock IV 2a Rubus fruticosus Blackberry IV 2a Salix spp.* Willow IV Salix alba Qld 1c Salix cinerea Vic 1c Salix fragilis 2a Salix nigra 2a Salix purpurea Vic 1c Salix viminalis 2a Salix X sepulcralis var. NSW 1c chrysocoma Salvinia molesta Salvinia IV 2a Ulex europaeus Gorse IV 2a

28 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report WONS Species Naturalised Common Name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Potential to become Naturalised Asparagus asparagoides Bridal creeper None NSW 1c Total: 8 5 (6)

Results

• Seven taxa of the 16 naturalised garden plants on the WONS list are naturalised in the ACT. Of these taxa, none are controlled for sale or import, and 2 are listed as available for sale outside of the Territory, though Cabomba has been subsequently prohibited from sale in the sole State it was available. • When broken down into different Salix species, there are 7 species that are naturalised in ACT, 4 of which are available for sale outside of the Territory, with no controls on import in place • The ACT is at high risk of invasion (Risk Class 1c) by bridal creeper. There are no controls in place for this species and it is listed as available for sale in NSW.

Northern Territory

Table 26: Control Status and Risk Class for Garden Plant Species that are on the WONS List and are Naturalised or have the Potential to Naturalise in NT

WONS Species Common name State/Terr. Available for sale Risk Class Control Status Naturalised Cabomba caroliniana Cabomba I, II, III SA** 3a Cryptostegia grandiflora Rubber vine I, II 3a Lantana camara Lantana I, II, IV NT**, WA, Vic 3a Mimosa pigra Mimosa I, II, III, IV 3a Parkinsonia aculeata Parkinsonia I, II, IV 3a Salvinia molesta Salvinia I, II, III, IV 3a Tamarix aphylla Athel pine I, II, IV WA 3a Potential to become Naturalised Annona Glabra Pond Apple None NSW 1c Total: 8 3 (4)

Results

• Seven species of the 16 naturalised garden plants on the WONS list are naturalised in Northern Territory. Of these species, all are prohibited for sale and import. Three are recorded as available for sale outside the Territory, though 1 (Cabomba) has been subsequently prohibited from sale in the sole State it was available. • The NT is at high risk (Risk Class 1c) of invasion by Pond apple, as no controls are in place for this species and it is listed as being for sale in another State.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 29 4.6.3 Overall Risk Classes by State and Territory

Table 27: Overall Risk Classed by State and Territory for Garden Plant Species on the WONS List

State/Territory Risk Class NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Totals 1a 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 5 (5%) 1b 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 (2%) 1c 1 0 2 0 4 1 6 1 15 (16%) 2a 1 0 0 0 3 1 8 0 13 (14%) 2b 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 (3%) 3a 6 10 5 6 4 7 0 7 45 (46%) 3b 1 3 3 4 0 3 0 0 14 (15%) 3c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 (0%) Total number of naturalised or 12 13 11 10 15 14 14 8 97 potentially naturalised garden plants

Results

• Across Australia, of the highest Risk Classes (1 a,b), 7% of naturalised garden plant species and species with the potential to naturalise on the WONS list are for sale within the threatened State/Territory. • The highest potential risk category regarding garden plant species on the WONS list is inter-state sales and import with 16% (Risk Class 1c) of naturalised species or species with the potential to naturalise being sold outside that State/Territory. • Australian Capital Territory has by far the weakest controls, as it does not prohibit sale or import of any garden plant species on the WONS list naturalised in the Territory. Of the 14 naturalised species in ACT, 6 are for sale in other States/Territories, indicating a high risk for the import of these weeds into the ACT. • Queensland and Tasmania have the strongest legislative controls on naturalised garden plants on the WONS list, with 100% of naturalised WONS species controlled for sale and import. • Queensland and Tasmania are the only jurisdictions that prohibits the sale and import of all garden plant species on the WONS list with the potential to naturalise in their respective jurisdictions. • Overall, invasive garden plant species on the WONS list are controlled much more strictly than those on the Alert List of Environmental Weeds.

30 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 5.0 Discussion

This report demonstrates that Australia needs to take a major step forward to put in place a national response to invasive plants that is truly robust and effective. The assessment of those garden plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance provides a snap shot of the current weak links in the national response. Combined with other recent analyses undertaken by Spafford Jacob et al (2004) and Glanznig and Kessal (2004), these weaknesses include:

• leaky border controls that still permit the legal importation of nearly half of all the world’s known plant species with no Weed Risk Assessment; that is over 125,000 of the Earth’s some 270,000 plant species (Spafford Jacob, Randall and Lloyd 2004, Whitton and Rajakaruna 2001:622) • patchy and variable State and Territory laws that permit the sale of IPNI species; the continued sale of these species undermines national and Commonwealth investments, is wasting tax-payers money, and will lead to community resentment as they discover they are being mobilised to detect Alert List species which remain available for sale in nurseries • the reactive and restricted scope of most State and Territory noxious weed laws • the failure of the Australian, State and Territory governments to develop and adopt an agreed national Alert List of Weeds as a key early intervention measure • the lack national regulation to prohibit the sale of nationally important invasive species. These issues need to be resolved to ensure a strong foundation is put in place for the proposed national framework to prevent and control invasive species, and revised National Weed Strategy. The findings of this report highlights that Australia has yet to substantially transform its national policy, legislative and administrative response to invasive plant species from a reactive to a preventative approach. Australia is now at an important juncture. Governments have recognised the huge and growing economic cost of invasive plant species, and scientists have dispelled the myth that action on weeds is a funding black hole (Possingham et al 2002): investment in prevention and early control, combined with further investment in integrated biocontrol measures is highly cost effective. The following actions are urgently needed:

• restrict legal importation of new weeds into Australia • harmonise State and Territory laws to stop undermining of national and Commonwealth investments • implement preventative State/Territory noxious weed legislative regimes • develop an agreed national Alert List of Weeds • develop an agreed National List of Invasive Plant Species • stop further intentional distribution of Invasive Plants of National Importance.

