Release of kangaroo kill report criticised as an ‘attempt to cover up government-sanctioned cruelty’

A secret report has revealed the number of kangaroos that will be slaughtered under a state government program that’s been slammed as “shameful”.

About 240,000 kangaroos are set to be culled under the Andrews government’s plan. Picture: Ian Currie

The Andrews government is under fire for quietly releasing its plan to slaughter nearly 240,000 kangaroos – a 30 per cent increase on last year.

A Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning document, made public during the New Year holiday but dating from November, has ­detailed how many animals could be killed and turned into pet food under the commercial kangaroo harvesting program.

The number of permits given to people to shoot roos on their property because they are deemed “pest animals” will also increase by 19 per cent this year. The overall government-approved quota has risen by 27 per cent – from 185,850 last year to 236,350 in 2023.

More Victorians will be given permits to shoot roos on their property. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The Herald Sun has been told this revamped quota was based on surveys conducted in September and October before catastrophic floods hit the state and wiped out kangaroo populations.

Activists slammed the new quota as it is ahead of the government’s predicted 21.7 per cent increase in kangaroo population.

Wildlife Victoria chief executive Lisa Palma said the new kill numbers were “appalling”. “We need to protect the survivors of this natural disaster and not kill them,” she said.

“Our wildlife do not belong to a commercial entity. They belong to our land and they belong to the public of Victoria.”

The new kangaroo kill numbers have been described as ‘appalling’.

Aboriginal elder Aunty Janet Turpie-Johnstone said: “I abhor the way ongoing invasive colonists have taken this country and her creatures and destroyed the very spirit of this land and harmed our kin the kangaroos.”

Wildlife vet Natasha Bassett, who responds to multiple kangaroo call-outs each week to treat those injured or shot, said animal welfare or food safety standards weren’t properly enforced with kangaroo harvesting.

“Vets and rescuers regularly respond to animals still living several weeks after having parts of their face blown off or other injuries that are unfortunately not immediately fatal,” she said.

It is also still common practice for shooters to kill joeys by using blunt force trauma.

Wildlife shelter operator Helen Round said: “The ­Andrews government is aiding and abetting an industry responsible for the bludgeoning to death of hundreds and thousands of joeys every year.”

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell.

Aunty Janet Turpie-Johnstone.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell said the timing of the report’s release was an “attempt to cover up the government-sanctioned cruelty that goes on under the cover of darkness”.

“In a classic ‘Take out the trash’ move, this shameful ­decision was released at a time the government hoped nobody would be paying attention,” she said.

“Plans to increase kangaroo quotas put our native icons at risk of being shot to extinction, the same icons the tourism industry relies on and proudly promotes to the world.”

Victorian Kangaroo Alliance president Alyssa Wormald added: “We were appalled but unsurprised that Victorian Labor once again released devastating news over the holidays.”

A government spokeswoman said the harvest figure was guided by modelling which recommended control of kangaroos should not exceed 10 per cent of the state population.

Originally published as Release of kangaroo kill report criticised as an ‘attempt to cover up government-sanctioned cruelty’