I get so infuriated when I hear of introduced species to Australia becoming problem pests that it seemed like a breath of fresh air when I read that an Australian plant had returned the favour.

Now I would never wish a problem plant on any country but Australia, through its colonisation period received many unwanted gifts. Rabbits and foxes were bought here for sport, arum lillies because they were highly prized in South Africa and England and privets were the hedge of the day. We’ve even had some bungled environmental catastrophes such as the <a href="https://news.mongabay.com/2005/04/cane-toads-increasingly-a-problem-in-australia/" target="new" rel="noopener">cane toad</a>.

Even though melaleuca’s are a great tree in Australia like any species taken away from its natural habitat it can easily become pervasive.
I just hope that we’re learning the lessons and not making the same mistakes.