Restrict Legal Importation of New Weeds into Australia Issue The Australian Government introduced a new border control system in 1997 that required new plant import proposals to be on a permitted list or pass a weed risk assessment. The permitted list (Schedule 5) had a major in-built loophole, namely it included 2,916 genera level listings. In the National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation, 2001- 2005, the Australian Government committed to fix this loophole by 2001 to ensure that “the import of all new live organisms is subject to a risk-based assessment process that identifies the conditions necessary to minimise threats to the environment” (Target 4.1.1, CoA 2001:17)

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 31 and that “no new non-native species are deliberately introduced into Australia unless assessed as being of low risk to the environment” (Target 4.1.2, CoA 2001:17).

However, over two years after the agreed completion deadline, a comprehensive study undertaken by the University of Western Australia and the CRC for Australian Weed Management found that as of 1 December 2003, Schedule 5 of the Quarantine Proclamation 1998, still permitted the legal import:

• 125, 241 plant species without any Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) in 2,916 genera • 4,003 known agricultural and environmental weeds not yet present in Australia through 700 (24%) of the 2,916 listed genera. • numerous weeds that are closely related to Weeds of National Significance (WONS). For example, all members (with a few exceptions) of the genera Asparagus (bridal creeper, Asparagus asparagoides), Hymenachne (hymenachne, Hymenachne amplexicaulis), Annona (pond apple, Annona glabra) and Rubus (blackberry, Rubus fruticosus) can be legally imported into Australia without undergoing a WRA. In the case of blackberry this includes 69 species that are already known weeds in other parts of the world. • two Weeds of National Significance, bridal creeper (Asparagus asparagoides) and parkinsonia (Parkinsonia aculatea). The possibility that new genetic material of these species could be legally imported to produce versions even more invasive or more resistant to control is of grave concern.1 • all plants in the genera of many other significant weedy plants in Australia such as grader grass, bellyache bush, arum lily, watsonia, Scotch broom, pampas grass, kochia, wild radish and annual ryegrass. • plants in more than 25 genera where over 50% of their species are known weeds such as Cassia (cassias and sennas), Taraxacum (dandelions), Cyanara (thistles) and Distichilis (saltgrasses) • plants from genera with 30 or more known weeds such as Centaurea (knapweeds), Rubus (blackberry) and Ipomoea (morning glory) and Cotoneaster (Spafford Jacob, Randall and Lloyd 2004).

Of grave concern to WWF Australia is the apparent low priority given by Biosecurity Australia to reviewing the genus listings and replacing them with a comprehensive list of permitted species. The current focus is on reviewing about 40 high priority genera and replacing them with species over the next 12-14 months (Stynes 2004:59). This leaves about 2,875 genera, of which at least 660 include known weed species not yet present in Australia. At the current rate of progress, it will take Biosecurity Australia over 70 years to replace the genera on the permitted list with permitted species – this glacial rate of progress places Australian agriculture and the environment at risk of invasion by new weeds not yet present in Australia. Additionally, no new target deadline has been set by Biosecurity Australia to replace the failed 2001 deadline. Furthermore, the failure of Biosecurity Australia to prohibit the importation of two Weeds of National Significance until over 5 years after they were announced suggests that Biosecurity Australia does not systematically and regularly review national, Commonwealth, and State/Territory noxious weed lists to determine which of those satisfy the international Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) Agreement tests for ‘official control’ thus enabling them to be placed on the prohibited list (Schedule 4b, Quarantine Proclamation, 1998).

1 On 28 July 2004, these 2 species were removed from the permitted list and made prohibited imports. In addition, the synonym loophole for the WONS, Chilean Needle Grass (Stipa neesiana) was also removed from the permitted list (AQIS 2004).

32 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report This report adds to the findings of Spafford Jacob et al (2004) by showing that garden plants in the Equisetum (horsetail) genus on the Alert List could be legally imported under Schedule 5 (with the exception of three species) despite it being a declared noxious genus in 6 States. Equisetum would certainly satisfy SPS Agreement tests for listing as a prohibited genus. Laurel clock vine (Thunbergia laurifolia) which is declared noxious in Queensland would also likely satisfy the tests for prohibition. Recommendation 1 As a matter of urgency, Biosecurity Australia systematically and comprehensively review the State and Territory noxious weed lists to determine those species and genera that satisfy IPPC and SPS Agreement ‘official control’ tests and place them on Schedule 4b (prohibited list) under the Quarantine Proclamation, 1998. Recommendation 2 That Biosecurity Australia develop a plan with a 2006 deadline that will result in the removal of all genus listings from the Schedule 5 permitted list and replacement with a comprehensive list of permitted species. If required, additional resources should be allocated by the Australian Government to Biosecurity Australia to ensure that the new deadline is met. Recommendation 3 That the Department of Environment and Heritage as the responsible portfolio for the timely implementation of targets under the National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation, 2001-2005 work with Biosecurity Australia to develop a new agreed deadline for targets 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 that is not later than 2006.

Harmonise State and Territory laws to stop undermining of national and Commonwealth investments Issue This report shows that for Invasive Plants of National Importance, State and Territory controls are variable and patchy. The result is that 12 serious weed species on formal Australian Government or national lists remain for sale in one or more Australian States and Territories.

