The Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substance Further Amendment Bill 2014 was discussed in Parliament earlier this week.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Primary Industries and member for Benalla, Bill Sykes, said it would enable the manufacture of 1080 baits from a mobile plant.

Dr Sykes said it was another significant step towards the government’s delivery of effective and efficient wild dog control.

“The bill also provides for adequate safeguards, including mandating compliance with relevant codes and standards,” he said.

“The provision of baits will remain a private enterprise activity, so baits will be made available subject to commercial demand.

“This is part of a continuum of improvement in the administration and resourcing of effective wild dog control.”

Dr Sykes said when his government came into office in 2010, wild dog control was ineffective.

“The Labor Party did not know and did not care about the impact of wild dogs on fauna, livestock and livestock owners,” he said.

“Consequently there was a lot of angst out there. Anyone who has had wild dogs attack their sheep or cattle will understand the mental and emotional impact of such an attack.”

Dr Sykes said a wild dog action plan was being overseen by an implementation committee, which he chairs.

“There is now a great spirit of co-operation with the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, Parks Victoria, Catchment Management Authorities, plantation managers and landholders working together,” he said.

“There is also community involvement in working the action plans that exist for the 15 wild dog management zones.

“We have also encouraged the involvement of Australian Wool Innovation-supported best wool and best lamb action groups and conducted some 25 community meetings throughout North East and Gippsland.

“A national wild dog control plan was also recently launched by the Federal Agriculture Minister, Barnaby Joyce.”

Dr Sykes recently he at a national wild dog control workshop in Queensland.

“The reason a Victorian MP was asked to speak at this conference is because Victoria is now leading Australia in the governance of wild dog control,” he said.