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Thwaites Blames Farmers For Wild Dog Problem

Environment Minister John Thwaites has blamed farmers for wild dogs plaguing north-east Victoria.

By Phillip Davis - 29th August 2006 - Back to News

Shadow Minister for Country Victoria Philip Davis said farmers were outraged at the Minister’s comments in response to a question about whether the Bracks Government would take responsibility for the injury or death of someone if they were attacked by a wild dog.

"Wild dogs are there because people have done the wrong thing and allowed dogs to get away.

"It’s a community responsibility as well as the Government’s." – John Thwaites, The Border Mail, 26 August 2006

Mr Davis said it was ridiculous to suggest farmers had caused the wild dog problem themselves.

"These farmers have been battling since the bushfires to control these wild dogs," Mr Davis said.

"These dogs are responsible for millions of dollars worth of stock losses, why on earth would the farmers encourage these dog populations to increase?

"These comments simply confirm that the Minister knows absolutely nothing about farming or wild dogs.

"This is a slap in the face to farmers throughout the North-East and East Gippsland who have battled to control these wild dogs for so long, with negligible assistance from the Bracks Government."

Mr Davis said Minister Thwaites had no idea the true carnage wild dogs had caused, because he is a city-based Minister who rarely leaves the comfort of the city.

"There are no wild dogs where John Thwaites lives in trendy Albert Park," Mr Davis said.

"Perhaps if there were, the Minister would not be so dismissive and eager to pass the buck.

"The Bracks Government has continually avoided making the hard decisions on wild dog control.

"The New South Wales government has done all the hard work and has proven aerial baiting is an effective way to control wild dogs with minimum impact on native animals.

"Despite this, the Bracks Government refuses to follow its Labor counterparts in New South Wales and implement some real action on wild dogs.

"A Liberal Government would implement a strategic aerial baiting trial and finally give farmers the assistance they need.

"A Liberal Government will not pass the buck and leave farmers to battle wild dogs alone."

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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