Currently, all levels of government are investing millions of dollars on the detection, eradication and control of IPNI species. It is thus non-sensical that this effort is not supported by national preventative measures to control a major distribution vector – the sale and planting of IPNI species in thousands of gardens around Australia. To date, the efforts by the States and Territories to implement a harmonised national approach to nationally important invasive plant species has been found wanting, illustrated by the failure to implement a 2001 decision that resolved that all States and Territories would prohibit the sale of Weeds of National Significance (SCARM 2001). Three years later, it is still legal to potentially sell all 20 WONS in one or more States and Territories. To date, only Queensland and South Australia have prohibited the sale of all 20 WONS. This poor effort will be even more significant if and when the Australian, State and Territory governments adopt a national Alert List since a robust community-driven national detection and eradication will require all human dispersal vectors to be effectively controlled. An important lesson that needs to be heeded in the development of a national Alert List is the poor legislative coordination that has occurred between the Australian Government and the States/Territories in relation to the Commonwealth Alert List, which has resulted in the continued sale of over 20% (6) of these species. This situation not only undermine efforts to

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 33 detect and eradicate infestations, but will inevitably lead to falling community confidence that their efforts will make a difference when Alert List plants can be bought down the road at a nursery.

Recommendation 4

As agreed in 2001, State and Territory governments declare all Weeds of National Significance under relevant noxious weeds legislation to prohibit their sale and importation into their respective jurisdictions.

Implement preventative State/Territory noxious weed legislative regimes

Issue

State noxious weed laws are generally reactive in nature, with far too few invasive plants being prohibited for sale, thus increasing the risk of Australia’s environment and agricultural lands being invaded by a new suite of invasive garden plants over the next several decades. The exception is Western Australia, which has used its quarantine powers to implement a Weed Risk Assessment–permitted list system, to prohibit the introduction of high risk plants into the State. Tasmania, as an island State, has a strong natural barrier and has enacted quarantine legislation through the Plant Quarantine Act, 1997; however, unlike Western Australia it still uses a far less effective prohibited list system. A major opportunity exists for the States and Territories to use their powers under the Constitution to develop quarantine legislation and implement WRA – permitted list plant importation systems. This is particularly the case for those States and Territories that have natural and transport barriers, such as Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

Recommendation 5

That the Tasmanian Government amend its plant importation arrangements enabled through its Plant Quarantine Act, 1997 to implement a Weed Risk Assessment/ Permitted List system that only permits the importation of those plant species determined to be low risk, similar to the system in place in Western Australia.

Recommendation 6

That given their natural and transport barriers, the South Australian and Northern Territory governments review their border control system to assess the benefits of enacting plant quarantine legislation and a Weed Risk Assessment / Permitted List system, similar to the system in place in Western Australia.

Develop an agreed national Alert List of Weeds

Issue

The need for increased national action on sleeper and emerging high risk weed species has been increasingly recognised. A significant gap, however, was the lack of a national list to focus government and community efforts, analogous to the Weeds of National Significance list. Subsequently, the Australian Government developed an Alert List of Environmental Weeds, and funded the development of community education and detection resources. To further institutionalise the concept of a national Alert List, it should be broadened to include high risk weeds of agriculture that are able to be eradicated with community support, and further developed in close cooperation with the States and Territories to enable the Australian Weeds Committee to adopt one agreed national Alert List of Weeds.

34 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Recommendation 7

Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) and the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF), in cooperation with the States and Territories through the Australian Weeds Committee, develop and adopt one agreed national Alert List of Weeds targeted for national eradication.

Develop an agreed National List of Invasive Plant Species

Issue

A national list of invasive plant species present in Australia is an important element to effective national strategic planning to address invasive plant problems.

The development of such a list using a scientifically robust methodology, and endorsed by the Australian Weeds Committee, will ensure the list is credible to all governments and other key stakeholders, such as the nursery industry and NGOs. Other benefits of a national list include:

• being able to comprehensively identify, quantify and enable systematic early strategic action against the potential future wave of weed problems, namely priority invasive plants that are introduced but yet to naturalise • providing a ‘master’ list to guide the development of State, regional and local invasive plant lists, and enable rationalisation of the plethora of current weed lists.

The need for one agreed scientifically robust method to identify invasive plant species in Australia is also favoured by the peak garden sector body, Nursery and Gardening Industry Australia:

Of major concern is the multitude of processes currently used in environmental weed management. There are a large number of organisations, agencies and committees developing a wide variety of different 'weed' lists. However, the vastly different methods used to develop these lists make it impossible for the industry to respond and participate meaningfully. Sometimes these lists are based on local and/or national scientific knowledge and sometimes they are not. This is confusing, uncoordinated and difficult for the community to understand or the nursery and garden industry to deal with, from a commercial perspective (NGIA 2004:2).

Recommendation 8

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 35 Stop further intentional distribution of Invasive Plants of National Importance

Issue

After import controls, the most cost-effective option to manage the threats to biodiversity and agriculture from invasive plant species is to restrict trade in priority invasive plants species. As succinctly put by the Commonwealth Bureau of Rural Sciences:

When examining the impact in other countries of pest species not yet present in Australia, an obvious low cost option for managing the threats posed by invasive species is to restrict and manage both accidental and intentional import pathways…The next lowest cost option [after restricting imports] for managing the threats posed to biodiversity from invasive species is to restrict trade and keeping of high-threat species (BRS 2003:15, emphasis added).

This report documents that one NAQS weed target list species, 6 Alert List species, and 5 WONS species were recorded for sale through nurseries, which undermines efforts by the Australian, State and Territory governments to eradicate or control these species. It also highlights that the continuing trade of IPNI species is a significant distribution vector for the spread of these serious weed species.

The effective response to this situation is a robust measure that removes IPNI species from trade nationally. A regional or State by State approach will continue the piece meal approach currently in place since it is simply not possible to cost-effectively stop people moving these traded IPNI species from low risk regions or States to those that are high risk.

The mandatory prohibition of sale of IPNI species, under the EPBC Act, is the only certain and dependable mechanism that will result in the removal of IPNI species from trade nationally and thus prevent opportunities for on-selling, and movement from low risk to high risk regions through postage, internet sales and inter-State migration and movement.

