Victorian Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee

The Minister for Agriculture is establishing the Victorian Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee (WDMAC) to generate and provide expert and strategic advice on matters relating to the management of wild dogs in Victoria.

Expression of interests for the member positions on the Committee closed on 18 January 2017. Agriculture Victoria received many applications from well qualified and experienced candidates and, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, is progressing the selection of members. Once the chair and committee members have been appointed, the composition of the committee will be announced. 

For more information read the frequently asked questions below.

Downloads

WDMAC Terms of Reference [PDF File - 498.5 KB]
WDMAC Terms of Reference [MS Word Document - 88.2 KB]

WDMAC member position description [PDF File - 296.6 KB]
WDMAC member position description [MS Word Document - 66.5 KB]

FAQs

What is the purpose of the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee?

The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee will generate and provide expert and strategic advice to the Minister for Agriculture about managing wild dogs in Victoria, consistent with the role and functions defined in the Terms of Reference. The Committee may also advise the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change on matters agreed to be referred to the Committee for advice.

Specifically, the role of the Committee is to provide advice on:

• aligning Victoria's approaches to wild dog management with best practice
• developing relationships between community, industry, State Government, and other affected stakeholders and how best to support a collaborative approach to wild dog management
• reducing the negative impacts of wild dogs and the negative impacts from the management of wild dogs on agriculture, the environment and social wellbeing of communities affected by wild dogs
• monitoring, evaluating and reporting that will facilitate evidence-based decision-making in wild dog management
• making legislative and non-legislative interventions to achieve policy outcomes for wild dog management
• advising on research and development knowledge gaps relating to all aspects of wild dog management
• any other matters referred by the Minister or department.

Who will the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee report to?

The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee will report to the Minister for Agriculture, and where relevant the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change. The committee will also provide an annual report in writing, from the chairperson to the Minister, evaluating delivery of the work plan, by 31 March each year or as close as practical to the completion of the annual cycle.

What is the composition of the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee?

The WDMAC will be made up of a chairperson and up to six other members.

The members will represent affected regions and agricultural communities and include members with skills in areas such as wild dog management, catchment management, biodiversity conservation, conservation ecology and threatened species management, community welfare, and the science of wild dog management.

The Minister for Agriculture will appoint the chairperson and members. The Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change will recommend the appointment of up to two members with  skills or expertise in dingo conservation ecology, biodiversity conservation and threatened species management more generally.

Who will be chairing the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee?

The chairperson will be selected by the Minister for Agriculture. In recommending the chairperson to Cabinet, the Minister will  take into account government diversity objectives and be satisfied that the person has the skills and knowledge needed to fulfil the duties required of a chairperson.

Who are the members of the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee or how can I express my interest in becoming a member?

Expression of interests for the member positions on the Committee closed on 18 January 2017. Agriculture Victoria received many applications from well qualified and experienced candidates. Agriculture Victoria, in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, is progressing the selection of members. Once the chair and committee members have been appointed, the composition of the committee will be announced.

How long is the term of appointment?

The term of office of the chairperson and members will be up to three years.

How often will the new Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee meet?

The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee will meet quarterly or as required, to ensure the delivery of its work plan.

How will any potential, real or perceived conflict of interest be managed?

The Terms of Reference require conflicts of interest (real, potential or perceived) to be declared at the start of each meeting.

When a chairperson, member or observer makes a declaration of conflict of interest, the chairperson, or in the case of a declaration by the chairperson, the members as a collective may:

• refuse the member the right to speak to the business
• refuse the member the right to vote on that business
• require the member to withdraw from a meeting for a period of discussion and resolution of that business.

Declarations of conflict of interest will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. A review of the Committee will be undertaken within three years and at least every six years thereafter.