Weeds in Australia

About weeds

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:

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.

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.

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.

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