The Queensland Government supports the Australian Government providing adequate national legislative control of invasive species of the environment that are either not covered by state legislation or that need some form of overarching federal legislation, eg. national bans on sale (GoQld 2003:1). Similarly, the Western Australian Government supports the amendment of Commonwealth legislation to prevent the sales of identified threats, such as Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) potential species (GoWA 2003:3).

Recommendation 9

As part of an effective national framework on invasive species, that the Australian Government make regulations or amend the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act to provide for the prohibition on the trade of all Invasive Plants of National Importance (IPNI).

36 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 6.0 References

Agriculture and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand, Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council and Forestry Ministers (ARMCANZ, ANZECC and FM). 1999. The National Weeds Strategy: A strategic approach to weed problems of national significance. Revised edition. ARMCANZ and ANZECC: Canberra. AQIS. 2004. Public Quarantine Alert PQA0360. Australian Quarantine Inspection Service: Canberra. [Accessed 16 August 2004] AQIS ICON database [Web address: http://www.aqis.gov.au/icon32/asp/homecontent.asp, Accessed 19 July 2004] AQIS Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Weeds Target List. [Web address: http://www.affa.gov.au/content/output.cfm?ObjectID=D2C48F86-BA1A-11A1- A2200060A1B01784#sub5, Accessed 26 July 2004] Burley, J. 1999. Weeds of National Significance – the first attempt ever. Media release. Australian Weeds Committee. [Web: http://www.weeds.org.au/docs/WONSmrelease.pdf, Accessed 23 August 2004] Commonwealth of Australia (CoA). 2001. National Objectives and Targets for Biodiversity Conservation, 2001-2005. Environment Australia: Canberra. Cunningham, D.C., Woldendorp, G., Burgess, M.B. and Barry, S.C. 2003. Prioritising sleeper weeds for eradication: Selection of species based on potential impacts on agriculture and feasibility of eradication. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra. Csurhes, S. and Edwards, R. 1998. Potential Environmental Weeds in Australia: candidate species for preventative control. Environment Australia: Canberra. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). 2002. New plant pests and diseases recorded with Australia since 1996. Animal and Plant Health, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry web site [http://www.daff.gov.au]; Paul Phelong, DAFF, pers. comm. 5 Dec. 2002. Department of the Environment and Heritage. Nd. Weeds on the National Environmental Alert List [Web: www.deh,gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/alert-list.html] Department of the Environment and Heritage. Nd. Weeds of National Significance (WONS) [Web: www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/invasive/weeds/wons.html] Faithfull, I. 2003. Horsetails: State Prohibited Weed. Landcare Notes. June 2003. Vic Department of Primary Industry: Melbourne. Glanznig, A. & Kessal, O. 2004. Invasive Plants of National Importance and their Legal Status by State and Territory. WWF Australia: Sydney. Government of Queensland. 2003. Submission to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee Inquiry into the regulation, control and management of invasive species and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Invasive Species) Bill 2002. Queensland Government: Brisbane. Government of Western Australia. 2003. Submission to the Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts References Committee Inquiry into the regulation, control and management of invasive species and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Invasive Species) Bill 2002. Western Australian Government: Perth. Groves, R.H. (Convenor), Hosking, J.R., Batianoff, G.N., Cooke, D.A., Cowie, I.D., Johnson, R.W., Keighery, G.J., Lepschi, B.J., Mitchell, A.A., Moerkerk, M., Randall, R.P., Rozefelds, A.C., Walsh, N.G. and Waterhouse, B.M. 2003. Weed categories for natural and agricultural ecosystem management. Bureau of Rural Sciences, Canberra. Hibbert, M. 2002. The Aussie Plant Finder 2002 for 2. Florilegegium: Glebe, Sydney. Hill, R. 2001. Hill announces first Alert List for weeds. Media Release. 8 May 2001. Environment Australia: Canberra. [Web: http://www.deh.gov.au/minister/env/2001/mr8may201.html. Accessed 20 July 2004] Holm, L.G., Plunkett, D.L., Pancho, J.V. and Herberger, J.P. 1977. The World’s Worst Weeds – distribution and biology. University Press of Hawaii. Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council (NRMMC). 2004. Communique/Media Release, NRMMC 6, 16 April 2004. Nursery and Gardening Industry Australia (NGIA). 2004. Submission to the Federal Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (ECITA) References Committee Inquiry on Invasive Species. NGIA: Sydney.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 37 Possingham, H., Ryan, S., Baxter, J. and Morton, S. 2002. Setting Biodiversity Priorities. A paper prepared as part of the activities of the working group producing the report Sustaining our Natural Systems and Biodiversity for the Prime Minister’s Science, Engineering and Innovation Council in 2002. Department of Empolyment, Science and Training: Canberra. Randall, R. 2004. Naturalisation of introduced plants in Australia. WeedWatch, Vol.2, No. 6, pg.10. Randall, R. 2001. Garden thugs, a national list of invasive and potentially invasive garden plants. Agriculture Western Australia and CRC for Weed Management Systems, WA, Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly. Vol 16, No. 4. pp 138-171. Randall, R. 1998. Weed Potential of southern pigweed, Amaranthus dubius Mart. ex Thell (Amaranthaceae). Report to the Office of the Chief Plant Protection Office, Incursion Group. Randall, R. and Kessal, O. 2004. National List of Naturalised Invasive and Potentially Invasive Garden Plants. WWF Australia: Sydney. Roush, R., Groves, R.H., Blood, K., Randall, R.P., Walton, C., Thorp, J. 1999. Garden Plants under the Spotlight: An Australia strategy for invasive garden plants. Draft released for public comment. CRC for Weed Management Systems and The Nursery Industry Association of Australia: Adelaide. Sinden, J., Jones, R., Hester, S., Odom, D., Kalisch, C., James, R. and Cachio, O. 2004. The Economic Impact of Weeds in Australia. Technical Series No. 8. CRC for Australian Weed Management: Adelaide. Spafford Jacob, H., Randall, R. and Lloyd, S. 2004. Front Door Wide Open to Weeds: an examination of the weed species permitted for import without risk assessment. A report prepared for WWF Australia by the University of Western Australia and the Cooperative Research Centre for Australian Weed Management. WWF Australia: Sydney. Standing Committee of Agriculture and Resource Management (SCARM) Ministers. 2001. . SCARM 17 OOS Item 1.2.7 – Uniform State / Territory Controls over Trade and Distribution of Certain Weeds. Meeting of 7 March 2001 in Wellington, New Zealand. Stynes, B. 2004. Senate Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (ECITA) References Committee Inquiry on Invasive Species Hansard, Canberra Hearing, Friday, 18 June 2004, pg. 59. Truss, W. 2004. New measures to boost confidence in IRAs. Media release DAFF04/204WT. 15 July 2004. Whitton, J. and Rajakaruna, N. 2001. Plant Biodiversity Overview. In: (S. Asher Levin (Editor-in- Chief)), Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Volume 4, Mar – P. Academic Press: San Diego. Pp.621-630.

