The wild dog bounty, cut by this State Government and costing less than one full-time wage per annum, was resulting in more dogs being caught than department trappers are catching – despite “around 24” staff being allocated to wild dog control.

This point was raised in State Parliament this week by Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, who said the Andrews Government’s stubbornness not to reintroduce the wild dog bounty made absolutely no sense at all.

“In a recent media comment, a departmental spokesperson was quoted as saying there were around 24 staff members working on wild dog control,” Mr Bull said.

“In 2015/16 the Department’s figures show 432 dogs were caught by staff in Gippsland and the north-east. This is up from 397 in 2014/15 and is the first time in several years there has been a reported increase,” he said.

“When you compare the cost of trapping these 432 dogs against the bounty, which paid out under $60,000 per year and was producing 526 dogs on average per year, you have to ask why the bounty was scrapped.

“More importantly, you have to ask why the Minister will not reinstate the bounty when presented with these facts. I am certainly not advocating for a reduction in the number of staff working in wild dog control, but we should have the bounty running alongside this effort.

“It was producing a result that more than doubled the effort of the 24 working in the wild dog control area at the cost of less than one full-time staff member.

“The Victorian Farmers’ Federation has also likened the bounty to the doubling of staff for the cost of less than one staff member.

“I understand the Minister ordered a review of wild dog management some time ago, but nothing has happened despite that report being due in August.

“This is just a no brainer and the Minister should act immediately to support our farmers,” Mr Bull said.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016