"This new draft plan will help coordinate efforts across the nation to manage the impacts of cane toads on key species and ecological communities which are most at risk," Mr Garrett said.

"As the significant work undertaken to date has shown, there are no easy solutions for dealing with the cane toad menace.

This plan focuses on what can be done now to manage the spread and impact of the introduced toad species, while research continues.

"Recent research studies have shown that some native animal species can adapt to the presence of cane toads after an initial sharp decrease in their numbers," Mr Garrett said.

"Therefore, the new approach being proposed in this plan is on protecting high priority native pecies at risk from cane toads.

"Once identified, such species and ecosystems will be targeted for local and regional action which offers communities a way to manage the impact of the pest on their local environment."

Cane toads were brought to North Queensland in the 1930s in a vain bid to control another introduced pest - the cane beetle.

They continue to spread across the nation's northern landscape – most recently into WA's Kimberley region for the first time.