Victorian farmer invoices state government $40,000 for livestock lost to wild dogs

A north-west Victorian farmer driven to his wit's end by wild dogs killing his sheep has invoiced the state government for the losses.

The bill for almost $40,000 details the loss of 16 sheep and 145 lambs, as well as the cost of night patrols to protect his flock.

Scott Keller, who farms at Rainbow, on the eastern edge of the Big Desert, says he does not expect the government to pay the invoice, but hopes it will highlight the issue ahead of the November election.

"Something's got to change," he said.

"The invoice has gained a bit of traction and some of the ministers have brought it up in parliament, so it's making a bit of noise."

Since March 2024, the lethal control of wild dogs or dingoes in the north-west has been outlawed in order to protect the dingo population.

Mr Keller said predation of his livestock was not a major issue before then because government trappers disposed of problem animals.

"But now [the wild dogs are] getting far more game," he said.

"They're walking probably 8 kilometres from the scrub to find our stock and have a feed on them.

"We've shifted the stock right up to the back of the farmhouse, and they're still getting attacked there."

Mr Keller said he was concerned about attacks on his working dogs and family pets.

The state opposition has promised to restore the "unprotection order" that allowed lethal control if it wins government in November.

Shadow Agriculture Minister Emma Kealy said farmers were "at breaking point".

"We had a policy that worked and it didn't make sense at all to remove those protections for stock and farmers," she said.

"Now there are no controls in place and they are running rampant and killing stock in the most cruel way possible.

"It's sheer neglect and lack of understanding of what happens on farms in regional Victoria."

A government spokesperson said compensation was not offered for livestock predation.

"The Victorian Government recognises that Victorian farmers' experience of livestock predation can be distressing and costly, and remains committed to working with farmers, landholders and Traditional Owners to appropriately balance the protection of livestock while maintaining dingo conservation," they said in a statement.

"DEECA, including through Agriculture Victoria and the Vertebrate Species Management Program, is committed to working with farmers impacted by predation in the north west of Victoria."