38 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Appendix 1: Australian Government Interest in Invasive Plants of National Importance

The authority for Australian Government responsibility and interest is conferred by the Heads of Agreement on Commonwealth/State Roles and Responsibilities (1997) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (Article 8(h)).

The Heads of Agreement stipulates that the:

Commonwealth has a responsibility and an interest in relation to meeting obligations contained in the Convention on Biological Diversity in cooperation with the States, including under the National Strategy for the Conservation of Australia’s Biological Diversity and through relevant programmes.

The Commonwealth has an interest in relation to the development and implementation of measures and agreed programmes to control animals and weeds identified in national strategies, agreements, policies and control plans.

For the purposes of the Agreement:

• “Commonwealth responsibility” relates to meeting the obligations of those international agreements referred to and/or the administration of relevant Commonwealth legislation. Those responsibilities may be discharged in cooperation and/or consultation with the other parties to this Agreement

• “Commonwealth interest” relates to initiating or participating in the development of cooperative approaches for dealing with environmental problems, the establishment and delivery of programmes, and the provision of funding. Commonwealth interests may vary, from time to time, in relation to the particular matters of interest and the level of Commonwealth involvement.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 39 Appendix 2: Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Weeds Target List: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory

Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status where? for all States and Territories Amaranthus dubius Prohibited species WA – prohibited II II:1 import Austroeupatorium Prohibited species inulaefolium Boerhavia erecta Prohibited species

Brachiaria paspaloides Prohibited species

Chromolaena odorata Prohibited species NSW, Qld, WA, NT I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II I: 4 II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Cleome rutidosperma Prohibited species

Clidemia hirta Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Coix aquatica Prohibited species

Croton hirtus Prohibited species

Digitaria fuscescens Prohibited species

Digitaria insularis Prohibited species - closed quarantine only Diodia sarmentosa Prohibited import - WRA required Echinochloa glabrescens Prohibited species

Echinochloa stagnina Prohibited species

Equisetum ramosissimum Prohibited species NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I: 6 Tas, Vic, WA II: 6 III: 6 IV: 0 Eriocaulon truncatum Prohibited species

Eriochloa polystachya Prohibited species

Fimbristylis umbellaris Prohibited import - WRA required Hybanthus attenuatus Prohibited import - WRA required Hyptis brevipes Prohibited species

Ischaemum timorense Prohibited species

Leptochloa chinensis Prohibited species

Leptochloa panicea Prohibited species

Limnocharis flava Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Mikania cordata Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Mikania micrantha Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Mucuna pruriens Prohibited species

Myriophyllum spicatum Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Paederia foetida Prohibited species

Piper aduncum Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Rhodomyrtus tomentosa Prohibited species

Rotala indica Prohibited species

Sacciolepis interrupta Prohibited species

40 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status where? for all States and Territories Salvinia cucullata Prohibited genus Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Salvinia natans Prohibited genus Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Schoenoplectus juncoides Prohibited genus

Scirpus maritimus Prohibited genus

Spermacoce assurgens Prohibited import WRA required Spermacoce mauritiana Prohibited import - WRA required Striga angustifolia Prohibited genus Qld(2), Tas(2) , WA I, II, III I, II, III II I: 2 II: 3 III: 2 IV: 0 Striga asiatica Prohibited genus Qld(2), Tas(2) , WA I, II, III I, II, III II I: 2 II: 3 III: 2 IV: 0 Total Quarantine 0 Permitted Species Total (I) by State/Territory N/A 2 12 1 3 1 2 0 1 6.7%

Total (II) by State/Territory N/A 2 12 1 3 1 13 0 1 10.1%

Total (III) by N/A 2 12 1 3 1 2 0 0 6.4% State/Territory Total (IV) by N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.0% State/Territory Total Species 41

Notes

1 National border control status as of 23 July 2004 2 Taxa related declaration applies for the species in given State or Territory 3 Amaranthus dubius is a prohibited import into WA, and revises earlier analysis in Glanznig and Kessal (2004) 4 Under Tasmanian legislation, the control option is defined in the required weed management plan and not under a legal class. As such, eradication is defined under the respective weed management plan. This revises the earlier analysis in Glanznig and Kessal (2004)

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 41 Appendix 3: Alert List of Environmental Weeds: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory

Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status where? for all States/ Territories Acacia catechu var. Prohibited species Qld, WA, NT I, II, III I, II, III I,II,III I:3 sundra II: 3 III: 3 IV: 0 Acacia karroo Prohibited species NSW, Qld, Vic, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I:4 WA II: 4 III: 4 IV: 0 Asystasia gangetica ssp. Prohibited species micrantha Barleria prionitis Prohibited import NT, WA II I, II, III I: 1 - WRA required II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Bassia scoparia (weedy Prohibited species NSW, Qld, SA(2), I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I: 5 form) Tas, WA, ACT II: 5 III: 5 IV: 1 Calluna vulgaris Permitted genus

