Victoria producers are concerned that wild dogs/dingoes will spread if control is ended.. Image – PIRSA.

VICTORIAN livestock producers are being urged to participate in a livestock predation survey as the State Government reviews wild dog and dingo management in the state.

Agriculture Victoria is seeking up-to-date data by 6 August to better understand how wild dogs and dingoes are affecting Victorian livestock farmers.

The Livestock Predation Survey will collect data from farmers about incidents of livestock predation by wild dogs and dingoes on their properties, including:

• The levels and frequency of livestock attacks
• how livestock attacks impact farmers and their local communities
• the effectiveness and efficiency of lethal and non-lethal control methods.

This survey is targeted to livestock producers across the whole of Victoria. Participation in the survey is voluntary, Agriculture Victoria said.

However, producers concerned about the wider spread of wild dogs and dingoes with the removal of control in the state’s north-west and mooted changes in eastern Victoria are urging all livestock producers concerned about changes in wild dog/dingo management to complete the survey.

Sheep producers have reported an increase in attacks on flocks since the recent removal of the unprotection buffer around park areas in north-west Victoria and there is concern that more predation will occur if buffers in eastern Victoria were removed. Affected producers have been unable to obtain control permits despite attacks on sheep from wild dogs or dingoes.

Push to fully protect the dingo on private and public land

Victoria Valley sheep producer and opponent of the release of dingoes in the Grampians, Rhonda Crawford, said it is imperative that this survey is completed by as many livestock producers as possible.

“We do not want to have to deal with wild dog or dingoes and their impacts on livestock.”

She said the Victorian Stud Merino Sheep Breeders was also urging its members to complete the survey.

“The survey closes on the 6^th of August, so we only have two weeks.”

Mrs Crawford said there is a significant push to fully protect the dingo on private and public land within Victoria.

“It’s already that way in the north-west.”

Liberals and Nationals urge survey completion

The Victorian Liberals and Nationals have also called on producers to make their voices heard on wild dog issues.

The government has confirmed it expects land managers to assume anything previously considered to be a wild dog is now a protected dingo, effectively giving landholders no means of protecting their stock.

Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, said since revoking the unprotection order in north-west Victoria the government had rejected applications for Authority to Control Wildlife permits and refused to provide funding directly to farmers for exclusion fencing.

“Since these changes were introduced we have seen extensive dingo and wild dog attacks.

“In many cases the dogs do not actually kill stock, but maul them to such an extent that they suffer a slow and painful death,” Ms Kealy said.

“This is heartbreaking for producers who invest so much time, energy and money into their livestock, and is compounded by the fact Labor has no desire to put any supports in place for farmers.”

Ms Kealy said despite last year promising consultation with farming communities, the Allan Labor Government had instead stonewalled producers.

“Now we see a survey that Labor is sending only to select producers, and where the framing of the questions does not give responders an opportunity to paint the full picture of the issues they are facing,” she said.

“This is not true consultation, but a deliberate stealth tactic by the government to gather evidence to support its own agenda.

“There is growing anger that Labor consistently prioritises animal extremists over supporting our farmers to grow food and fibre and drive the Victorian economy, and I am very concerned a decision has already been made to end the wild dog management program in Victoria,” Ms Kealy said.

“I urge farmers to complete this survey and force Labor to confront the dire nature of the problem they have created with their irresponsible decision-making.”

Agriculture Victoria said data collected through the survey will help inform a review of the policies and regulations for the management of livestock predation and conservation of dingoes in Victoria.

In partnership with Traditional Owners, Agriculture Victoria will commence formal consultation in the coming weeks, with farmers, ecologists, industry and other stakeholders being invited to participate and provide feedback.

Survey details
The survey will take about20-30 minutes to complete. It is confidential and anonymous. It does not ask for your name. No information about individuals will be released. DEECA’s privacy policy can be found here: https://www.deeca.vic.gov.au/privacy 
Deadline: The survey will close at 11:59 pm on 6 August 2024.
How to participate: Click on the link below to access the survey.
Livestock Predation Survey (surveymonkey.com)

If you have any questions about the survey, please email the team at [email protected]