NSW public campaign on Prickly Pear including Bunny Ears

https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/2021-09-27/illegal-cactus-sales-in-nsw-warning/100493522

"If you see, know or suspect something, contact NSW Crime Stoppers
in complete confidence on 1800 333 000 or report online."

Thanks for the info Eck, very helpful!

Being rather dim up top at times, I'm not sure exactly how to read the information on the NSW Weedwise site. Are only the Opuntia/Cylindropuntia/Austrocylindropuntia species specifically listed on Weedwise illegal, or is there a blanket ban in force in NSW? (except O. ficus-indica)

By comparison, the site identifies 3 Harrisia species as regional weeds, but doesn't mention H. jusbertii.

Not sure how to navigate that site myself but found if one specifies cactus/succulent under 'Plant type' at:

https://weeds.dpi.nsw.gov.au/Home/Identify

it brings up a list of plants one can checkout to see what's deemed a weed or not.

I was a bit surprised to see O.ficus-indica described as 'spreads slowly' and 'not a problem'.  Why it should be any different to others in the Opuntia group is puzzling.  It has certainly been grown commercially and perhaps the real reason for exclusion.  I had a couple but they got so big, so fast when in the ground, I ended up pulling them out.

While I appreciate NSW's problem with certain cacti species, bringing in Crime Stoppers and putting cacti on a par with cannabis does nobody any good.  It was only 10 years ago the Federal govt attempted the same.  Thanks to the story being leaked to the national media such moves were thankfully short-lived.