National Wild Dog Management Coordinator at NSW Parliamentary Hearing

The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Dingoes in National Parks, established in May this year by the NSW Parliament’s Animal Welfare Committee, is examining how dingoes are managed in NSW national parks, including the balance between dingo conservation, biodiversity and protection of livestock.

The National Wild Dog Management Coordinator, Greg Mifsud, gave evidence at the Parliamentary Hearing last month.

The inquiry has generated considerable interest, receiving nearly 400 submissions. Two public hearings were held at NSW Parliament House in September.

At the heart of the inquiry is the differing views about the role of dingoes as an important native apex predator and their potential contribution to ecosystem balance, compared with their impacts as wild dogs, particularly where livestock are at risk. While dingoes are recognised as native wildlife in NSW, they are managed as wild dogs and may therefore be subject to control programs, including baiting.

National Wild Dog Management Coordinator, Greg Mifsud, provided an important national wild dog management perspective to the inquiry.

The inquiry provides an opportunity to consider how dingo and wild dog management can be informed by the best available evidence, while recognising the differing needs of conservation, agriculture and regional communities.