Farmers have had a mixed reaction to the Victorian Government’s announcement on Wednesday, September 25 that the dingo unprotection order will be continued in the north-east and east of the state.
Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos and Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence assured farmers the control of dingoes on private land and along the boundaries of public land will be permitted until January 1, 2028.
However, bounties will be removed from the dog component of the Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty Program, with claims closing on Wednesday, October 16.
Fox bounties will increase from $10 to $13 per scalp until June 30, 2025.
The VFF has welcomed the announcement, with some reservations.
The government has committed over $2 million to protect livestock by undertaking dingo monitoring and supporting north-west farmers to adopt non-lethal management strategies.
Dingoes will remain protected in the north-west of the state, where numbers are very low and lethal controls are banned.
The Wild Dog Management Program will be renamed as the Vertebrate Species Management Program and will include targeted control of deer, foxes, pigs and wild cats.
Ms Spence said the policy would enable farmers to continue to protect livestock.
“Renewing the unprotection order gives stability and certainty to livestock producers in the north-east and eastern Victoria,” Ms Spence said.
Mr Dimopoulos said the government aimed to ‘strike the right balance’ between dingo conservation and livestock protection.
“We will regularly engage to ensure settings continue to achieve this balance,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
The VFF said the decision was sensible and it allowed farmers to breath a ‘huge’ sigh of relief.
VFF president Emma Germano said the announcement followed months of sustained advocacy by the VFF and farmers.
“This is a sorely needed win for common sense,” Ms Germano said.
“It lifts a huge burden from (farmers’) shoulders.
“I would like to thank Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos for listening to us.”
Ms Germano said the VFF would work with conservationists and Traditional Owners to reach mutual ground on the issue, but said farmers’ livestock in the state’s north-west was still exposed to dingo attack.
“I hope the decision in the north-east could be a light at the end of the tunnel for farmers in our north-west,” she said.
The VFF was critical of the length of the consultation process and has strongly recommended reinstatement of the Wild Dogs Advisory Committee which was disbanded in June, 2020.
“Solutions such as the reinstatement of the ... committee is a place for all stakeholders to come together,” Ms Germano said.
More details about the order can be found at www.wildlife.vic.gov.au and www.agriculture.vic.gov.au