Chromolaena odorata Prohibited species NSW, Qld, WA, NT I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II I: 4 (weedy form) II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Cynoglossum creticum Permitted genus

Cyperus teneristolon Prohibited import - WRA required Cytisus multiflora Permitted genus WA, ACT II IV I: 0 II: 1 III: 0 IV: 1 Dittrichia viscosa Prohibited import - WRA required Equisetum spp. Permitted genus NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I: 6 Tas, Vic, WA, II: 6 ACT* III: 6 IV: 1 Gymnocoronis Prohibited import NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I: 5 spilanthoides - WRA required Tas, WA, ACT II: 5 III: 5 IV: 1 Hieracium aurantiacum Prohibited species NSW, Tas, Vic, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III II I: 3 WA II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Koelreuteria elegans Permitted genus

Lachenalia reflexa Permitted genus

Lagarosiphon major Prohibited species NSW, Qld, Tas, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I, II I: 7 SA, Vic, WA, ACT, II: 7 NT III: 6 IV: 1 Nassella charruana Prohibited import Vic, WA, ACT I, II, III II IV I: 1 - WRA required II: 2 III: 1 IV: 1 Nassella hyalina Prohibited import SA, WA I, II, III II I: 1 - WRA required II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Pelargonium Permitted genus alchemilloides Pereskia aculeata Permitted species Piptochaetium Prohibited import montevidense - WRA required Praxelis clematidea Prohibited import - WRA required Retama raetam Prohibited import - WRA required Senecio glastifolius Prohibited species

Thunbergia laurifolia Permitted genus Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Tipuana tipu Prohibited import - WRA required Trianoptiles solitaria Prohibited import - WRA required

42 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status where? for all States/ Territories Total Quarantine 9 Permitted Species Total (I) by State/Territory N/A 7 8 5 5 5 7 0 4 18.3%

Total (II) by State/Territory N/A 7 8 5 5 5 12 0 4 20.5%

Total (III) by N/A 7 8 5 5 5 7 0 2 17.4% State/Territory Total (IV) by N/A 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 2.7% State/Territory Total Alert Species 28

Notes

1 National border control status as of 23 July 2004 2 Taxa related declaration applies for the species in given State or Territory 3 Under Tasmanian legislation, the control option is defined in the required weed management plan and not under a legal class. As such, eradication is defined under the respective weed management plan. This revises the earlier analysis in Glanznig and Kessal (2004) 4 NSW listings apply to whole State * ACT declaration of Equisetum spp only applies to Equisetum Arvense

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 43 Appendix 4: Eradication from Natural Ecosystems Target List: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory

Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status where? for all States and Territories Acacia catechu var. Prohibited Qld, WA, NT I, II, III I, II, III I,II,III I:3 sundra species II: 3 III: 3 IV: 0 Acacia karroo Prohibited NSW, Qld, Vic, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I:4 species WA II: 4 III: 4 IV: 0 Annona reticulata Permitted genus

Asystasia gangetica ssp. Prohibited Micrantha species Bassia scoparia weedy Prohibited NSW, Qld, Tas, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I: 5 form species SA(2), WA, ACT II: 5 III: 5 IV: 1 Centaurea eriophora Permitted genus

Centaurea maculosa Prohibited NSW, WA I, II, III II IV I: 1 species II: 2 III: 1 IV: 1 Chromolaena odorata less Prohibited weedy form species Chromolaena odorata Prohibited NSW, Qld, WA, NT I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II I: 4 Weedy form species II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Crataegus azarolus Permitted genus SA(2), WA I, IV II I: 1 II: 1 III: 0 IV: 1 Cyperus teneristolon Import prohibited WRA required Dittrichia viscosa Prohibited import - WRA required Gliricidia sepium Permitted genus

Iva axillaris ssp. robustior Prohibited Vic, WA I, II, III II I: 1 species II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Jarava plumosa Prohibited import SA, WA I, II, IV II I: 1 - WRA required II: 1 III: 0 IV: 1 Juncus subnodulosus Prohibited genus

Koelreuteria elegans ssp. Permitted genus elegans Lachenalia reflexa Permitted genus

Nassella charuana Prohibited import Vic, WA, ACT I, II, III II IV I: 1 WRA required II: 2 III: 1 IV: 1 Oenanthe pimpinelloides Prohibited import SA(1) , WA I, II, IV II I: 1 WRA required II: 2 III: 0 IV: 1 Ornithogalum Permitted genus longibracteatum Orobanche ramosa Prohibited genus SA, Tas, Vic, WA I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I: 4 II: 4 III: 4 IV: 0 Panicum racemosum Prohibited genus - growth in closed quarantine only Pelargonium Permitted genus alchemilloides Piptochaetium Prohibited import montevidense - WRA required Reseda phyteuma Permitted genus SA(1) , WA I,II, IV II I: 1 II: 2 III: 0 IV: 1 Retama raetam Prohibited import - WRA required Schoenoplectus Prohibited genus californicus

44 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status where? for all States and Territories Senecio glastifolius Prohibited species Stachys sylvatica Permitted genus

Succowia balearica Prohibited import WRA required Thunbergia laurifolia Permitted genus Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Tipuana tipu Prohibited import - WRA required Trianoptiles solitaria Prohibited import - WRA required Total Quarantine 11 Permitted Species Total (I) by State/Territory N/A 4 5 6 2 4 5 0 2 10.3%

Total (II) by State/Territory N/A 4 5 5 2 4 13 0 2 12.9%

Total (III) by N/A 4 5 2 2 4 5 0 1 8.5% State/Territory Total (IV) by N/A 0 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 2.6% State/Territory Total Species 34

