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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-19 Daily Xml
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DINGOES

The Hon. J.S. LEE (15:19): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Regional Development a question about the dingo control Biteback program.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.S. LEE: Over the last three years, the Biteback program, which helps landowners control dingo numbers south of the dog fence, has been funded by the SA Sheep Industry Fund as well as Australian Wool Innovation. Many landowners have contacted the Liberal Party raising concerns that funding for the dingo control program in the state's outback has run out. Landowners feel that just three years of support is not enough.

Geoff Powell, Chair of Wool Producers Australia told ABC Radio that dingoes are a growing problem: 'We're seeing more dogs further south all the time, and they're wild dogs, they're quite vicious.' He revealed that funding is mainly an industry initiative. The government is putting very little or no money into dingo control below the fence—it is all industry at this stage. My questions to the minister are:

1. As the Minister for Regional Development, has the minister met with stakeholders regarding the Biteback program?

2. With dingo numbers becoming a growing problem, when will the government intervene to ensure landowners and their animals are protected?

3. Does the minister believe that the dingo control program should be a shared responsibility and, if so, will she consider looking into a joint funding program with industry?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, Minister for Forests, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Tourism, Minister for the Status of Women) (15:21): I thank the honourable member for her important question. Indeed, dingo numbers have increased significantly in rangeland areas south of the dog fence in recent years, so I have been advised. Dingoes can obviously cause considerable sheep losses, even at low densities and, without intervention, the pastoral sheep industry obviously is at risk of major contraction.

The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board has initiated a series of management actions to improve dingo control across the area, but this approach obviously needs to be integrated into a statewide approach to dingo management. Biosecurity SA is leading the development of a state dingo management strategy, which is planned to go out for public consultation later this year. A number of incidents relating to the illegal keeping of crossbred dingoes are also being investigated by Biosecurity SA and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.

The issue of keeping dingoes as pets is obviously being considered in the development of the management plan. Biosecurity SA has led the delivery of a dingo aerial baiting program in the SAAL NRM region in April this year, involving 70 pastoral landholders. The program delivered 36,000 baits over a 6,000 kilometre flight path across the rangelands south of the dog fence. Future baiting, pending negotiations with the sheep industry funding partnerships, will obviously continue to occur.

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