• Change text size
• Skip to content

Weeds in Australia

About weeds

• About us
• Contact us

Search

• Weeds home
  • About weeds
    • What is a weed?
    • Why are weeds a problem?
      • Factors influencing weeds
      • Impact of weeds
    • Where do weeds come from?
      • Preventing potential new weeds in Australia
    • National weeds lists
      • Weeds of National Significance
      • National environmental alert list
      • Species targeted for eradication
      • Sleeper weeds
  • Identifying weeds
    • Weed identification tool
    • Weed search
    • Weed species A-Z
  • Managing weeds
    • Weed prevention
    • Early detection and eradication
    • Biological control
    • Cultural control
    • Physical control
    • Chemical control
    • Integrated weed management
    • Ongoing maintenance
  • How you can help
    • Gardeners
    • Farmers
    • Hobby farmers
    • Community organisations
    • Nursery and garden industry
    • Landscaping industry
    • Transport industry
    • Kids and students
    • Outdoor recreation and weeds
  • Grants and government
    • Funding, grants assistance and projects
    • Roles and responsibilities
    • Policies and programmes
    • Legislation
    • Facilitators and coordinators
    • Australian Weeds Committee
  • Publications and resources
    • Books and reports
    • Brochures and fact sheets
    • Case studies
    • Guidelines and manuals
    • Strategies
    • Weeds research

Weeds of National Significance (WONS)

In 1998, Australian governments endorsed a framework to identify which weed species could be considered WONS within an agricultural, forestry and environmental context.

States and territories nominated 71 weed species to be assessed and ranked under this framework. Four major criteria were used in determining WONS:

• the invasiveness of a weed species
• a weed's impacts
• the potential for spread of a weed
• socio-economic and environmental values.

Twenty WONS were identified through this process. The Australian Government and the state and territory governments then endorsed the final list in 1999.

This was the first attempt to prioritise weeds over a range of land uses at the national level. It is not a purely scientific process, but an attempt to draw together meaningful indicators on which to base future weed decision-making. It also provides a framework to prioritise weed management at the state, regional and local levels.

Managing WONS

Individual landowners and managers are ultimately responsible for managing WONS. State and territory governments are responsible for overall legislation and administration.

The issues concerning WONS are of such a magnitude that they need coordination among all levels of government, organisations and individuals with weed management responsibilities. Each WONS has a strategic plan that outlines strategies and actions required to control the weed, and identifies responsibilities for each action.

There are three phases of national management for WONS. In phases one and two, each WONS has a Management Coordinator and a National Management Group/Steering Committee to oversee implementation of the goals and actions of the WONS strategic plans and to develop and coordinate priority actions. In phase three state and territory governments take responsibility for national coordination within their jurisdictions. State agencies report to the Australian Weeds Committee on progress against any remaining actions under the strategic plans.

The twenty WONS

The WONS listed below show Bitou Bush and Boneseed separately. Please note that these two taxa together are treated as one of the twenty WONS.