Hunger the cause of dingo death

A starving dingo, probably smelling food, waits at a Fraser Island garbage skip.

Contributed

FRASER Island dingoes are dying a cruel death from starvation as a direct result of State Government policy and Sustainability Minister Kate Jones is in a state of denial, according to Shadow Minister Glen Elmes.

Mr Elmes was responding to claims by Ms Jones in The Gympie Times this week that there was no evidence of a link between her Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy and the starvation of dingoes and danger to the public.

“While Kate Jones rolls out more denials, dingoes continue to suffer, starve and die as a result of the flawed Fraser Island Dingo Management Strategy,” he said.

Mr Elmes described as absurd Ms Jones’ statement to this newspaper that “since I have been minister there have been no reported deaths of dingoes due to starvation. No one has sent me a photo of a dingo that has died of starvation since I have been minister”.

“The minister needs to step out of her bureaucrat-filtered George Street bubble and take a look at the real impact her policies are having,” Mr Elmes said.

“It is not hard to see first-hand the woeful condition of the island’s dingoes that many residents and visitors to Fraser Island are confronted with every day,” he said.

“Photographs were published in December showing malnourished dingoes scavenging for food.

“Many examples have been given to me highlighting the poor condition of these animals.

“For the minister to claim it isn’t happening just because no-one has sent her a photo demonstrates just how detached from the real world she has become.

“I challenge the minister to visit Fraser Island – unannounced, un-stage managed and not looking for a media opportunity. Visit local residents, not government bureaucrats and get a real view of the impact this strategy is having.

“The photographic evidence exists; the veterinary reports exist,” Mr Elmes said.

“The minister needs to wake up to reality and take a good look at what is really happening,” he said.

“Ignoring this problem will not make it go away but it will mean the end of the iconic Fraser Island dingo.”