Victorian Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee

Who does the Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee report to?

The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee reports to the Minister for Agriculture, and where relevant, to the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change.

The committee will also provide an annual report in writing, from the chairperson to the Minister for Agriculture, evaluating delivery of the work plan.

This report will be delivered by 31 March each year or as close as practical to the completion of the annual cycle.

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. Its role and functions are 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 by the Minister for Agriculture to the Committee for advice.

Specifically, the role of the Committee is to advise on:

• aligning Victoria's approaches to wild dog management with best practice
• developing relationships between community, industry, State Government, and other affected stakeholders and supporting 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 to facilitate evidence-based decision-making in wild dog management
• making legislative and non-legislative interventions to achieve policy outcomes for wild dog management
• finding research and development knowledge gaps relating to all aspects of wild dog management
• any other matters referred by the Minister or department.

Who is on the Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee?

The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee is chaired by Mr Ron Harris, Executive Director with the former Department of Environment and Primary Industries.

Mr Harris was awarded a Public Service Medal for his work transforming the lamb industry into a vibrant and export-oriented sector, and in leading the development and delivery of innovative services for farmers and rural communities.

The committee has six additional members who have knowledge and expertise in wild dog management, wild dog research, catchment management and threatened species management. The committee members are:

• Mr Alan Brown – Landowner representative for Gippsland
• Mr Paul Carroll – Landowner representative for the North East
• Dr Ernest Healy – Environmental researcher with understanding of dingo ecology
• Mr Simon Lawlor – Landowner representative for Gippsland
• Dr Euan Martin Ritchie – Ecologist.
• Mr Michael McCormack – Landowner representative for the North East

In recognition of Victoria's role in the management of wild dogs at the national level, Mr Greg Mifsud, National Wild Dog Facilitator, has also been asked to fulfil the role of an observer in order to lend his significant experience to the Committee.

How were the members of the Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee selected?

There was a competitive expression of interest process to find members with experience in wild dog management from all regions of Victoria impacted by wild dogs, wild dog research, catchment management and threatened species management.

This process closed on 18 January 2017.

Agriculture Victoria received 21 expressions of interest from well-qualified and experienced candidates for the member positions on the Committee.

To ensure an appropriate mix of skills, members were selected in collaboration with the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.

The Minister for Agriculture announced the membership of the Committee on 14 June 2017.

How long is the term of appointment?

The term of office of the chairperson and members is three years, until June 2020.

How often will the Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee meet?

The Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee was established under the Wild Dog Management Advisory Committee Terms of Reference.

The committee will meet quarterly or as required. Meetings will be held at a location that will best support the committee and ensure the most appropriate use of public monies.

How will any conflicts 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.