Misreporting on Dingoes / “Wild Dogs”
- Sheep Advocate Australia
- Nov 28, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Mar 6
The Weekly Times,
SAA is writing to you regarding our ongoing concerns about the rhetoric coming out of The Weekly Times around so-called “wild dog” attacks. The latest example is the article published on 26 November by David Johnson titled “Tighter Rules on Wild Dog Control.”
As you would know, dingo protection differs significantly between eastern and western Victoria. Yet The Weekly Times continues to push narratives that ignore this and, worse, directly undermine conservation in the northwest region where dingoes are critically endangered.
For clarity:
Dingo protection applies only in the north-northwestern part of Victoria.
In the eastern part of the state, lethal control—including trapping—is still permitted on private land and within public buffer zones.
TWT recent coverage continues to conflate these regions, giving readers a completely misleading picture.
Where is the proof? Claims without evidence
In the 26 November article, a farmer claims to have shot 30 wild dogs, with another supposed 30 on trail cameras across two properties. If these claims are legitimate, where is the evidence?
Where are the images of the 30 dead dogs?
Where is the camera footage?
Why does The Weekly Times never publish this supposed proof?
Instead, the only photos ever shown are of dead sheep — which tells us nothing about cause of death, and everything about the TWT's willingness to run unverified claims.
This isn’t journalism. It's an amplification of industry fear-narratives.
Ongoing persecution in the west — despite no dingoes present
We recently submitted a report on The Big Desert region — the one area where dingoes remain protected. It was prepared specifically to counter the misinformation being circulated by farmers and reproduced uncritically by The Weekly Times.
A few key points from our fieldwork:
Dingoes in the North Western region are now estimated at fewer than 40 animals, according to the Arthur Rylah Institute.
The Weekly Times continues to imply “large numbers” killing sheep — a claim that is factually impossible.
Across the nth western districts and the Big Desert Wilderness Park region, foxes are abundant — which is clear ecological evidence that dingoes are absent, because dingoes displace and kill foxes.
We have documented the sheep industry for a decade. In that time we have seen countless foxes on cameras and in paddocks — but never a single dingo or wild dog.
Yet The Weekly Times continues to run a narrative of widespread dingo predation, with zero proof.
Examples of misleading sources used in T.W.T. articles
The 26 November article quotes individuals whose claims fall apart with even minimal scrutiny. (article link below)
Mr Taylor is quoted saying fencing and guardian animals “aren’t the saviors”, because guardian animals are supposedly “killing calves. "What does that even mean? How does that statement justify exterminating dingoes?
The government has allocated over half a million dollars for improved fencing and guardian animals — and farmers are actively encouraged to apply. The article ignores this entirely.
Brendan Mahoney (Merrijig/Alpine region - link below) is repeatedly presented as a victim of “wild dogs,” yet his own social media shows:
long lines of foxes hung on fences
a domestic black dog shot and hung up
zero evidence of dingoes
Again, The Weekly Times publishes his claims without question.
Neglect, not predation
In the nth western region, producers have supplied photos of dead lambs on tarps claiming “dingo kills.”Yet:
fencing is appalling
no guardian animals are used
livestock are left unmonitored
foxes are everywhere
The far more plausible explanation — and one we have documented — is neglect, with predators scavenging the carcasses after death.
Our Big Desert Wilderness Park report outlines in detail the systemic husbandry and fencing failures across the entire southern boundary of the park.
(Report summary in another post)
Why is The Weekly Times running unverified anti-dingo propaganda?
SAA is calling this out plainly: David Johnson’s articles are presenting unverified claims, no evidence, and contradictions to government and scientific data.
This is not independent journalism. It is campaigning — and it is having direct consequences for an endangered native species.
It is extremely disappointing to see The Weekly Times continuing to publish these narratives without:
verifying claims
requesting photographic evidence
contacting conservation experts
acknowledging the government’s dingo-protection framework
or referencing scientific population data
The contrast between government data (dingoes nearing extinction in the nth west) and TWT's reporting (dingoes everywhere killing sheep) is stark.
Closing
We've attached our Big Desert Wilderness Park report which the Minister and the Ag Department received. The report directly contradicts the narrative your publication continues to push. I doubt you’ll run with it, given its implications, but it is important that you have the facts — especially when TWT's reporting is being used to justify the persecution of a near-extinct apex predator.
Regards,
Sheep Advocate Australia
Comments