Notes

1 Regional control and declaration applies for the species 2 Taxa related declaration applies for the species in given State or Territory 3 National border control status as of 23 July 2004 4 Under Tasmanian legislation, the control option is defined in the required weed management plan and not under a legal class. As such, eradication is defined under the respective weed management plan. This revises the earlier analysis in Glanznig and Kessal (2004) 5 This table updates Table 3 in Glanznig and Kessal (2004) by the addition of controls (I,II,III) by Tasmania on Orobanche ramosa and revision of control status from IV to III on Bassia scoparia

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 45 Appendix 5: Eradication from Agricultural Ecosystems Target List: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory

Species National Border Declared NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status noxious where? for all States and Territories For eradication or being eradicated at present Asystasia gangetica ssp. Prohibited species micrantha Bassia (Kochia) scoparia Prohibited species NSW, Qld, SA(2), I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I: 5 Tas, WA, ACT II: 5 III: 5 IV: 1 Centaurea maculosa Prohibited species NSW, WA, ACT I, II, III II IV I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 1 Chromolaena odorata Prohibited species NSW, Qld, WA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II I: 4 NT II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Cleome rutidosperma Prohibited species

Clidemia hirta Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Equisetum arvense Prohibited species NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I: 6 Tas, Vic, WA, II: 6 ACT III: 6 IV: 1 Equisetum hyemale Permitted genus NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I: 6 Tas, Vic, WA II: 6 III: 6 IV: 0 Equisetum ramosissimum Prohibited species NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I: 6 Tas, Vic, WA II: 6 III: 6 IV: 0 Hieracium pilosella Prohibited species NSW, Tas, Vic, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III II I: 3 WA II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Jarava plumosa Prohibited import SA, WA I, III, IV II I: 1 - WRA required II: 1 III: 1 IV: 1 Limnocharis flava Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Mikania micrantha Prohibited species Qld, WA I, II, III II I: 1 II: 2 III: 1 IV: 0 Nassella charruana Prohibited import Vic, WA, ACT I, II, III II IV I: 1 - WRA required II: 2 III: 1 IV: 1 Orobanche loricata Prohibited genus SA(2), Tas(2) I, II, III I, II, III I, II, IV I: 3 ,WA(2) II: 3 III: 2 IV: 1 Orobanche ramosa Prohibited genus SA, Tas, Vic, WA I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I: 4 II: 4 III: 4 IV: 0 Recommended for eradication Aeschynomene paniculata Permitted genus

Brillantaisia lamium Prohibited import – WRA required Carthamus leucocaulos Prohibited species WA(1) I, II, IV I: 1 II: 1 III: 0 IV: 1 Crupina vulgaris Prohibited import - WRA required Cyperus teneristolon Prohibited import - WRA required Hieracium aurantiacum Prohibited species NSW, Tas, Vic, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III II I: 3 WA II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0 Hieracium murorum Prohibited import NSW, Tas, Vic, I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III II I: 3 WRA required WA II: 4 III: 3 IV: 0

46 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Species National Border Declared NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total declared Control Status noxious where? for all States and Territories Onopordum tauricum Prohibited import NSW(1), Tas, WA III, IV I, II, III II I: 1 WRA required II: 2 III: 2 IV: 1 Recommended for containment Elephantopus mollis Permitted genus Qld, WA I, II, IV II I: 1 II: 2 III: 0 IV: 1 Praxelis clematidea Prohibited import WRA required Total Quarantine 3 Permitted Species Total (I) by State/Territory N/A 9 9 7 10 8 8 0 1 25.0%

Total (II) by State/Territory N/A 9 9 6 10 8 19 0 1 29.8%

Total (III) by N/A 9 8 7 10 8 6 0 0 23.1% State/Territory Total (IV) by N/A 1 1 1 0 0 2 4 0 4.3% State/Territory Total Species 26

Notes

1 Regional control and declaration applies for the species 2 Taxa related declaration applies for the species in given State or Territory 3 National border control status as of 23 July 2004 4 Under Tasmanian legislation, the control option is defined in the required weed management plan and not under a legal class. As such, eradication is defined under the respective weed management plan. This revises the earlier analysis in Glanznig and Kessal (2004). 5 This table updates Table 4 in Glanznig and Kessal (2004) by the addition of controls (I,II,III) by Tasmania on Orobanche ramosa 6 Groves et al (2003) cited 27 species impacting agricultural ecosystems whereas only 26 species are presented in table 8 from the same reference.

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 47 Appendix 6: Bureau of Resource Sciences Candidate list Eradication List: National border Control Status

Scientific Name Common Name Final Naturalised where ? National Border Control Recommended 10 species Eleocharis parodii 1 NSW Prohibited import - WRA required Baccaris pingraea Chilquilla 2 Vic Prohibited import - WRA required Piptochaetium Uruguayan ricegrass 3 Vic Prohibited import - WRA required montevidense Centaurea eriophora Mallee cockspur 4 SA Permitted species Crupina vulgaris Common crupina 5 SA Prohibited import - WRA required Asystasia gangetica ssp. Chinese violet 6 NSW Prohibited species Micrantha Onopordum tauricum Taurian Thistle 7 Vic Prohibited import - WRA required Oenanthe pimpinelloides Meadow parsley 8 SA Prohibited import - WRA required Rorippa sylvestris Yellow creeping cress 9 SA, Tas Permitted genus Nassella charruana Uruguay needle grass 10 Vic Prohibited import - WRA required Hypericum tetrapterum Square-stalked St Johns wort Tas, Vic Prohibited species Gmelina elliptica Badhara bush Qld Prohibited import - WRA required Cuscuta suaveolens Chilean dodder SA Prohibited import - WRA required Hieracium aurantiacum Orange hawkweed Tas, Vic Prohibited species Froelichia floridana Snake cotton Qld Prohibited import - WRA required Aeschynomene paniculata Pannicle jointvetch Qld Permitted species Brillantaisia lamium Qld Prohibited import - WRA required Total 17 3 permitted species

