1080 bait sales controversy

At a QDOG meeting held in Charleville at the end of July, Agriculture Minister John McVeigh announced the state government was empowering landholders with a new system that would give them easier access to baits.

"As of today, licensed retailers can apply to be approved to supply 1080 to landholders with a Bait User Permit, which landholders can now apply for from Biosecurity Queensland," he said, describing it as giving more flexibility in control methods.

Accompanying the announcement was a staged implementation proposal, which will see testing and refinement of the processes in the Murweh shire before an anticipated extension to Quilpie and Blackall-Tambo shires, and then the rest of the state.

While Charleville retailer David Jones was hailing it as the conclusion of a long drawn out drama, Wyandra grazier, AgForce wild dog spokesman and QDOG member Peter Lucas feared it could make baiting more expensive and lessen participation in coordinated activities.

A consequence of the new scheme is that local government, which has in some instances been providing manufactured baits at cost price, will have to abide by National Competition Policy provisions of the Local Government Act and offer the service on a commercial basis. "It's going to be more expensive, which is a concern for me," Mr Lucas said. "We could lose participation."

He said it wasn't correct to say it was giving easier access, thanks to existing availability through local government channels.

"It was already there, and cheaper. It's not as if you can just waltz in and pick up a tub now - you still have to see a biosecurity officer and get a permit, just like you did with the council rural lands officer."

He was also concerned some people would move away from coordinated activities to doing their own thing with the baits.

"Co-ordination is the absolute key to wild dog control," he said.

However, DJ's Produce owner David Jones, the first S7 poison retailer in Queensland, said it was just another tool in the arsenal for graziers.

"I started pushing for this two years ago," he said. "It's designed for people who see a dog on a dam or similar - they can pull their bucket out and have bait on the spot straight away.

"Getting meat baited was too big a job - it was too hard and took too long."

He said the manufactured baits from his shop would cost between $1.70 and $1.80 each.

QDOG itself supports Mr Lucas' point of view, stating in its latest communique that while it supports stage one of the rollout, a trial in the Murweh shire only, it is concerned the new system may lead to a lack of baiting coordination and participation.