Wild dog control meetings in Omeo and Gelantipy on Wednesday sent a clear message to the Allan Labor Government and Environment Minister, Steve Dimopoulos, that the program must continue unchanged.
Gippsland East Nationals MP, Tim Bull, who attended both meetings said the large turnouts showed the level of concern as the government conducts a review into the continuation of the program.
“Part of the problem is the data presented by the department is clearly flawed and based on flimsy research,” he said.
“They tell us their estimate of dog numbers is 4,900 based on results from 357 fixed cameras located in the bush, of which 32 recorded dogs, and then the figures were extrapolated from that.
“However, on questioning, locals were told the cameras were funded by deer control money and fixed in the general bush and not on the tracks and trails dog’s use. They were located to record other species, but then used to determine dog numbers.
“The result is this feedback being part of a decision to determine the future of a program when the research relied on is not specific to that program. It prompted one local to comment, ‘it is a wonder the cameras recorded any dogs’.
“Departmental representatives commented that if the research was to be dog specific, more funding would be required. All agreed, but the point was made to not conclude on a program based on research that is not specific to the species in question.
“The data suggesting 100% of the dogs in the bush were dingoes was also queried as it appeared this was a result of a looser classification of a dingo,” he said.
Mr Bull said one Buchan farmer commented he had killed six dogs the week prior from one pack and two had stub tails and looked nothing like a dingo, so how could they say all dogs were 100% dingo – it was just not realistic.
Other points to be made at the meeting were:
• Farmers do not want wild dogs / dingoes eradicated, just kept under control to limit stock losses around private farms.
• Farmers did not particularly care what they are called (wild dog or dingo), what matters is they kill their stock and need to be controlled.
• There was an increasing number of dogs of recent times due to a guaranteed food source from the government’s Sambar deer culling program where carcases are left in the bush, so the government is contributing to the problem of increased numbers.
• Boundary fences are not the sole answer as the government will only allow one metre of clearing next to state forest and falling branches and trees (as well as wildlife) cause fences to fail, so the government can’t have it both ways – refuse to allow clearing and then scrap the dog program.
• The removal of the ability to control dogs in the three-kilometre buffer zone will significantly impact farm viability, as it is both impossible and too late to control dogs on private property.
• The continued number of dogs being caught is proof their numbers are not in decline and controls need to be maintained.
Mr Bull said it is now up to Minister Dimopoulos to listen to the feedback and continue the program unchanged.
Monday, 9 September 2024
