Media Release 2026 June 23 Mparntwe Alice Springs (Photographer: Sarah Dalgleish)

“Absurd to import more buffel seed into the Alice Springs region” Adam Bandt puts national spotlight on buffel response 

Today, Adam Bandt, CEO of the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) and Kathleen Herbert of the Arid Lands Environment Centre (ALEC) addressed Central Australia’s buffel grass crisis on the NT Environment Minister’s doorstep. Alice Springs residents lay buffel grass bouquets, and wreaths on Minister Burgoyne’s office door in response to the Territory government's ‘management’ of the weed.

Last week in NT Estimates, Environment Minister, Joshua Burgoyne, revealed that he had approved a permit to import buffel grass seed to the Alice Springs region, granted an industry-wide exemption to plant buffel grass, and ALEC understands that the Buffel Weed Advisory Committee has been scrapped. 

 This comes as pressure mounts to declare buffel grass a Weed of National Significance as the buffel grass environmental crisis spreads across Australia. 

 Quotes Attributable to Adam Bandt, CEO, Australian Conservation Foundation:

 “We know that buffel grass is one of the worst weeds in the world, an extreme fire risk and therefore a risk to public safety, and an existential risk to arid ecosystems and cultural life

 “The spread of buffel grass amounts to land clearing by stealth in a country that is already facing compounding environmental crises like climate change and deforestation. We can’t afford to lose any more of the natural environment we live, work and play in.

“I am horrified by the buffel grass crisis unfolding in Central Australia. I am even more shocked to learn that the NT Environment Minister has allowed importing buffel seed into the Alice Springs region.

 “The NT Environment Minister has a chance  to leave a positive legacy, be part of national collaboration,  and protect this beautiful place.

 “Here in Central Australia is ground zero for buffel grass and serves as a warning for other places, the Federal Government needs to step up to protect places not yet invaded. It’s a no brainer for the Federal Government to declare buffel grass a Weed of National Significance, to protect the rest of the country.”

 Quotes attributable to Kathleen Herbert, Policy and Advocacy Officer, Arid Lands Environment Centre:

 “We are confused - we welcome Minister Burgoyne seeking federal funding for buffel grass management with one hand, but with the other hand he is signing off on buffel seed import.

 “Bringing more buffel grass seed into the environment undermines the hard work on the ground to control it, it doesn’t recognise fence lines, it will spread by wind, fire, water.

 “We need a bold vision to ensure a healthy, flourishing future for the arid lands of Australia.

 “So we want clarity on Minister Burgoyne’s position - will he support declaring buffel grass a Weed of National Significance or not?.”

Background:

 In NT Parliamentary Estimates on 15 June 2026 NT Environment Minister Josh Burgoyne was questioned on the permit and exemptions under the Northern Territory’s buffel grass management plan by Dheran Young MLA. We learnt that the Environment Minister, Josh Burgoyne has:

• Granted the industry-wide permit for the pastoral industry across 50 percent of the Territory land mass, to continue to plant, trade and buy the weed.

• Granted the first permit to import buffel grass seed from another state into the Northern Territory. The permit has been granted to someone in the Alice Springs region. 

• The Territory Government is pursuing Federal funding for buffel grass management.

Since then, we have heard that the Minister has scrapped the Buffel Grass Advisory Committee, with no notice.