Bob Katter

FEDERAL Member for Kennedy Bob Katter has voiced strong opposition to the proposed listing of buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) as a Weed of National Significance (WoNS), highlighting its vital role in Australia's beef industry, urging the government to abandon the proposed listing.

"Buffel grass wasn't brought here by accident – it was introduced because it's one of the best options we've got. It holds the soil together and keeps the cattle fed even during drought," Mr Katter explained. "The Gulf and Peninsula were built on buffel, Brahman, and bitumen."

A WoNS listing could impose legislative restrictions, mandate removal efforts, and initiate biological control research aimed at eradication. Such measures threaten one of Australia's most vital pasture species, which underpins the livelihoods of countless Aussie farmers and sustains production of beef that is essential for domestic and international food security.

"Buffel grass is essential to the northern cattle industry, and to label it as a weed would be counter-intuitive, turning all of the North into a weed-infested dust bowl," Mr Katter emphasised.

Talk to any northern cattle farmer and they will tell you it is not just good cattle fed, buffel grass protects soil, cools the ground, sequesters carbon, and supports native fauna. Its deep-rooted resilience has dramatically improved rainwater efficiency and environmental sustainability across Australia.

"Buffel grass is not some noxious weed—it's an improved pasture grass. It holds the soil together, soaks up the rain, and has improved sustainability while reducing erosion," Katter said.

"Meanwhile, terrible invasive species like lantana, prickly acacia, rubber vine, and feral cats and pigs, should be demanding our attention. Why on earth are we wasting our time even talking about this?"

Mr Katter criticised the narrative surrounding buffel grass as being rooted in anti-livestock ideology rather than genuine environmental concern.

"Rural and regional Australia will not survive without an effective, improved pasture—buffel is the best pasture grass we've got, and anyone saying otherwise needs their head read," Katter declared.

KAP Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said the federal government's consideration of adding buffel grass to the WoNS registry, a move driven by ideologically-motivated environmentalists, was extremely misguided. 

"These people are fools - they can't be bothered to take consequential action on the myriad of extremely serious weeds and pests that are destroying Australia's native ecosystem, and yet they want to pursue this," he said. 

"The fact remains that we have to feed our nation and, buffel grass, for what limited environmental risk it poses, is one of our best performing pastures and one that underpins the entire northern beef industry.

"The need to be able to deliver on our food production demands leaves for dead any perceived environmental risks buffel grass poses. 

"Sometimes you have got to wonder if these 'green' groups, whose bidding the government is doing here, won't stop until our entire agricultural industry is dead and we import everything into this country."

AgForce Queensland Cattle President Lloyd Hick said, "This is not an isolated issue. It is part of a broader pattern of decisions being made without industry input, with disastrous consequences for agriculture and Australia. If the beef sector does not push back hard on this, it will be taken as a win and another critical pillar targeted next.

"Producers are increasingly frustrated as time and energy that should go into food production is spent pushing back against agenda-driven ideas and re-educating city-based decision makers who think they understand the land—but don't."

ENDS