Southern Cross University under fire for giving research funding to conspiracy theorist Trevor Hold
The university has confirmed it has allocated funding to Trevor Hold, an organic cattle farmer, who has spread misinformation about Australia's fire ant treatment program.
Mr Hold is an administrator for Stop The Toxic Fire Ant Program, an activist group that incorrectly claims fire ant bait kills birds, bees, cows, and dogs.
The national fire ant authority says Mr Hold and other members of the group have harassed their workers and obstructed them from entering properties to treat fire ants.
A university spokesperson said the university had allocated $7,500 to Mr Hold for his assistance in field trials and for the use of his "Fire Ant Soup Machine", which involves spraying hot water onto fire ant nests using a machine invented in Florida and licensed in Australia by Mr Hold.
Southern Cross University entomologist Nigel Andrew said Mr Hold initiated the research trial into the efficacy of the alternative "chemical-free" treatment.
However, the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and the Invasive Species Council have described this method as less effective, less reliable, and less affordable than the current treatments.
Invasive Species Council advocacy manager Reece Pianta said he was concerned the university was partnering with Mr Hold instead of a reputable institution.
"I think it's really important that the community looks for trusted sources for advice on this, and understands the way these things are being applied."
Mr Pianta refuted claims by Mr Hold that the Invasive Species Council was being paid off by "pro-chemical places" to promote the fire ant eradication program.
Mr Pianta said he was "surprised" that Professor Andrew, a prominent entomologist, was involving himself with Mr Hold.
National Fire Ant Eradication Program general manager Marni Manning said Stop The Toxic Fire Ant Program had directed threats and abuse at her workers.
Ms Manning said Mr Hold, and others in his group, were spreading "dangerous misinformation" about the safety of their fire ant treatments.
She said previous studies on hot water treatments had shown limited effectiveness.
"We have extensively explored what is being tested by the university, and we have found the eradication effectiveness to be very low," Ms Manning said.
"Often it won't reach the queen, so you may have disturbed or dismantled the nest temporarily, but you have not actually eradicated that nest, and it will come back very quickly."
Ms Manning refuted claims by Professor Andrew that they were "killing off pretty much everything" by spraying the insecticide Fipronil onto properties six times per year.
She said there was no evidence that the insect growth regulators used in ant bait, pyriproxyfen and S-methoprene, were harming Australian birds, humans, or other mammals.
Professor Andrew said he acknowledged there was no evidence that insect growth regulators harmed humans, but he believed "chemicals should be used as a last resort" to treat fire ants.
"They feel disenfranchised, they feel there are problems, they've identified what they see as problems, and they need to be listened to."
Professor Andrew has appeared in videos with conspiracy theorist Sarah McGuire, who runs the business Fire Ant Treatment Alternatives Page.
Ms McGuire told the ABC that Professor Andrew was aware of her views before he agreed to go on camera.
Both Ms McGuire and Mr Hold have made money from their activist activities, charging landholders for signs, posters, advocacy fees, and fake legal notices.
Both have claimed, without evidence, that fire ant authorities are pushing a chemical-based eradication agenda in order to continue receiving state and federal government funding.
Contacted for comment on the university funding, Mr Hold said the ABC was "controlled media" that refused to report on "the truth" because it received federal government funding.
"The stories you're making are one-sided and making us out to be a mob of bloody lunatics."
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