UNITE in the fight against wild dogs was the take-home message from the National Wild Dog Action Plan forum in Brisbane late last week.
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Wool Producers Australia (WPA) met 50 stakeholders from across the country to discuss the plan, which will be launched by federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce in July.
"We agreed wild dogs are a shared problem in the community as a whole, and it is important there is greater unity across all the players so we can get more bang for our buck," said WPA chief executive Jane Brownbill.
"Farming families understand the issue of wild dogs, but it is making sure the whole community understand the impact of the dogs on our industries," she said.
Ms Brownbill said it was agreed more substantial communication needed to be in place across the country.
She said it was also recognised more consistent monitoring and evaluation of where wild dog problems occurred was required.
It was decided at the forum a steering committee would be created, via a nomination process, to oversee the National Wild Dog Action Plan and would be chaired by an independent producer.
Representatives from peak bodies including WPA, Sheepmeat Council of Australia, Cattle Council of Australia and Invasive Animals Co-operative Research Centre, as well as state and federal representatives would make up the steering committee.
Ms Brownbill said it was also decided at the forum a consultative committee - made up mostly of farmers and people affected by wild dogs - be implemented when the plan was enacted.
She said while July would mark the official launch of the plan, work had started on parts of the action plan.
"We are starting to look at hot spots and where there is good work going on and how we can share that message across the country and get people involved," Ms Brownbill said.
"It is about unity and a shared understanding about what everybody is doing.
"We want to complement what is already being done, not duplicate it."
Ms Brownbill said the action plan was timely as there was growing frustration from landholders.
"People are starting to feel a new approach is needed," she said.
"We need more trappers, we need more baits out there but we also need to do things a bit smarter.
"There is great work going on but people are asking 'why are we not winning?'."
