Dingo attacks in north-west Victoria have increased since the removal of a wild dog ‘unprotection’ buffer around public land.

SOUTH Australian livestock producers are concerned a proposal to discontinue the dingo’s ‘unprotected’ status in new legislation will emulate impacts that followed a similar change in Victoria.

Peak farmer body Livestock SA is concerned about the proposed removal of the unprotection species list, that currently includes the dingo, in a draft Biodiversity Bill under review.

Livestock SA chief executive officer Travis Tobin has submitted to the Department for Environment and Water that while the bill enables the continued management of wild dogs/dingoes in accordance with the wild dog management plan, “the mechanisms in this legislation to manage wild dogs are unclear and we do not consider that they are sufficient to effectively manage wild dogs.”

In Schedule 4 of the draft Biodiversity Bill taking a dingo is specified as not being a regulated act or activity if the person is complying with an obligation under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 or the Dog Fence Act 1946; or if the dingo is causing, or is likely to cause, damage to stock.

Livestock SA has sought more information on the management of wild dogs under the Bill with the change to protected status for animals native to Australia.

Livestock SA has raised its concerns about the impact on South Australian livestock producers and border communities of the Victorian Government’s abrupt decision a year ago to reinstate dingo protections in north-west Victoria.

Mr Tobin said the Victorian Government’s decision has already had considerable impacts on Victorian producers and led to a surge in wild dog activity in South Australia. Victorian sheep producers have also faced increased dingo attacks on livestock, but cannot obtain permits to control the attacking dogs.

Mr Tobin said since Victoria’s decision in March last year, there have been 26 separate reports of wild dog sightings and attacks in Ngarkat Conservation Park and nearby properties, including three livestock attacks.

He said as the South Australian Government considers changes to the unprotected species list as part of its draft Biodiversity Bill, the consequences of Victoria’s decision should serve as a stark warning.

The Schedule 4 clause in the Bill is also being opposed by the Environmental Defenders Office which said “there is substantial science now supporting the benefit dingoes provide to environmental balance.”

The EDO contends that if lethal management of dingoes is to continue, then a permit (i.e. application, assessment, reporting) must be required.

“We raise concern that oversight and enforcement of unregulated activities could be lacking and clear regulation is necessary to improve the likelihood of compliance and enforcement of unregulated activities.

“For example, the following should be addressed: – the vague test of ‘likely to cause’ in (b) should be removed. Proof of actual damage must be required.”

Livestock SA said wild dogs were effectively eradicated from the Ngarkat Conservation Park and nearby properties by quarterly baiting programs that started in the mid-1990s. However, with wild dogs in low numbers for almost 30 years, the devastating nature of wild dog impacts appear to have been forgotten, the state farming body said.

Livestock SA said during the 1980’s and early 1990’s there were many producers having several hundred sheep attacked per year. Dogs attacking and chasing flocks reduced ewe conception rates by up to 50 per cent and increased abortion rates. Of the lambs born, lamb marking percentages were reduced by up to 50 per cent and wool quality declined, resulting in lower prices.

“Producers and local councils are deeply concerned that they are going to face these destructive impacts again.

“There have been public calls for professional trappers to help contain the problem,” Mr Tobin said.

Livestock SA said hot, dry conditions have exacerbated the issue, with wild dog and fox impacts worsening.

“Producers are already battling drought with some of the driest conditions on record, along with volatile markets.

“Increased wild dog attacks add further unnecessary pressure,” he said.

“Wild dogs pose a major threat to the livestock industry, with national production losses estimated at $89 million annually. On average, producers spend 26 days per year managing the problem.

“Before major investments by the South Australian Government and the sheep industry, wild dogs killed 20,000 sheep annually in SA, costing producers over $4 million per year and causing significant stress and hardship.”

Mr Tobin said the $28 million Dog Fence Rebuild Project in SA’s northern regions has successfully reduced wild dog numbers and livestock losses.

“But this progress depends on strong, clear legislation and policies.”