‘Death of a family member': government sued over dingo killing
Animals Australia is suing the Victorian government over its 2024 decision to 'unprotect' dingoes in the north-east of the state, alleging the decision is in breach of Victoria's Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, which seeks to protect Aboriginal people's 'distinct cultural rights'.
Dingoes are a threatened species in Victoria and, as such, the government is required to make orders removing their protected status to allow landholders to kill the animals.
Under the charter, it is unlawful for public authorities to act in a way that is incompatible with a human right, or fail to properly consider relevant human rights when making a decision.
Last March, the Victorian government ended an 'unprotection order' in place for Big Desert dingoes, which had allowed them to be killed on public land. Departmental advice provided to Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos in September, and released under freedom of information laws, shows there could be just 16 adults of breeding age left in the district.
But Dimopouolos and Agriculture Minister Ros Spence kept an unprotection order in place for dingoes in the east and north-east of the state, despite Traditional Owner groups stressing the animals hold cultural and spiritual significance to First Nations peoples.
The Environment Department says about 1000 sheep are killed or maimed by dingoes each year in Victoria's east.
Wadawurrung woman Kelly Ann Blake – who has a pet dingo, Jack – joined the Animals Australia legal challenge to the unprotection order as a co-litigant.
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