Mr Conroy is acting chair of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Environment and Energy which will host the second of the hearings on Wednesday.

Mr Conroy said it was important to hear “all voices” on the management of the invasive species in order to halt its march further south.

“From their introduction in 1935 to Queensland sugar cane fields to control beetles, the toads now inhabit areas from central Queensland to northern NSW and west to the Kimberley in northern Western Australia,” Mr Conroy said.

Cane toads have been identified in Lake Macquarie and on the Central Coast, after having hitched a ride in vehicles.

But it gets worse.

“In 2009, cane toads were found at Taren Point in southern Sydney and last year two were found in Canberra,” Mr Conroy said.

Their secretions are toxic to native animals, cats and dogs.

The committee will convene a second roundtable-style session this Wednesday involving scientists and groups involved in controlling cane toads on the ground.

“The inquiry is focused on how cane toads can be controlled and additional support that could be provided by government,” Mr Conroy said.

Anyone interested in cane toads can visit the inquiry website aph.gov.au/canetoad.

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