THE VICTORIAN Government has announced the dingo unprotection order ito permit the control of dingoes on private land and along the boundaries of public land in north-east and eastern Victoria can continue until 1 January 2028.

However, dingoes will continue to be protected in north-west Victoria, where the government has described the dingo population as “critically low”.

The decision was announced yesterday, and the Victorian Farmers Federation said it will ensure farmers are equipped with the tools needed to protect their livestock.

VFF president Emma Germano said the decision follows months of sustained advocacy by farmers to ensure the welfare of livestock in the face of wild dog attacks is balanced with the need for dingo conversation.

“This is a sorely needed win for commonsense,” Ms Germano said.

“Farmers are breathing a huge sigh of relief and I would like to thank Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos for listening to us.

“It has been an enormous effort by farmers, industry and everyone involved to have their say and make a difference.”

However, the announcement does permit lethal control of dingoes on private or public land in the state’s north west.

“There is little evidence that dingoes are present in large numbers in these parts of the state,” the statement said.

However, the Allen Government has announced a $2 million package to undertake dingo monitoring and support for north-west farmers to adopt non-lethal dingo-management strategies.

The package will fund trials, research and on-ground advice on strategies that minimise the risk of livestock predation in the north west to build on the $550,000 North West Vertebrate Pest Management program announced in March.

The wild dog component of the Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty program will cease, with the final opportunity to submit wild dog parts at Maffra on 16 October 2024.

The bounty for foxes will increase from $10 to $14 per scalp until 30 June 2025.

The remaking of the new dingo unprotection order follows a review of dingo conservation and management with feedback from traditional owners, farmers and landholders alongside scientific research.

“Renewing the unprotection order gives stability and certainty to livestock producers in the north east and eastern Victoria, enabling them to continue to protect their livestock from dingo predation,” Minister Spence said.

VFF says more work to do

Ms Germano said farmers and local communities now have greater certainty when it comes to wild dog control methods, and that “lifts a huge burden from their shoulders”.

“Moving forward, we will be making of point of to working with traditional owners and conservationists to help ensure we reach mutual ground on issues like this,” Ms Germano said. 

Ms Germano added that work remains to be done regarding the earlier announced lifting of the unprotection order in Victoria’s north west and the government’s consultation on the issue. 

“Farmers in Victoria’s north west are still exposed to the horrors inflicted by wild dogs on their livestock and we are working to reach a workable solution as soon as possible.”

“The stories I’ve been hearing from local farmers in that area is tragic and I hope the decision in the north east could be a light at the end of the tunnel for farmers in our north west.” 

“We’re seeking a much clearer process and timeframe on all decisions like these.

“We could have avoided so much angst and worry with a much better consultative roadmap.” 

“Solutions such as the reinstatement of the Wild Dogs Advisory Committee is a place for all stakeholders to come together and it would be hugely beneficial moving forward.”

Wild dog committee welcomes decision

Geoff Power, Chair of the National Wild Dog Action Plan Coordination Committee and a South Australia wool grower, said the decision had come as a relief to farmers in Victoria and neighbouring states.

“Producers have been understandably worried about the future of livestock production in Victoria during this review period, particularly after the dingo unprotection order was ended abruptly in the northwest in March this year,” said Mr Power.

“Wild dog attacks have a significant economic and emotional impact on producers, and a substantial toll on our biodiversity. This, in addition to the fact that wild dogs don’t respect state lines – meaning a change to wild dog control in one state can have serious impacts on other states – has caused the review in Victoria to capture the attention of producers across the country.

“The existing Victorian wild dog control program has been successful over many years in achieving a balance between livestock predation and dingo conservation, and the cornerstone of this program is the dingo unprotection order. I think many producers, like me, will be breathing a little bit easier now that the Victorian Government has decided to keep the order in place for the northeast and east of the state.”

Mr Power expressed his gratitude to the Victorian Government for their sensible decision, along with the many farmers and industry groups involved in the review process.

“On behalf of the Committee, I’d like to thank Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos for arriving at this decision. I’d also like to acknowledge the farmers and industry bodies who provided important feedback and insight to the Government during the review process. Their input has been invaluable in reaching this decision and ensuring Victoria’s $4.5 billion sheep and wool industry can continue to thrive.”

Whilst the news is positive in the northeast and east of Victoria, the Committee is conscious that northwest Victoria remains in a vulnerable position without the dingo unprotection order in place.

“Since the unprotection order ended in March this year, we’ve heard several stories of producers in the northwest struggling with the impacts of wild dog attacks,” said Mr Power.

“The NWDAP Coordination Committee recommend that part of the $2 million dollar support package announced by the Victorian Government is put towards radio collaring dogs in the northwest to trace their movements and ascertain density of dogs in the area. There also needs to be a fast-tracked permit system so that landholders can act immediately to protect their livestock if problems arise.”

“At the moment, northwest producers are waking daily to find the aftermath of wild dog attacks on their livestock – a marked increase since March when the unprotection order was revoked. There have also been increased reports of livestock being attacked at the SA border since March. There needs to be consideration for the mental health of these producers who are almost powerless to stop wild dog attacks on their livestock.”

“We’ll continue to work with the Victorian Government to ensure livestock producers in this part of the state can access adequate wild dog control solutions,” said Mr Power.

Source: Victorian Government, VFF, National Wild Dog Action Plan