Fire ant eradication opponent convicted of obstructing officials
Queensland activist Trevor Hold was fined after a court rejected his legal challenge to Australia's commonwealth-funded fire ant eradication program.
At a glance
- Hold was convicted of obstructing government officers but received a fine rather than a recorded conviction
- The magistrate dismissed his legal argument that the fire ant eradication programme is unlawful
- A legal expert likened his defence strategy to tactics used by the sovereign citizen movement
Trevor Hold, leader of a group opposing Australia's fire ant eradication programme, has been convicted of obstructing government officers in Queensland. A magistrate rejected Hold's argument that the commonwealth-funded programme is illegal. Hold was fined $1,500, though no conviction was recorded.
A legal expert compared Hold's failed defence to arguments used by the sovereign citizen movement. Hold describes himself as an "ultrapreneur", mental health counsellor, organic cattle farmer and chief executive of the Australian Advocacy Group.
Why it matters
The case reflects ongoing disputes over Australia's approach to managing invasive fire ant populations and the legal grounds on which such programmes can be challenged.
Original reporting
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