(Contains opinion)
THE Victorian state government has introduced new legislation for the protection of the Dingo/Wild dog population in the states north west.
From Agriculture Victoria.
Livestock Predation Management in North West Victoria.
In Victoria, dingoes are protected as a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and the Wildlife Act 1975.
There are two main populations of dingoes in Victoria: a population in the east, and a smaller disconnected population in the north west (the Mallee) near the Big Desert.
To protect this vulnerable population of dingoes from local extinction, lethal control of these animals is not permitted in this region.
Farmers in the north west can apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife (ATCW), which permits the use of lethal control in circumstances where no other non-lethal control options are available.
In light of current scientific evidence that highlights the risk of extinction to the north west dingo population, the Conservation Regulator will only consider issuing ATCWs for lethal control in extraordinary circumstances, such as where there are human safety concerns, or where there are extreme and escalating livestock impacts and all non-lethal control measures have been exhausted.
The Conservation Regulator will determine if circumstances are extraordinary based on the unique characteristics of an application for lethal control, balanced against the state of the north west dingo population.
Applications must include evidence of the damage caused by a dingo or dingoes and how all practical available non-lethal control options have been assessed and/or applied.
Livestock Predation Management for Eastern Victoria.
The Victorian government acknowledges that livestock predation is a significant challenge for Victorian farmers, and the Government has undertaken a review of the policy and regulatory settings to appropriately balance the protection of livestock and the conservation of dingoes.
From October 1, 2024, to allow for the control of dingoes where they threaten livestock and livestock production, a new Order in Council has been made under section 7A of the Wildlife Act 1975 , declaring the dingo as unprotected on private land and within a 3km buffer zone along the boundaries of public land in eastern Victoria. The Order revokes and replaces the order made in March 2024 and will have effect until 1 January 2028.
Under these settings dingoes may continue to be controlled in eastern Victoria using lethal and non-lethal means; noting that the wild dog bounty has been discontinued. Lethal control of dingoes in the 3km buffer zone on public land can only be carried out by trained and accredited DEECA staff and contractors.
Dingoes will remain protected in the north west of the state, where the local dingo population is critically low and at risk of extinction. In the remainder of the State, where there is limited evidence on the presence of dingoes, any predation control may continue in accordance with relevant Victorian laws such as the Catchment and Land Protection Act 1994 , Domestic Animals Act 1994 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
Now because this state government actually knows that farmers are going to lose livestock to predation in the North West of our state, they have introduced some financial support for those whose livelihoods become victim to the dingo/wild dogs.
North West farmers and Traditional owners are set to receive $2.078 million to “deliver trials, research and on-the-ground advice on non-lethal dingo management strategies that minimise the risk of livestock predation building on the work already underway as part of the $550,000 North West Vertebrate Pest Management program.”
The program will include, camera monitoring - providing information on how dingoes use the landscape, fencing of water on private land and supplementary water on public land, exclusion fencing trials and a livestock guardian animal pilot.
Part of the support package will enable Traditional Owner groups to lead dingo conservation and healthy Country planning activities for the dingo.
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I would like to think that we, as farmers, stand together - obviously while we rejoice in the dingoes.
This government spends our tax money - not wisely or carefully.
If we had decent roads, our hospitals weren’t broke and we could be confident that our taxes weren’t being wasted on paying out contracts for freeways that don’t get built, or Commonwealth Games that don’t go ahead, or spend big money protecting an apex predator with the potential to ruin an industry worth tens of millions of dollars to our state - then I would definitely get more sleep and be way less anxious.