Notes

1 National border control status as of 23 July 2004

48 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report Appendix 7: Weeds of National Significance: National border control status and legal status by State and Territory Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total for all Control Status where? declared for all States and Territories Acacia nilotica ssp. indica Prohibited NSW(1), Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, IV I I, II, III I, II, III I: 5 species WA, NT II: 4 III: 3 IV: 1 Alternanthera Prohibited genus NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III, IV1 I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I, II, III I: 7 philoxeroides Tas, Vic, WA, II: 7 ACT, NT III: 7 IV: 2 Annona glabra Prohibited Qld, SA, WA I, II, IV I II I: 2 species II: 2 III: 0 IV: 1 Asparagus asparagoides Prohibited NSW(1), Qld, SA, I, IV I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, III II I: 4 species Tas, WA II: 3 III: 2 IV: 2 Cabomba caroliniana Prohibited NSW, Qld, SA, I I, II, IV I I, II, III I, II, III IV I, II, III I: 6 species Tas, WA, NT, ACT II: 4 III: 3 IV: 2 Chrysanthemoides Prohibited NSW(1), Qld, SA, I, II, III, IV I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, IV I, II, III, IV IV I: 5 monilifera species Tas(2), Vic(1,2), WA II: 4 III: 3 IV: 5 Cryptostegia grandiflora Prohibited import Qld, SA, WA, NT I, II, IV I I, II, III I, II I: 4 - II: 3 WRA required III: 1 IV: 1 Hymenachne Prohibited Qld, SA, WA I, II, IV I II I: 2 amplexicaulis species II: 2 III: 0 IV: 1 Lantana camara Prohibited genus NSW(1), Qld, Tas, III, IV I, II I I, II, III II I, II, IV I: 4 SA, WA, NT(1) II: 4 III: 2 IV: 2 Mimosa pigra Prohibited Qld, SA, WA(1), I, II, III I I, II I, II, III, IV I: 4 species NT(1) II: 3 III: 2 IV: 1 Nassella neesiana Prohibited import NSW(1), Qld, SA, I, III, IV I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, III II IV I: 4 WRA required Tas, WA, ACT II: 4 III: 3 IV: 3 Nassella trichotoma Prohibited NSW(1), Qld, SA, III, IV I, II, III I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, III, IV II IV I: 4 species Tas, Vic(1), WA, II: 5 ACT III: 4 IV: 4 Parkinsonia aculeata Prohibited NSW(1), Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, III I, II, III I, II, IV I: 5 species NT, WA(1), II: 5 III: 3 IV: 2 Parthenium hysterophorus Prohibited NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I, II, III I: 6 species Vic, WA, ACT, NT II: 6 III: 5 IV: 2 Prosopis spp. Prohibited import NSW(1), Qld(2), SA, I, II, III I, II, III, IV I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II,IV I: 6 - Vic, WA(1), NT(3) II: 5 WRA required III: 5 IV: 2 Rubus fruticosus Prohibited NSW(1), Vic(1), Qld, III, IV I, II I, II, IV I, II, IV I, II, IV I, II, III IV I: 5 species Tas, SA(2),, WA(1), II: 5 ACT III: 2 IV: 5 Salix spp. except S. Requires DAFF NSW(2), Qld(2), I, II I, II, III I I, II, IV II IV I: 4 babylonica, S. X approval SA(2), Tas(2), WA, II: 4 calodendron and S. X ACT(2) III: 1 reichardtii IV: 2 Salvinia molesta Prohibited genus NSW, Qld, SA, I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III I, II, III IV I, II, III, IV I: 7 Tas, Vic, WA, II: 7 ACT, NT(1) III: 6 IV: 3 Tamarix aphylla Prohibited import Qld, SA, Tas, WA, I, II I I, II, III II I, II, IV I: 4 - NT II: 4 WRA required III: 1 IV: 1 Ulex europaeus Prohibited import NSW(1), Qld, SA, III I, II, III I, II, IV I, II, IV I, II, III, IV I, II, III IV I: 5 - Tas, Vic(1), WA(1), II: 5 WRA required ACT III: 4 IV: 4

Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report 49 Species National Border Declared noxious NSW Qld SA Tas Vic WA ACT NT Total for all Control Status where? declared for all States and Territories Total Quarantine 0 Permitted Species Total (I) by State/Territory N/A 11 20 20 12 8 11 0 11 58.1%

Total (II) by State/Territory N/A 7 20 8 12 8 19 0 11 53.1%

Total (III) by N/A 12 9 7 7 7 10 0 6 36.3% State/Territory Total (IV) by N/A 7 9 5 5 4 0 9 6 28.1% State/Territory Total Species 20

Notes:

1 Regional control and declaration applies for the species 2 Taxa related declaration applies for the species in given State or Territory 3 Prosopis spp. are Class C weeds in the NT and are consequently category I and II for the purposes of this analysis. However, Prosopis limensis is a Class B weed in the NT, and is subject to control, and is consequently category IV for the purposes of this analysis. For the purposes of this analysis, Prosopis spp. has been marked category IV even though this classification only applies for one species in the genus. 4 Three WONS species (bridal creeper, parkinsonia and chilean needle grass) were able to be legally imported into Australia until 28 July 2004 (AQIS 2004) 5 Under Tasmanian legislation, the control option is defined in the required weed management plan and not under a legal class. As such, eradication is defined under the respective weed management plan. This revises the earlier analysis in Glanznig and Kessal (2004) 6 National border control status as of 16 August 2004

50 Garden Plants that are Invasive Plants of National Importance – A WWF Australia Report