Arabic version: مزارع من فيكتوريا يطالب الحكومة بتعويضات عن نفوق الأغنام

According to ABC News, Victorian farmer Scott Keller has sent the state government an invoice for almost $40,000 after wild dogs or dingoes killed sheep and lambs on his property near Rainbow, on the eastern edge of the Big Desert. Keller said he does not expect the bill to be paid, but hopes it draws attention to stock losses before the November election.

The invoice lists 16 sheep and 145 lambs lost, along with the cost of night patrols intended to protect the flock. Keller said he has lost more than 160 head of livestock to attacks and that predation has become a regular problem. He said the animals were travelling about 8 kilometres from scrub to reach stock, and attacks continued even after he moved livestock closer to the farmhouse.

Lethal control of wild dogs or dingoes in north-west Victoria was outlawed in March 2024 to protect the dingo population. Keller said livestock predation had not been a major issue before the change because government trappers removed problem animals. He also said he was worried about potential attacks on his working dogs and family pets.

The Coalition has pledged to restore the “unprotection order” that allowed lethal control if it wins government in November. Shadow Agriculture Minister Emma Kealy said farmers were at breaking point and argued that removing protections for stock had left no controls in place. A Victorian government spokesperson said compensation was not offered for livestock predation, while stating the government remained committed to working with farmers, landholders and Traditional Owners to balance livestock protection with dingo conservation.