THE repeat dumping of scalped fox carcasses on a Harston couple’s property has exposed a failure within state biosecurity legislation, with no specific act enforcing rules and regulations around the dumping and disposal of feral animal carcasses.
Nerida and Allan Brown run cattle on their Harston property and their property in Toolamba West , with the surrounding landholders predominantly sheep grazing.
Foxes are a serious problem in the area - a problem that needs to be addressed.
However for this Harston couple the solution to the problem - Agriculture Victoria’s Fox and Wild Dog Bounty – has resulted in carcasses being illegally dumped on both their properties creating a significant biosecurity concern, with no avenue for redress.
“There are so many rules and regulations designed to safeguard farmers, their livestock and their farming endeavours, but this whole situation has left me questioning whether Agriculture Victoria (AgVic) actually enforce any of them,” said Ms Brown.
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“There is clearly not even a process for an investigation or policy on how to conduct an investigation.
“Agriculture Victoria have repeatedly asserted that they have no jurisdiction on private properties, and if this is the case, does that then make those rules and regulations redundant?
“When you ring Customer Service to report an issue with biosecurity – the dumping of fox carcasses – they don’t want to know about it.
“They are not interested, and that’s probably the most offensive thing, being repeatedly dismissed.
“You’re just handballed to another organisation.
“AgVic went on record confirming complaints in regards to the policy were minimal.
“I’m not entirely sure how confidently they can claim this fact, as the times I’ve rung to complain I get negated.
“In fact, I can’t even log or report my complaint.
“If they’re treating everybody like this, of course complaints are going to be minimal.
“It’s like an ostrich with its head in the sand.”
Ms Brown however has kept detailed records of every transaction and interaction with AgVic, and at the beginning of February – having made enough noise – her complaint has begun to be taken seriously with the issue escalated internally and action promised.
As yet, there has been no resolution to the situation, and foxes continue to get dumped on their properties.
The Browns are tired of it.
“AgVic just needs to address the issue, as opposed to quibbling over whose responsibility it is," said Ms Brown.
“They are the ones who’ve initiated the buyback.
“They are the ones who have the terms and conditions online.
“It’s AgVic’s bounty program, and they are effectively incentivising somebody to do this, paying someone who is dumping these carcasses on our property.
“There appears to be no repercussions, which gives the perpetrator the confidence to continue with this anti-social campaign.
“It’s been ten years and it’s not abating.”
Ms Brown believes that it would be easy to investigate.
“That’s if they actually stood by all these regulations and put any weight on signing all these electronic declarations and asking shooters what they are doing with the carcasses,” she said.
“If they were to take it seriously, it’s not a needle in a haystack
“A simple database search for registered bounty collectors in the vicinity might provide some results."
In 2023, Agriculture Victoria received 82,799 fox scalps and 408 wild dog body parts from 1452 participants across 21 different collection points.
At Tatura, the closest collection point to the Brown’s Harston properties, a total of 38 participants registered scalps at the facility in 2023.
However participants can register multiple times through a season at any given location, with each time counted as an application, so figures are not reflective of the number of individual shooters taking part in the scheme.
An Agriculture Victoria spokesperson confirmed that the organisation is responsible for administering the Victorian Fox and Wild Dog Bounty, with the bounty season opening this year on March 4.
The first fox scalp collection for Tatura then falls on March 12.
The spokesperson reiterated that every bounty participant is verbally asked whether they have complied with the terms and conditions of the program, and they must also sign a declaration to the affirmative.
“Where there is evidence that a participant has not met the terms and conditions of the bounty Agriculture Victoria reserves the right to reject their bounty application,” said the spokesperson.
However within state biosecurity legislation there is no provision or supporting act to enforce the safe disposal of feral animal carcasses that have been culled under different programs and initiatives.
Without that enforcement, there remains a grey area as to where responsibility lies when an issue arises.
Nerida and Allan Brown have found themselves in this grey area.
Annabelle Cleeland, state member for Euroa, said that the situation at the Brown’s properties has raised some serious concerns about how the Fox Bounty Program is operated.
“While this program is an important pest control measure, questions remain over how it is being monitored and managed,” Ms Cleeland said.
“We’ve seen potentially dangerous biosecurity implications, with water sources and livestock being in close proximity to scalped carcasses.
“Making sure this program is properly operated is essential to safeguarding these concerns.
“I’ve raised these issues with the Agriculture Minister, calling for answers about the program, including how complaints are raised, how the policies are enforced, and what happens in the case of breaches of these policies.
“Getting a straight answer for Ms Brown has always been the priority."
Ms Cleeland was pleased to hear that AgVic was finally addressing the issue.
However until the dumping of carcasses stops, Nerida and Allan Brown will continue to bring awareness to the lack of policy in regards to the safe disposal of carcasses to ensure other landowners don’t have to go through a similar experience.
“There is an extensive list of precautions that Agriculture Victoria recommends you take when handling the scalps,” said Ms Brown.
“And you must never bring the scalps in to the depots outside of bounty collection dates for fear of contamination.
“But nobody seems to be worried about us.
“It’s our problem, and we’re tasked with the disposal.
“We can’t even burn them at the moment because of fire restrictions,” Ms Brown said.
“If Agriculture Victoria is unable to ensure that carcasses are disposed of according to their own rules and regulations, then perhaps they should accept full carcasses to avoid the issue.
“Disposal then becomes their responsibility.”
