Palaszczuk Government doubles Fraser Island dingo-feeding fines to $10k

Fines for intentionally feeding dingoes on Fraser Island will be doubled to more than $10,000 in a bid to curb attacks. SEE dingo safety guide

FINES for intentionally feeding dingoes on Fraser Island will be doubled to more than $10,000 in a bid to curb attacks.

“Habituation”, where dingoes can become accustomed to seeking food from humans, is considered the main cause of dangerous interactions.

Fraser Island, also known by its traditional name K’gari, has seen three attacks on visitors this year, the latest on a 14-month-old boy dragged from a camper trailer on Good Friday.

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The State Government has moved quickly to address concerns and improve safety.

Environment Leeanne Enoch has announced a range of new measures.

Currently the fine for intentionally feeding or disturbing dingoes ranges from a minimum $391 to $5222 per offence.

It is proposed to increase fines to a minimum $2088 and double the maximum fine to $10,444 per offence.

In the region today (Friday) meeting with the Butchulla people, Ms Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government would be working in partnership with the Butchulla people to ramp up safety, education and compliance measures.

A dingo looks for food among four wheel drives on the east coast of Fraser Island. Picture: Lachie Millard

The Minister announced:

• higher penalties for people who intentionally feed dingoes,

• new fenced camping sites (including in popular beach front areas), and

• a new Butchulla community education ranger position to help educate visitors.

“People need to be aware that feeding dingoes can have significant and serious consequences,” Ms Enoch said.

“Rangers and traditional custodians do a great job in informing visitors to be dingo-safe,” she said.

“Increasing fines for those who deliberately disturb dingoes or feed them sends a very clear message about how dangerous the practice is.”

Ms Enoch said work had already commenced to scope out potential sites for new fenced areas that could be constructed on K’gari to provide more enclosed campsites and improved safety for visitors.

“We are evaluating options for a greater number of camping areas in popular locations that are not accessible for dingoes,” she said.

Over the school holiday period, rangers and traditional custodians visited more than 215 campsites to reinforce safety messaging.

“Six fines were issued to people over the Easter weekend, under the existing fine structure, for not properly securing food,” the Minister said.

“The new measures announced today come on top of the review of the Fraser Island Dingo Conservation and Risk Management Strategy Implementation Plan.

Instagram image of a dingo on Fraser Island. Over the school holiday period, rangers and traditional custodians visited more than 215 campsites to reinforce safety messaging.

“That plan outlines the on-ground actions to reduce negative interactions between dingoes and people and promote communication, education and the conservation of the K’gari dingoes.

“The review will look at how we can improve our messaging further with the assistance of our Butchulla partners.

“We want to ensure visitors and dingoes can co-exist on K’gari.

“The management of dingoes on K’gari is complex, and the Government and the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation are committed to supporting a sustainable and healthy dingo population, while minimising the risks to human safety and dingo welfare.”

A spokesperson for the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation (BAC) said BAC Directors welcomed the Government’s support for a closer working arrangement with the Butchulla people on K’gari, the traditional home of the Wongari (dingoes).

“Our knowledge and experience will greatly assist the government with on-ground management of issues, such as visitor education, visitor safety and the conservation of the Wongari.

“A proposed community education ranger within the BAC will enable the traditional owners to better influence the management of K’gari and the review of the Dingo Strategy Implementation Plan.”

People are encouraged to report any negative dingo encounters to a QPWS ranger or to phone [phone] or email [e-mail] as soon as possible