Farmer News
1 April, 2025
Farmers denied control permits
FARMERS are continuing to suffer increasing stock losses since a decision was made in March last year to ban wild-dog control in north-west Victoria.
At the time, Ministers reassured farmers that they would be able to protect their livestock by applying for an ‘Authority to Control Wildlife’ permit.
Now, however, it appears these permits have been unfairly denied to applicants, leaving farmers unable to protect their vulnerable livestock.
Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur recently questioned the Minister for Environment in parliament.
“This issue is of great concern to farmers in the western Victoria region as many believe this government will ultimately extend the ban on dingo control across the whole state,” Mrs McArthur said.
“The decision to ban dingo control last March shocked farmers when it was implemented without fair notice.
“When the ban came in, Ministers assured landowners that where livestock were being significantly impacted and there were no other control options available, all farmers could apply for an Authority to Control Wildlife permit to use lethal control methods.”
However, Mrs McArthur added that when those farmers (who were now facing escalating stock losses) applied for permits they were denied on the basis that they had not undertaken all reasonable non-lethal control measures.
“This is unrealistic and unfair and adds insult to injury,” she said.
“The financial and emotional impact of stock losses is felt immediately, but to protect stock using non-lethal measures takes time to implement.
“Farmers such as Alan Bennett, forced to spend $200,000 on dog-proof fencing with no financial support from government, cannot simply magic up fencing or the money to pay for it.
“I stress again – farmers had no time to prepare yet now learn that they should already have implemented time-consuming and expensive control measures.”
Mrs McArthur noted that 120 of Mr Bennett’s sheep had been killed and countless more attacked.
In one paddock alone, 70 per cent of lambs were killed.
“In the 12 months since the decision, the losses have been three times those in 2023; the last year of the wild dog control program,” Mrs McArthur said.
“I am similarly told that as many as 500 to 600 sheep have been killed across the district; 10 times the total when the control program operated.
“Despite this, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action staff say no permits will be issued until the dingo population has increased but give no detail on what this means.”
In parliament, Mrs McArthur asked for a report on annual population surveys of dingos in the Big Desert national park and the announcement of the target population required before farmers can “once more protect their stock from indiscriminate slaughter.”