Some plants have been declared under the Queensland Land Protection (Pest and Stock Route Management) Act 2002. Depending on the declaration status, restrictions can vary from importation, possession, sales, avoiding further spread onto lands that are free of the pest and some only have control requirements if they impact or have the potential to impact on a nearby 'Environmentally Significant Area' (eg a national park or Fraser Island). It also imposes a legal responsibility for landowners to control declared pests on land under their management and it is an offence not to comply to the conditions of each classified pest.
Declared plants are categorised into four categories:
- Class 1 pests have the potential to become a serious pest in Queensland. All landholders are required by law to keep their lands free of Class 1 pests.
- Class 2 pests have already spread over substantial areas of Queensland, but their impact is so serious that they need to be controlled to avoid further spread onto properties that are still free of the pest. Landholders by law must try to keep their lands free of Class 2 pets.
- Class 3 pests is one that is commonly established in parts of Queensland but control by landowners is not deemed to be warranted unless the plant is impacting or has the potential to impact, on a nearby 'environmentally significant area' (eg national park on Fraser Island). It is an offence to sell or release a Class 3 pest.
- Local law declared pests is one that can have a serious impact on primary production by means of contamination, especially in the wool industry, is poisonous to stock, a major competitor in pastures or cause injury to grazing animals.
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