The NSW environment minister is being urged to consider a report which has cast doubt on the accuracy of kangaroo population estimates before he signs off on a new commercial harvesting plan.
Greens MLC Cate Faehrmann said evidence presented to the NSW parliamentary inquiry “personally convinced” her that the culling of kangaroos was “unnecessary, unsustainable and cruel”.
She says the monitoring of kangaroo populations and the enforcement of regulations are inadequate.
The inquiry cast doubt over the accuracy of population estimates, that are then used to set quotas for how many kangaroos may be killed in NSW.
Ms Faehrmann said there was insufficient oversight and scrutiny of non-commercial licences granted to landowners to shoot kangaroos on their property, which had people on neighbouring properties living in fear.
The report also recommended “extensive and genuine” consultation with Aboriginal communities regarding kangaroo management plans, noting the “spiritual importance of kangaroos”, which are considered a “sacred totem animal” by some Aboriginal people.
Deputy Chair Mark Pearson from the Animal Justice Party said the recommendations of the report tabled on Friday will lead to major reform, and that the Department of Environment is “meant to protect kangaroos, it’s not meant to be supporting an industry”.
The report found that the National Parks and Wildlife Service lacks the proper systems to monitor compliance with non-commercial licence conditions, and was unable to provide accurate data on how many kangaroos had been legally killed by licence holders.
Documentary filmmaker and Kangaroos Alive executive director Mick McIntyre said the report outlines “how we really treat kangaroos in NSW”.
“The government of NSW had to admit to this inquiry that there is no regulation, there is no monitoring at the point of kill … so there is no regulation of the commercial kangaroo industry,” Mr McIntyre said.
He added the government does not collect data on how many joeys die as a result of kangaroo culling and “we have no idea how many are being bashed to death every night”.
Mr McIntyre said the government now has no option but to suspend the hunting of kangaroos until an independent review outlined in the report is undertaken.
NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean is set to sign-off on a new five-year Commercial Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan before the end of this year.
AAP
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