Following prompt action by DPI officers and retailers, suspect plants were removed from sale. A statewide recall of Mexican feather grass plants has since been initiated by both Big W and Bunnings working in cooperation with DPI.
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Mexican feather grass is a potentially serious new weed to Australia. A densely tufted perennial tussock growing to approximately 70cm in height, it is drought tolerant, unpalatable to stock and difficult to control.

Mexican feather grass is closely related and similar in appearance to serrated tussock, widely regarded as the worst pasture weed in Australia. While serrated tussock costs Australia more than $50 million a year in lost productivity and control costs, Mexican feather grass has the potential to occupy a far greater area and cause more economic, agricultural and environmental damage.

DPI is taking this incursion of Mexican feather grass very seriously in line with a biosecurity approach to invasive plant management in Victoria. An Incident Management Team (IMT) has been established and is conducting a thorough investigation to limit the incursion and investigate how it occurred.

As of early October, the investigation has involved over 50 DPI officers, over 180 businesses have been inspected and over 2000 suspected Mexican feather grass plants have been seized. In addition to the use of expert botanists to identify plant specimens, DNA technology has been used for the first time under this investigation to analyse and positively identify plants.

DPI is committed to continuing to work with industry and the community to locate and remove this dangerous State prohibited weed.

DPI is responsible for the eradication of State prohibited weeds and urges members of the public not to attempt to control or dispose of this weed themselves, but rather to contact DPI who will arrange for the safe removal of plants.

For further information or to make a report of Mexican feather grass, please call the Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Primary Industries Minister Tim Mulherin says the weed was discovered in a Brisbane garden by an off-duty biosecurity officer about two weeks ago.

He says Biosecurity Queensland has since seized about 380 feather grass plants, which are illegal to keep without a permit.

"This is a highly dangerous weed. It has the potential to cost Australian agriculture and the environment millions of dollars if it's not stopped in its tracks," he said.

"Mexican feather grass has the potential to spread over millions of hectares.

"It's a low protein fibrous grass which has no grazing value and would make pasture land virtually worthless.

"An off-duty biosecurity officer discovered the exotic weed in landscaping in Oxford Street, Bulimba, just over a fortnight ago.

"Since then we've been working hard with the nursery industry to track down other plants and we've retrieved about 380."

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