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Australia's unique environment is under relentless attack by unwanted aliens and climate change is about to supercharge the threat, top scientists warn.

The first global assessment of invasive alien species has been released in Germany, detailing staggering losses for nature and the economy, alongside escalating threats for human wellbeing.

The report took four years and is the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, which advises the nations of the world on pressing environmental concerns.

It says nature is suffering as human activity such as trade, tourism and changing land use help plants, animals, insects and pathogens spread to new places, frequently with devastating results.

It's estimated human activity has introduced more than 37,000 alien species to regions and biomes where they don't belong, a figure that's rising at an unprecedented rate and fuelling an extraordinary loss of biodiversity as they prey on and crowd out native species.

Invasive alien species were a major factor in 60 per cent of recorded plant and animal extinctions and the sole driver in 16 per cent of them. In fact, 1200 local extinctions can be put down to about 218 invaders.

Global economic costs have been conservatively estimated at more than $423 billion a year.

Scientists from Australia and New Zealand who helped write the report say there's an immediate need for collective international action and there's no time to lose as the climate warms.

"Climate change is an exacerbator of invasive alien species, and the two interact together," says Philip Hulme, one of the report's co-ordinating lead authors and a distinguished professor at New Zealand's Lincoln University.

"The spread of species that might be constrained by climatic factors at the moment, those will be released and we'll see species moving into previous inhospitable environments that have now become much better."

Australia and New Zealand are considered hotspots for biological invasions but the authors say there's plenty that can be done about that.

Andy Sheppard, another coordinating lead author and the Chief Research Scientist at the CSIRO, says the stand out message is that prevention is far cheaper than having to deal with invasions.

"We do have a pretty good history of being able to manage invasive species in terrestrial ecosystems after they've established (but) you can't always prevent, so you need to be ready if something gets in. You have to be prepared and you have to be able to respond quickly."

The Invasive Species Council says Australia has lost about 100 native plants and animals to extinction since colonisation, most of which were mainly due to invasive species, with cats and foxes proving particularly devastating.

The council's biosecurity analyst Lyall Grieve says the federal government will have to pump far more money into warding off new invaders if it wants to keep its promise to prevent any more extinctions.

"It will take long-term, consistent and strategic investments to stop new invasions and deal with existing threats like fire ants and feral deer."

© AAP 2023

Brisbane defender Daniel Rich has confirmed his AFL retirement at the end of this season and has not given up hope on a fairytale ending.

The 33-year-old made the announcement to his teammates on Monday as they prepare for Saturday night's home qualifying final against Port Adelaide.

Rich has played 275 games and is a well-respected figure at Brisbane, but he has only managed seven appearances this season and his last AFL match was in round 13.

He looms as a hard-luck story of the finals series, given coach Chris Fagan said last month that he would probably struggle for a senior recall because he had missed so much football.

"It's been a frustrating year that's for sure, but it is what it is and all I can do is be the best teammate and person I can be to make the group and club better in any way possible," Rich said.

"There's still plenty of time to go in this season, so I will work hard and be ready if needed, but if not, I will do my bit to support the boys and to be part of the story whether I am out there or not because this club means so much to me.

"I am super excited for the next chapter of my life. My wife and family have made so many sacrifices for me so quality time with them and supporting the kids as they grow up.

"I would love to stay involved with the club and continue to grow the Lions both on and off the field. It's easy to do something you love and have a passion for."

Brisbane chief executive Greg Swann and football boss Danny Daly paid tribute to Rich, who was a 2021 All-Australian.

"There's no doubt that when people think of the Brisbane Lions, Daniel Rich is one of the main players they think of and that's one of the best compliments you could have," Swann said.

Daly also praised Rich for his loyalty and said he would be missed at Brisbane.

"It's near impossible to find the words that give Richy the credit he deserves for what he has achieved individually and for what he has given to this club," Daly said.

© AAP 2023

A Gold Coast councillor accused of murdering his stepfather must explain to the state government why he should not be suspended from his elected position.

Acting Premier Steven Miles said he was sending a letter to Ryan Donald Bayldon-Lumsden to instruct him to show cause why he should stay in his job as he awaits trial for allegedly murdering Robert Malcolm Lumsden, 58, at the family's Arundel home on August 23.

Bayldon-Lumsden, 30, was released on bail with a $250,000 surety following a Supreme Court hearing on Thursday.

He has until Friday to dispute the government's call for an explanation why he should not be suspended with pay until council elections in March.

"That's a natural justice process to allow them to dispute that decision, but I believe it's a reasonable outcome to suspend them until after effectively the next quadrennial council elections when a councillor will be elected," Mr Miles told reporters.

The suspension would be revisited if Bayldon-Lumsden chose to stand for office again.

Bayldon-Lumsden's lawyers have said he intends to plead not guilty.

The Palaszczuk government sought urgent Crown law advice and Mr Miles, who is also the local government minister, informed cabinet of the move on Monday.

Mr Miles said the government had been in constant contact with Gold Coast City Council about its options and the legal advice.

He said he had the to power to appoint an adviser to take care of day-to-day representation in Bayldon-Lumsden's northern Gold Coast ward and he had asked the council to consider who an appropriate replacement would be.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he respected the acting premier's decision.

After indicating he intended to meet Bayldon-Lumsden this week to discuss his future, Mr Tate said he had not yet spoken to him.

"I'm sure Cr Bayldon-Lumsden has a lot more to consider between now and Friday so I will leave him to consider what he needs to do until then," the mayor said in a statement.

Bayldon-Lumsden became the youngest ever Gold Coast councillor when was elected at age 27 in 2020.

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© AAP 2023