Wild Dog Strategic Plan

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (14:51): My question is to the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation. Will the minister update the chamber on the consultation process regarding the draft State Wild Dog Strategic Plan and the important role that the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group is playing to increase awareness about the issue?

The Hon. I.K. HUNTER (Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Minister for Water and the River Murray, Minister for Climate Change) (14:51): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Sir, as you would know, the management of wild dogs and dingoes presents an obvious and very complex challenge for government and the pastoral industry. We strive to find the right balance between protecting the livestock industry while at the same time respecting the ecological and cultural importance of this wildlife species. It is important that we get the balance right, that stakeholders work in unison to address the problem and that adjacent landholders work together with their neighbours to make sure there are no holes in our approach to baiting.

What we have found in the past is that, within South Australia, many of the tactics used to control wild dogs have occurred at a local level involving the South Australian Arid Lands NRM Board and one of the numerous dog fence boards. In addition, the National Wild Dog Action Plan was also released on 4 July 2014 and was, of course, endorsed by the government. The discrepancy between these two approaches made it pretty clear that there was a gap in our state’s approach to wild dog management.

Given the vast area affected by the problem of wild dogs, as well as the different stakeholders and the impact of the problem across jurisdictions, we felt that we needed a more consistent state-based approach. This is why in 2013 we established the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group, to provide recommendations and oversee the implementation of priority actions for South Australia under state and national wild dog plans. Representatives from industry, natural resources management, the Dog Fence Board, biodiversity conservation, Aboriginal communities and government sit on this advisory group. The chair is Mr Geoff Power, a highly respected figure in the Australian wool industry and President of Livestock SA, I am advised.

The advisory group has met on seven occasions and is focusing on determining priority actions and investigating opportunities for long-term funding models to improve the management of wild dogs in South Australia. I am pleased to report that it has been highly successful in improving communication and coordination on this issue with the community.

Together with Biosecurity SA, the advisory group has developed a draft state wild dog strategic plan that has now been released for public consultation. The draft plan acknowledges the different perspectives that exist, and suggests ways to protect the livestock industries while maintaining populations of wild dogs in northern South Australia (outside of the dog fence). Importantly, this draft plan aims to bring together all of the current activities by NRM regions, the dog fence boards, Biosecurity SA and DEWNR into the one document. It will also be the mechanism by which South Australia can implement the National Wild Dog Action Plan.

Successful wild dog management requires a coordinated approach by government, industry and community stakeholders. It is important that all interested parties have a say on the draft plan so that the views of a broad cross-section of the community is represented.

The South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group will play an important role in ensuring that a wide range of stakeholders are engaged in the review. The comments on the draft stage of the wild dog strategic plan are due by 27 February 2015. To aid this process a stakeholder consultation forum was held in Port Augusta, I am advised, on 12 February this year; it was attended by around 60 people representing pastoral, conservation, Aboriginal and government perspectives. The forum was strongly in favour of having a state plan and provided valuable comments on the draft document.

The management of wild dogs is essential for sustainability of South Australia's extensive livestock industries. This draft plan outlines a coordinated statewide approach to managing the threats and the benefits of wild dogs. It is available on the Biosecurity SA and DEWNR websites, and I encourage all interested parties to provide their feedback by Friday 27 February.

I also take the opportunity to thank the South Australian Wild Dog Advisory Group and all agencies that played a part in drafting this state-based plan. I look forward to reporting back to the chamber once the plan has been finalised.