Eastern Victoria Region
Melina BATH (Eastern Victoria) (12:46): (1517) My question is for the Minister for Environment, but formerly the Minister for Agriculture was in charge. Minister, last year the wild dog program was under threat of being cancelled. This year it is being sanitised and rebranded as the vertebrate species management program, incorporating other species such as deer, pigs and foxes. Speaking with farmers at Willow Grove last week, wild dog attacks are proliferating, butchering calves and lambs, pack-attacking family dogs and tracking frightened joggers near state parks. Areas of high attack include Aberfeldy, Licola, Yellingbo, Noojee and Hill End. Doggers are overworked and under-resourced in their trapping, baiting and shooting. The current funding is approximately $4.3 million, but this is woefully inadequate considering the expanded program. Will you, Minister, provide additional funding and extend the work program from 3 kilometres into public land on Crown land to 5 kilometres?