The extension of the wild dog protection buffer by the Victorian government this week has been welcomed by Member for Benambra, Bill Tilley.
“The decision is a massive win for common sense and community voices,” he said.
On Tuesday night the Agriculture Minister, Ros Spence, and Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, announced the continuation of the dingo unprotection order in north east and eastern Victoria, until 2028.
The order, that sets a narrow 3km buffer on the boundary of Crown land and the farm fence, had been subject to a one-year review because of claims it threated dingo populations.
Mr Tilley said the community response was a blueprint for others.
“More than 12 months ago the threat to the order became apparent and a group of reasoned, experienced landholders came together and we were able to lobby effectively,” he said.
“Speeches in Parliament, formal and informal meetings with ministers, manning a stand at a farming expo – together we used the media and social media wisely as well as their knowledge and experience to explain the situation,” Mr Tilley said.
“This is a massive win for that team of people and their supporters.”
Mr Tilley added that the battle had been won but the war wasn’t over.
“Narrow-minded sectional groups will still claim these dogs are dingoes but for people who have seen them up close they know the truth,” he said.
“The order talks about dingoes but as most already know this order allows dog men to control wild dogs – hybrid killing machines, dingo and domestic crossbreds – on the edge of farmland.
“These dogs kill lambs, calves, alpacas, Maremma dogs and pets at will.
“Before the buffer the killing was out of control but when it was introduced in 2012 it cut the losses to just 25 per cent of the previous year.
“Many people said the original number was under-reported. The stories livestock and pets mauled and killed in a night became so common that landholders simply couldn’t be bothered.”
The Ministers also announced that the Wild Dog Management Program will also be expanded to include extra supports for farmers through targeted controls of deer, foxes, pigs and wild cats and to reflect this expansion, will be renamed the Vertebrate Species Management Program.
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) also welcomed the decision to extend the order.
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 common sense,” she said.
This article appeared in the Corryong Courier, 26 September 2024.
