Tribute to astronomer
WE note from many news reports of the recent death of pioneering astronomer Dr Vera Rubin who died in the US at the age of 88. She is credited with discovering powerful evidence for the existence of dark matter and many feel that she should have received a Nobel Prize for her work.
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As Stawell is in the process of seeing the first dark matter laboratory in the southern hemisphere established at Stawell gold mine, we would like to suggest to the Australian Academy of Sciences and to Melbourne University, which is behind the development of this laboratory, it should dedicate it to Dr Rubin.
We believe that this action would not only recognise the work of Dr Rubin but also bring a greater international focus on the new laboratory.
Rotary also suggests to the Northern Grampians Shire that serious consideration be given to establishing a public gallery or observatory on Big Hill to encourage people to visit Stawell and learn about the laboratory and its work along with cosmology and the observable universe.
We would would very much welcome public interest and support for these ideas and maybe as they develop, it would encourage Rotary International and other benevolent groups here and overseas, to contribute to both projects.
JOHN LAUNDER
Stawell Rotary Club
New wild dog measures
AN elected Liberal-Nationals government would introduce new measures to bring wild dog numbers under control in Victoria.
The Andrews Labor government’s weakening of wild dog management has left numbers out-of-control, while attacks on livestock continue to take an emotional and financial toll on landowners.
The Liberal-Nationals will:
- Appoint an independent chair to the Wild Dog Control Advisory Committee, with relevant wild dog control experience.
- Restore majority landowner representation to the committee.
- Cut red tape that hampers wild dog controllers and affected landowners from control efforts.
- Establish a competitive tender process for spring and autumn aerial baiting to ensure maximum value and effectiveness for investment.
After wasting two years conducting a review, Labor has ignored calls from landholders and done nothing to help combat wild dog attacks.
Wild dogs are hounding livestock in Victoria at the expense of farmers livelihood while Labor dithered. Daniel Andrews cut the successful wild dog bounty program and then wasted two years conducting a review.
An elected Liberal-Nationals government is committed to restoring wild dog experience and knowledge to the advisory group and restoring farmers’ faith in the program.
Labor has never given a reason for why it axed the successful wild dog bounty program in early 2015.
The Andrews Labor government was forced into an embarrassing backflip in October 2016, after pressure from landholders and the Liberal-Nationals.
Without the bounty, wild dog numbers increased and in 2016, for the first time in five years, wild dog controllers caught more dogs than the previous year.
Labor then appointed one of its own city-based MPs Harriet Shing to chair a ministerial wild dog advisory committee with significantly reduced landholder representation. The Liberal-Nationals will ensure wild dog management is put in the hands of people with first-hand experience and relevant control knowledge and skills.
PETER WALSH
Nationals Leader
Significant challenge
NATIONALS Leader Peter Walsh has admitted that an elected Liberal-Nationals Coalition would privatise wild dog control in Victoria, sending control efforts back decades. Mr Walsh promised the Coalition would use private companies to deliver aerial baiting.
Mr Walsh incorrectly claimed the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee had no landholder representation.
In fact, expressions of interest for membership of the Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee have not yet closed – remaining open until January 18.
The new committee, chaired by Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing, will ensure direct community input, in addition to the six additional members representing a cross-section of stakeholders including farmers and other landholders.
It will complement the work of the Wild Dog Action Plan Delivery Group, which is tasked with monitoring implementation of the Action Plan for Managing Wild Dogs in Victoria.
Wild dogs create a significant challenge for land managers and are estimated to cost Victoria’s livestock industry up to $18 million each year.
That is why the Labor government announced $6.2 million in additional support over four years for the ongoing management of foxes and wild dogs in the state budget.
This additional investment has allowed the aerial baiting of wild dogs to run twice yearly in spring and autumn – key periods when wild dogs are most active and baiting is most effective, and double the frequency than under the previous Coalition government.
In recognition of the role hunting can play in supporting the management of wild dogs, a bigger, better bounty of $120 has been introduced on wild dogs.
Collection of skins from within control zones in northern Victoria and Gippsland will occur between March and October 2017, in addition to the $10 fox bounty.
JAALA PULFORD
Minister for Agriculture
