Questions over kangaroo trial
Victorian National Party representatives have challenged the State Government to clarify its position on the future of a kangaroo pet-food trial.
The Nationals called on Labor in State Parliament to ‘come clean’ on the future of the program, set to expire at the end of March next year.
Member for Lowan Emma Kealy said landowners, fearful that Premier Daniel Andrews might stop the scheme if returned to government, were constantly contacting her.
“Farmers right across western Victoria are frustrated by increasing kangaroo numbers,” she said.
“As seasonal conditions worsen and feed becomes scarcer, people are feeling the impact of increased kangaroo numbers even more.
“If Labor supported the kangaroo pet food program they would have made it ongoing when it expired in March this year instead of just extending it past this year’s election. The kangaroo pet-food program has created jobs in regional Victorian communities and it means kangaroo carcasses no longer need to be left in a paddock to rot.
“It is shameful the Andrews government continues to ignore the problems increased kangaroo numbers are creating for farmers and motorists in regional Victoria.
“The Nationals will provide a better deal for farmers by making the kangaroo pet-food scheme permanent if we are elected in November.”
The trial started in March, 2014, extended to March this year to test its sustainability over a longer period and to expand the trial’s geographic area.
Western Victorian trial areas are in Ararat, Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack, Pyrenees, Glenelg and Southern Grampians municipalities.
The latest trial extension is designed to gain further understanding to assess whether kangaroo management activities under Authority to Control Wildlife permits and the trial are impacting on the health and sustainability of Victoria’s kangaroo populations.
It is also designed to consider whether changes to compliance, monitoring and education will address the issues.
Victoria’s first kangaroo population survey was in September 2017.
Another survey designed to track population trends will occur this year.