The NT Government has released the Economic Impact Assessment of buffel grass in the NT. The Minister for Lands, Planning and Environment, Josh Burgoyne commissioned Charles Darwin University’s Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods to assess the economic impacts of buffel grass both positive and negative on the economy, community, industry and environment.

The Report highlights that:

• “Incremental buffel grass expansion is expected to result in large net economic losses for the NT, with costs approximately sixty times greater than benefits”

• “A critical distributional finding underlying these estimates is that pastoral benefits accrue almost entirely to private operators, while fire, biodiversity, cultural, and scenic amenity costs are borne predominantly by public agencies, Traditional Owners, conservation bodies, and the broader community. 

• “These findings constitute a market failure that provides a direct economic justification for the 2024 weed declaration and for the effective implementation of the Buffel Grass Weed Management Plan 2026–2036” 

ALEC welcomes the release of this important economic report and the NT Environment Minister's support for National Coordination on buffel grass and calls for Federal Government funding to support improved management in the Northern Territory. 

Alex Vaughan, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator, Arid Lands Environment Centre

“Economic losses of 60 times compared to perceived benefits is an extremely significant finding that governments across the continent must act on; buffel grass is a major economic and fire risk.” 

“It is deeply wrong that Governments and pastoralists intentionally planted buffel grass at scale for decades across inland Australia. In 2026, we must heed this warning of the economic losses, as well as the social, environmental and cultural harm that buffel grass causes.  

“We do not have to wait for the loss of human lives to take the buffel grass threat seriously. Governments of all levels, local, territory and national must resource strong weed management, and buffel grass must be declared a weed of national significance. 

“It is unacceptable that the Environment Minister, Joshua Burgoyne, in March whilst this research was underway, made a captain’s call to allow buffel grass to still be planted in the NT by pastoralists. It is unjust, unstrategic and must be overturned.”

“There is a profound cultural change that is happening around buffel grass across this continent. The harm it is causing to public safety, human health, nature and First Nations cultures cannot be denied. Communities across this continent are demanding change, to work together for a healthy and thriving arid lands”