September 8, 2016
It’s not every day that you’ll find a couple of LNP Members of Parliament – and Shadow Ministers, at that – saying nice things about dingoes …
In LNP circles – especially out west – the word “dingo” is usually followed by “baiting”, “trapping” or “shooting”.
But this week Shadow Environment Minister Dr Christian Rowan, the Member for Moggill, and Shadow Housing Minister Stephen Bennett, the Member for Burnett, paid a visit to the Durong Dingo Sanctuary to make friends with some pure-bred dingoes.
Dr Rowan, who succeeded Mr Bennett as Shadow Environment Minister, said many people perceived dingoes as just “bad”, especially graziers and sheep producers who lose stock to predation by wild dogs.
However, he recognised there were others who perceived the native animals as “good”, especially people such as Durong Dingo Sanctuary founder Simon Stretton – known widely as “Dingo Simon” – and Simon ‘s friend, Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary curator Ray Revill.
And that was the reason for the Shadow Ministers’ visit – to hear from the other side about dingos, and learn more about the evidence base that is being developed that demonstrates a positive case for dingos in the natural environment.
Simon and Ray have dreams of developing a dingo sanctuary one day on Fraser Island, ideas which the pair had an opportunity to explain in greater detail to the two Shadow Ministers.
Mr Bennett said the visit to the Durong Dingo Sanctuary was an opportunity for Dr Rowan to hear alternative views “from some strong-willed men” which he could consider when discussing policy development.
“It is a matter of striking a balance since there are other matters that have to be considered, especially in regards to primary producers and other landholders,” Dr Rowan said.
“But I have heard some innovative thinking out of the box, innovative models that recognise the positive aspects of dingoes and what they can do for the environment.”
He pointed to the unexpected positive results which had occurred in Yellowstone National Park in the United States after wolves were reintroduced into the ecosystem.
Ray and Simon may have been persuasive in their pro-dingo arguments, but the greatest advocates were probably the dingoes themselves.
“Honey”, a pure-bred Alpine dingo, had them eating out of her hands (or more accurately, vice versa …)
Related articles
