2026-03-23
Environment Minister Joshua Burgoyne’s Buffel Grass Weed Management Plan allows the continued planting and spread of declared weed buffel grass on pastoral leases, in direct contradiction to strong community feedback.
Buffel grass is a highly invasive species causing significant ecological, cultural and economic harm across vast areas of Central Australia. It was declared a weed by the NT Government in 2024.
The government’s own consultation summary revealed that 75% of submissions to the Draft Buffel Grass Weed Management Plan expressed strong concern about the carve out that would allow pastoralists to continue to spread and cultivate buffel on pastoral leases.
Despite this, the final plan retains sweeping exemptions for the pastoral industry, with only minimal changes from the draft.
This decision demonstrates the capture of the CLP government by the pastoral industry and shows that Josh Burgoyne is prioritising the cattle lobby’s priorities over environmental protection, public health, cultural heritage, tourism, and community safety.
Quotes attributable to Jonathan Parry, Convenor of the NT Greens:
“The plan is a disaster for the environment, culture, and the long-term economy of Central Australia. It’s frankly unthinkable that the CLP could allow pastoralists to buy and spread buffel seed.”
“The Minister said he wants to find the right balance - well, this is not the right balance.”
“This plan puts pastoral interests over the environment, over connection to country, over health and safety, and over industries like tourism. And, it completely ignores the feedback from the community that overwhelmingly rejected this plan.”
“It is not fair that Indigenous land managers, councils and households are cleaning up the cattle industry’s mess and doing their bit to manage the spread of buffel, while pastoralists continue to spread this weed.”
“If the Territory government doesn’t have the willpower to properly address this matter, we must look for other options. We urge the Federal Government to declare buffel grass a Weed of National Significance so we can get the resourcing and coordination needed to address this crisis.”