Allan Government to cease wild dog controls in northwest Victoria

The Victorian Government will end dingo and wild dog control in the state’s north west. Here’s what it means for landowners.

Wild dog control will end in North West Victoria.

Wild dog control will come to an end in Victoria’s north west to protect what the Allan Government says is a popluation of about 40 dingoes at risk of extinction.

Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos issued an order declaring the dingo protected on all public and private land across the north west, saying Arthur Rylah Institute data showed there was “as few as 40 dingoes left”.

But sources close to the data say ARI estimated the population ranged from 40 to 230 dingoes or wild dogs, across the entire Wyperfeld National Park and Big Desert.

White zone shows wild dogs-dingoes will be protected on public and private land.

Mallee Landcare chair and livestock producer Leonard Vallance said the decision meant wild dogs would be out of control within five years, with trapping, baiting and shooting coming to an end.

“It’s just the extremist left wing accommodating the greens, with no regard for farmers’ economic viability, their families or livestock's welfare,” Mr Vallance said.

Opposition agriculture spokeswoman Emma Kealy said the decision did not bode well for farmers anxiously awaiting a government review on whether dog control would also come to an end across eastern Victoria in October.

“It’s the first step towards the end of wild dog control in Victoria,” Ms Kealy said.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock councillor Peter Star said he felt sorry for farmers in the north west.

“But it looks like the government is softening us up to do the same if the east,” Mr Star said.

The government has allocated $550,000 to help farmers install fencing against dogs, but Mr Star said at $10,000 a km, the funding would not go very far.