Mr Webb said the money available to local councils to address weed control is simply not enough.

“Weeds pose a serious environmental threat yet the State Government only provides $6.7 million across the state.

“The government and city based constituents in general need to realise that weeds such as serrated tussock, St John’s wort and blackberries are destroying valuable grazing lands and threatening native species and habitats.

“Society at large will ultimately bare the cost of this degradation. The task is beyond the finances of many farmers, and even if the government put millions into biological controls we wouldn’t see any real benefits for many years to come,” Mr Webb said.

The MP said that what was needed is a whole of community attack on noxious weeds.

“The State Government must dramatically increase funding for noxious weeds. They should also put the control of weeds under the Rural Lands Protection Board and work with local councils, landcare groups and landholders to work out practical solutions.

“Serrated tussock is now listed as a Weed of National Importance. It covers hundreds of thousands of hectares of NSW. We must have a multi agency and tri-government approach to solving this problem in everyone’s interest!” Mr Webb said.