Mallee farmers are voicing frustration over changes to dingo management laws, fearing increased threats to their livestock as wild dogs seek water and food amid dry conditions.

Local farmer Alan Bennett, whose properties border both the Big Desert and Little Desert National Parks, says he and other landholders were not consulted before the Victorian government changed the dingo unprotection order in March 2024. Under the new rules, lethal control of dingoes is no longer permitted in north-west Victoria due to concerns over their dwindling population.

“We had no consultation and were not included in the discussions,” Mr Bennett said.

While the Victorian government argues that dingoes in the region are critically endangered, farmers say they are seeing an increase in wild dog activity. Mr Bennett has installed fences, cameras, and video surveillance on his property, capturing dogs entering his land, yet his application for a wildlife control permit was denied.

“The wild dogs are coming out of the Big Desert looking for water because it’s dry and [they’re] killing sheep,” Mr Bennett said.

Government support vs farmer concerns

In an effort to mitigate concerns, the Victorian Government has allocated $2 million to support non-lethal dingo management strategies, including dingo monitoring and farmer assistance. However, Mr Bennett says the only direct support he has received is the setup of government cameras, with no real assistance in protecting his livestock.

Meanwhile, just across the border, the South Australian Government has taken a starkly different approach, investing heavily in wild dog eradication efforts. Programs include:

• A $25 million rebuild of the Dog Fence to prevent wild dog incursions.
• A bounty scheme offering landholders $120 per wild dog.
• An expanded trapper and baiting program for controlling wild dog populations.

South Australian pastoralists argue these measures are necessary to prevent sheep losses and minimise the economic impact of wild dogs, which is estimated to cost the industry $90 million annually.

Conservationists argue for protection

On the other side of the debate, scientists and conservationists highlight the importance of protecting the Big Desert dingo population, known as Wilkerr to the Wotjobaluk First Nations People.

Recent research by Dr. Kylie Cairns (2023) and Andrew Weeks (2024) has confirmed that the Big Desert dingoes are genetically distinct and a pure dingo with no domestic dog ancestry. Conservationists argue that dingoes play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and should not be targeted based on outdated perceptions.

Elisha Martin, founder of Big Desert Dingo Research and collaborator with Deakin University, has welcomed the Victorian government’s decision to fully protect the Big Desert dingo population. Recent genetic research confirms these dingoes are pure, highly inbred, and at risk of extinction.

Martin highlighted past misidentifications that led to unnecessary culling, emphasising the ecological role of dingoes in maintaining balance and their deep cultural significance to the Wotjobaluk Nations.

Acknowledging livestock producers’ concerns, Martin urged the government to provide more support for non-lethal control measures, such as guardian animals and deterrent fencing. With extreme heat and drought forcing dingoes to search for water, she stressed the need for collaborative, long-term solutions between farmers, researchers, and Traditional Owners.

The ongoing debate

With dingo numbers uncertain and livestock losses continuing, farmers in northwest Victoria are caught between government conservation efforts and the reality of protecting their stock. Mr Bennett and other landowners are calling for greater consultation and practical solutions to ensure their livelihoods are not put at risk.

“They can’t make the Big Desert any bigger—what’s there is what’s there. What the current policies are doing is non-management, and we have no way to control them,” Mr Bennett said.

As the debate continues, the question remains: How can Victoria balance dingo conservation with the needs of farmers? 

This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 26 February 2025.