Wednesday, June 13, 2001

Any Tourists now caught feeding the dingoes on Fraser Island will be ordered to return to the mainland under tough new laws announced.  This new safety measure is in response to the recent death by dingoes of 9yr old, Clinton Gage, on the island on April 30, 2001.  It is believed some of the islands dingoes have become aggressive towards humans after being fed by tourists.

The premier, Peter Beattie, revealed the new regime, including a new education campaign and severe penalties, to stop the dingoes being fed by tourists.  Four new rangers will be hired to patrol the island and enforce the 'no feeding' policy with new powers to throw people off the island.  The penalties include removal from the island, fines up to $3000 and the loss of commercial tour permits for tour operators.  Three popular campsites will also be fenced to keep the dingoes out.

These new measures follow a month long risk assessment ordered by the Queensland Government following the mauling death.  The risk assessment ruled out dingo feeding stations and recommended the number of visitors to the world heritage listed island be reduced from the current rate of about 321,000.