2022
Incorporating
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
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GAME CHANGERS PHOEBE Guppy’s ongoing footy story was recently covered in the Sunday Age. The 13-year-old featured alongside other local girls’ footy players, Hannah Berriman and Grace Preuss, who spoke of their own challenges and how the new Mansfield Eagles girls’ team is inspiring hope. Story pages 10-11
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PHOTO: Simon Schluter
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LAVENDER FARM FURORE
Havoc in the paddock ON MARCH 14 the unprotection order for dingoes in the northwest of the state was revoked, and with no government commitment as to whether the Wild Dog Control Program will be renewed after its current term ends on October 1, farmers across the North East are concerned. The revoked order was triggered by research conducted by the Arthur Rylah Institute suggesting the dingo population in the northwest of Victoria is at imminent risk of extinction
assessing future policy for Farmer unease on future of wild dog g control p program g dingo conservation and BY EMMA OLIVER eoliver@ nemedia.com.au
if threats to the population are not addressed. A spokesperson for the Victorian government said, “We are currently undertaking a comprehensive assessment of Victoria’s dingo population to guide management practices that most appropriately balance the protection of livestock
and the conservation of dingoes.” Defined as both a native animal and an agricultural pest, along with holding cultural significance for indigenous people, the challenge now lies in finding that balance. MEMBER FOR NORTHERN VICTORIA WENDY LOVELL said the government dumped the northwest zoning without consulting landholders, and with only a couple of hours’ notice.
Ms Lovell is concerned the state-wide Wild Dog Control Program will meet a similar fate in October. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action oversees the program. “The Bush Telegraph says the department is already talking to dog men about their future… and an end to their trapping,” said Ms Lovell. In Victoria, dingoes are listed as a threatened species under the Flora and
Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, and are protected under the Wildlife Act 1975. However, there are allowances. Currently the Wild Dog Control Program allows the control of dingoes where they threaten livestock, with wild dogs declared unprotected within a 3km Livestock Protection Buffer zone on public land in eastern Victoria, and on most private land across the state. This is under review, with the government
management in light of new scientific research suggesting a significantly greater proportion of Victoria’s wild dogs or dingo-dog hybrids may in fact be purebred dingoes. “Before any decision is made ministers must hear from those who lived through the days of wanton wild dog killings, they need to see, feel and hear of the pain that this takes – both physically and emotionally,” Ms Lovell said. ■ Continued page 12