Industry expert says large fees for professional kangaroo harvesters is a reason why roo population is so high

South Australia’s fees for professional kangaroo harvesters – the highest in the nation – must be dropped to combat the burgeoning roo population, according to a leading industry spokesman.

Heath Tippet, a part-time professional shooter for Macro Meats, on a property near Burra. Picture: Tait Schmaal.

South Australia’s fees for professional kangaroo harvesters are the highest in the nation and must be dropped to combat the burgeoning roo population, according to a leading industry spokesman.

Ray Borda, owner of Macro Meats and president of the Kangaroo Industry Association of Australia, said the sky-high charges were to the detriment of farmers overrun with roos.

The Advertiser yesterday reported the livestock industry wants better management of the state’s 4.4 million kangaroo population, including a potential cull as large mobs make their way south.

“About 12 years ago we had 140 professional field harvesters, 95 per cent full-time,” Mr Borda said. “Today, there are below 40 and of those only about eight are full-time.”

Macro Meats owner Ray Borda.

Mr Borda said the fall in professional harvesters, who commercially destroy about 100,000 kangaroos a year, was due to the industry becoming unviable due to fees.

“Compared to WA, which is the most like us as far as country goes, their royalty tag is 30c (an animal), while ours is $1.60,” he said.

“If you look at the licences for shooters it’s around $1200 here in SA, but $90 in WA.”

Mr Borda, whose Adelaide-based business is the world’s largest distributor of wild game meat, said he had been raising the issue for a decade at official meetings, with little support.

Macro Meats employs 250 South Australians and gets 90 per cent of its kangaroos from interstate, only to make 90 per cent of its domestic sales on the east coast.

Environment Minister David Speirs said many landholders were experiencing higher than usual roo numbers but there was “little evidence” to suggest a reduction in licence fees would result in a major increase in the uptake of permits.

“We are open to continuing discussions and new ideas to help control kangaroos,” he said.