Why were cane toads introduced into Australia from Hawaii?

The Australian government introduced cane toads to Queensland in 1935 specifically to serve as a form of biological control against beetles that were damaging sugarcane crops.12

It is a common misconception that the toads were native to Hawaii; while they were introduced to Hawaii prior to their arrival in Australia, they are actually native to South and Central America. The toads were brought to Australia from Hawaii—where they had previously been introduced—with the intent that they would prey upon the beetles destroying the roots of the sugarcane plants.12

This effort ultimately failed, as the cane toads did not effectively control the beetle population. Instead, the toads reproduced rapidly and became one of the most invasive species in Australia, causing significant ecological harm by outcompeting native species and poisoning local predators.12