Wild Dog Management

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:30): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the minister regarding the wild dog bounty.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: When asked in estimates about the $100,000 wild dog bounty, the minister stated that the project started in April 2020 and that she was advised that as of June this year over 90 per cent of the budget had been spent and only, and I quote, '70 bounties remaining to be potentially claimed'. But despite its 90 per cent take-up, the minister when asked whether this program would be extended said, and I quote:

Whether that program will be extended is one thing that will be considered under the new wild dog management strategy.

My questions to the minister are:

1. When will the new wild dog management strategy be released?

2. What consultation will occur or has occurred in the development of the new strategy?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:31): I thank the honourable member for her question. The current existing wild dog strategic plan was 2016-2020, so it is currently out of date and a new strategy has been drafted. I am advised it is currently being reviewed by stakeholders. It is something I think which we need to ensure there is sufficient attention given towards because we know there has been a lot of excellent work in terms of wild dog management through the dog fence, and I have spoken in this place before about the really incredible work that is being done on that. I visited the dog fence earlier this year and was able to see firsthand some of that excellent work.

In terms of the strategic plan, it is also something that is very important to keep the attention on, so I am glad that we have been able to see that being drafted, and the review by stakeholders, of course, is consultation. I think the wild dog strategic plan has been something that is of vital interest to those who have direct impacts from wild dogs, and I am confident that there has been a wide level of discussion around that. Perhaps for those who are not so directly impacted, it is not something they are necessarily so aware of. I don't have a date for when it will be released. I am happy to take that on notice and advise.