Pest animal control

Why this is important

Pest animals can severely impact biodiversity, threaten species and undermine biosecurity measures. They damage native ecosystems, compete with native species, spread disease and harm agricultural production. This production loss and the measures necessary to control these consequences cost Victorians a lot of money.

Victoria's biodiversity strategy, Biodiversity 2037, identifies controlling pest animals in priority locations as a key action to reduce biodiversity threats, and sets annual targets for land under control. 

The strategy commits the government to reporting on its implementation of the strategy and  progress towards the targets each year. However, the most recent published progress report is from 2022. This showed that while the target area for pest predators was under control, less than half the target area for pest herbivores was under control.

Pest herbivores such as deer, goats and pigs cause extensive damage to vegetation and farmland through grazing, trampling and digging. Given their impact on biodiversity and agriculture, it is important to assess whether agencies are meeting obligations to reduce these threats.

What we plan to examine

We plan to examine if responsible agencies are managing the distribution and population of pest herbivores to reduce their impacts.

Who we plan to examine

Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Parks Victoria

Further information

This engagement builds on our reports:

Protecting Victoria's Biodiversity (2021) 

Protecting the Biosecurity of Agricultural Plant Species (2024).