July 8, 2014
The Federal Government has renewed its focus on wild dogs with a further $280,000 to target the problem, as part of a new national action plan.
The Nationals Member for Gippsland Darren Chester said the funding announcement came on top of $10 million allocated to manage pest and feral animals, in a national drought package released in February.
Mr Chester said the National Wild Dog Action Plan would deliver significant benefits to East Gippsland, which had seen wild dogs have a devastating effect on livestock and native fauna.
“This strategy will for the first time get everyone around the same table to share their expertise on the best ways to control wild dogs,” Mr Chester said.
“The Victorian State Government has set the standard for control of pest animals and it’s good to see the Federal Government working in partnership to achieve real outcomes.
“At the moment, wild dog management practices vary across boundaries. This new plan will bring national consistency and make sure we use our resources more efficiently.”
Mr Chester said wild dogs caused an estimated $13 million to $18 million in damage each year to Victoria’s livestock industry, with Gippsland among the worst-affected areas.
“But we also can’t put a price on the severe emotional effects on farmers who have to witness the vicious destruction of their livestock,” he said.
Mr Chester said Labor and the Greens in government failed to help reduce the impact of wild dogs in Gippsland.
“It was disappointing that the former Federal Government blocked efforts to allow aerial baiting of wild dogs at a time when the Victorian Coalition Government was working closely with landholders to reduce the impact of wild dogs on stock and native animals,” he said. “When I put forward a motion in the House of Representatives in 2011, highlighting the need for a nationally consistent approach to effective wild dog control, it received bipartisan support.
“But then all we got from the Labor Government was more dithering, when what we needed was real action. In implementing this strategy, this Coalition Government has achieved in less than a year what Labor couldn’t do in six years.”
The $280,000 in funding will go towards a start-up investment in wild dog management. This will be managed by the Invasive Animal Cooperative Research Centre, as part of the National Landcare Program.
Mr Chester said he looked forward to Gippsland landholders participating in the action plan and sharing their expertise on a national level.
For more information on the National Wild Dog Action Plan, visit www.woolproducers.com.au