Livestock industry future at risk as national wild dog action plan faces funding cliff

An Australian national strategy for managing wild dogs will cease to exist beyond October without immediate funding commitments.

However, the national wild dog action plan group was positive funding would continue after its reworked framework received industry and government support.

The new industry-led framework includes a reworked funding structure, with all investments to be co-ordinated by the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions.

Existing funding is due to run out at the end of September.

NWDAP chair Chris Patmore said the group was still waiting for commitments from various potential funders and was exploring every funding avenue.

“Supporting the action plan itself and the co-ordinator’s role is really important to secure the future of the livestock industries in Australia, and that applies to sheep, goats and cattle,” he said.

To date, funding has supported the co-ordination role, currently held by Greg Mifsud, which is critical for driving collaboration and supporting best practice management in the country.

Without the role there would be no one to manage the NWDAP activities, effectively ending the program.

CISS chief executive Shauna Chadlowe said the program activities would cease in a matter of months without funding commitments.

She said the group had “very positive” funding discussions with relevant industry bodies, however, commitments from government and industry were now critical.

“We’re facing a funding cliff, this is urgent,” she said.

“We really do need to renew the funding for the national wild dog action plan co-ordination role, and if we don’t, it’ll cease to exist.”

Ms Chadlowe said various key industry players had been approached for funding, including Meat and Livestock Australia, Local Land Services, Animal Health Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, and State and Federal governments.

“We’ve had really positive discussions . . . they’re all saying this is important but we just need them to commit,” she said.

“It’s an urgent problem, and there’s a solution.

“We’ve got a fantastic five-year proposal, a co-ordinator who has 20 years of experience and we’re ready to go.

“We just need to continue that funding.”

In previous years, the plan was facilitated by the national wild dog management co-ordinator and their project team, with oversight from the NWDAP co-ordination committee.

The plan had been funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry of Australia through a 2½-year funding round, which ended on June 30, 2026.

Other funding partners included national and State farming organisations, peak industry councils, State governments and other relevant industry bodies.

The Countryman contacted MLA, Local Land Services, Animal Health Australia, AWI, and State and Federal governments for commitment confirmation.

AWI confirmed an $85,000 commitment for 2026-27.

A spokesperson for the WA Agriculture Minister Jackie Jarvis said the minister had received the request to meet with Mr Patmore on the future of wild dog management.

A spokesperson for the VIC Agriculture Minister Michaela Settle said the co-investment request was being considered, while a spokesperson for the South Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regions said the request was being considered as part of the Government’s usual assessment processes.

NSW local land services director Ian Walker said the government was currently evaluating the request.

The Federal Government has deferred responsibility to the State Government.

“The on-ground management of wild dogs, and other established pests and weeds, is primarily the responsibility of state and territory governments and landholders,” a spokesperson for the Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said.