Farmers, Traditional Owners and environmental groups across the state are being called upon to help shape the review of dingo conservation and wild dog management in Victoria.
Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence and Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos today announced face-to-face and online consultation as part of the review.
Consultation will take place in early September and include five in-person sessions for farmers across regional Victoria and one online. These sessions will build on previous surveys and consultation and to appropriately balance the protection of livestock and the conservation of dingoes.
This targeted consultation will seek feedback on the economic and social impacts of the dingo unprotection order.
This consultation will build on the Government's understanding of the different views about the current order. This has been informed by recent stakeholder engagement, correspondence and data collection including the livestock predation survey conducted
The Ministers for Environment and Agriculture will jointly consider this feedback, alongside the latest scientific research and data, in determining the future policy settings beyond 1 October 2024, when the current dingo unprotection order is due to expire.
Dingoes are listed as a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 and are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. The dingo unprotection order only permits control activities on specified private land and within a 3km buffer zone on public land in the east of Victoria.
To find out more about the consultation visit, agriculture.vic.gov.au/dingoreview.
As stated by Minister for Agriculture Ros Spence
"It's important we get this right. That's why we're making it a priority to listen to the community before we make a decision."
"We want to hear from farmers impacted by predation as part of this consultation process and use their feedback to help shape the settings that will protect livestock."
As stated by Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos
"We want local knowledge and expertise to form part of this review as we work towards a future that appropriately balances the conservation of dingoes with the protection of livestock."
"The dingo population in north-west Victoria is under threat of extinction, that's why we're making these changes to protect an important part of the ecosystem."
