THE Victorian Government has extended an order allowing dingoes and wild dogs to be controlled near farmland.
The ‘Dingo Unprotection Order’ declares the animal as unprotected wildlife on private land and within 3 kilometres of private land across most of Eastern Victoria and some of North West Victoria.
In other parts of Victoria, the dingo remains protected under the Wildlife Act 1975, and is listed as a threatened species under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
A 2018 order was due to expire on October 1, but the order has been remade for a further 12 months until October 1 2024.
“Following emerging research, the current order will be extended for 12 months to allow for a comprehensive assessment of the dingo population across Victoria to inform the appropriate protections moving forward,” a Victorian Government spokesperson said.
Latest Stories
“We will continue to work with Traditional Owners, farmers and private landholders to appropriately balance the protection of livestock and dingo conservation.”
Under the order, only those working for DEECA or Parks Victoria may kill or take dingoes on public land.
According to DEECA, the government is undergoing a review into dingo conservation, predicted to be finalised within a year, which will consider new research into dingo populations.
A spokesperson for Nationals MP for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said the decision to extend the existing wild dog prevention orders is a win for local farmers and communities.
“Mr McCurdy is pleased to have worked with the community and his National Party colleagues to pressure the government for this outcome,” they said.
“Farmers know their livestock better than anyone, and they know how to look after them, which is why it is important to continue to listen and advocate for them and the hard work they put in to build our communities.”
