The controversy raises a few thorny questions, Danielle Ireland-Piper writes. An unprotection order means a person can legally kill dingoes in certain areas of private and public land, by trapping, poisoning or shooting. If those figures are correct, it suggests extending the unprotection order until 2028 will devastate the dingo population in eastern Victoria. A decline in dingo populations is not just a concern for the species itself – it will have knock-on effects.
![[A photograph of a dingo on a beach at Fraser Island, Australia]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/02/04/8/14/iStock-172453846.jpeg)
Given the risks to dingo populations and the broader environment, it’s pertinent to ask if the government decision swings too far towards protecting agricultural production. These numbers suggest the government has not struck the right balance between protecting livestock and ensuring dingo populations survive. When weighing up an unprotection order, a minister must consider how it affects the rights of Traditional Owners.
![[Wild dingoes remain on Fraser Island in Queensland]](https://static.independent.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2011/03/22/21/584001.jpg)
The government said while the order would limit Aboriginal people’s rights, this was justified when taking other factors into account. Animal protection group Animals Australia has filed proceedings in the Supreme Court of Victoria, challenging the lawfulness and validity of the unprotection order. Court documents are not yet publicly available. The current case is an important test for how the law balances the needs of humans and animals – and in particular, how much harm is deemed “necessary” at law to protect commercial profit and livelihood.
Dingoes have been in Australia for up to 18,100 years. Pictured: dingoes on K’gari (Fraser Island) in Queensland. Queensland Department of Environment and ScienceUnlike dingoes, sheep in Victoria are not at risk of extinction. Danielle Ireland-Piper is Associate Professor, ANU National Security College, Australian National University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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