The funding, to be spent over a five year period, will be put towards upgrading the State Barrier Fence and increasing the number of doggers undertaking vital control work.

WA Farmers president, Mike Norton, noted that wild dogs were dangerous and destructive pests which cost the Western Australian sheep and cattle industries up to $5.75m and $2.84m respectively each year, and in some cases, made small animal farming impossible.

In making the announcement, the Minister for the Environment, Donna Faragher, noted that wild dogs also “caused considerable damage to the environment, preyed on native wildlife and destroyed habitats”.

“WA Farmers is pleased that the State Government has identified that the control of wild dogs has community benefits, such as a positive influence on the environment, and have allocated funding accordingly,” said Mr Norton.

“This is, however, in contrast to the proposed funding schemes under the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act currently being pushed by the State Government, which puts 100 per cent of the financial burden on the agricultural industry while conveniently forgetting public benefits such as those identified in this case.

“While not wanting to detract from this positive news from the State Government, this announcement does again highlight a shortcoming in the proposed biosecurity and agricultural management funding schemes; a shortcoming that must be immediately acknowledged and modified prior to their introduction to regulation,” concluded Mr Norton.