Minister’s excuse for axing wild dog bounty clumsy and incorrect
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Minister’s excuse for axing wild dog bounty clumsy and incorrect

Agriculture Minister, Jaala Pulford’s reasoning for abandoning the wild dog bounty on local radio this morning was clumsy and simply incorrect, State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, said today.

“Guessing her way through an uncomfortable interview, the Minister said the reason the wild dog bounty was being halted was because it had not been funded by her predecessor, Peter Walsh – this comment is simply wrong.

“The previous Government funded the successful program for four years and committed to another four years of funding ($4million) on October 1 last year. Minister Pulford must have forgotten she is now in charge of the Portfolio and has a Budget in a few weeks where she can provide the funding,” said Mr Bull.

“When asked why she had said in a recent letter that hunting played ‘an important role in supporting an integrated approach to pest management in Victoria’, but then axed the bounty, the Minister could not answer.

“What made her bumbling response in blaming the previous Minister worse was that last year when the Coalition committed to continue the bounty, Labor candidate for Benambra, Jennifer Podesta, expressed her disappointment at her party’s policy to abolish it.

Ms Podesta said she had checked with Labor Party headquarters and advised it was Labor policy to remove the bounty. She said she was very disappointed in the decision.

“So as far back as seven months ago, prior to the election, Labor planned to discontinue the bounty when it had the chance to commit, so to trot out this excuse now is inexcusable,” said Mr Bull.

“The interview left no doubt she does not understand the situation at all, has no understanding of the impacts and takes East Gippsland farmers for granted.

“The very successful bounty resulted in 1557 pelts being handed in and was one of a number of initiatives introduced by the previous government to combat the impact of wild dogs,” Mr Bull said.