Wild dogs review: Farmers to be consulted on ending controls

Farmers have been given less than two weeks to tell the Allan Government what ending wild dog control means to their livelihoods.

The Allan Government is only now running face-to-face meetings with farmers on ending wild dog control in eastern Victoria on September 30.

The Allan Government has launched a last-minute round of consultation with farmers on whether to continue wild dog control across eastern Victoria – 11 months into a 12-month review.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Ros Spence and Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos are due to make a decision by the end of next month on terminating doggers and ending wild dog control on public land within 3kms of farm boundaries in the North East and Gippsland.

But it was only this week that both ministers finally agreed to face-to-face meetings with the regions’ farmers to discuss the impact of wild dogs and ending control measures.

The ministers said consultation would take place in early September and include five in-person sessions for farmers across regional Victoria and one online.

Ms Spence said: “We want to hear from farmers impacted by predation as part of this consultation process and use their feedback to help shape the settings that will protect livestock.

“It’s important we get this right. That’s why we’re making it a priority to listen to the community before we make a decision.”

Mr Dimopoulos said: “We want local knowledge and expertise to form part of this review as we work towards a future that appropriately balances the conservation of dingoes with the protection of livestock.”

Both ministers said they would then jointly consider this feedback, alongside the latest scientific research and data, in determining the future policy settings beyond October 1, 2024, when the current dingo unprotection order is due to expire.

The Weekly Times is aware the ministers’ departmental bureaucrats have been consulting animal welfare and environment groups on the issue of wild dog control since February this year.

The government terminated wild dog control in northwest Victoria in March, without any consultation with farmers.

Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group councillor Peter Star said he welcomed the opportunity for landholders to voice their concerns and urged farmers to attend the meetings and webinar.

For details go to agriculture.vic.gov.au/dingoreview.