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Environment and Water Agriculture | July 22, 2019

Frustration at lengthy kangaroo permit delays

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has been contacted by more professional shooters frustrated at long delays in the allocation of permits and tags to landowners to control rising kangaroo numbers.

“I have been contacted by professional shooters who have been advised by local landowners that DELWP are significantly behind with the issue of tags.

“These landowners have been told by DELWP staff that there is “no point” in applying for tags as they are three months behind and tags won’t not be issued until at least September, which is when the kangaroo pet food trial ends.

“In the meantime farmers are dealing with kangaroo numbers in plague proportions, with precious fodder they have stored on farm for their livestock being consumed instead by large numbers of kangaroos.

“I have personally visited the Victoria Valley and Hamilton areas on several occasions and have seen first hand the large number of kangaroos in the area and the damage they are doing to precious pastures.

“Farmers are waiting months for permit approvals and tags and shooters have no employment security.

"While Daniel Andrews continues to hop around the issue our local landowners and professional shooters need certainty. 

“It simply isn’t good enough and Labor needs to immediately allocate the resources required to ensure permits and tags are issued in a timely manner and the plague numbers of kangaroos are controlled.”

 

Photo: Emma Kealy MP inspects fence damage caused by kangaroos with Victoria Valley local farmer Lance Baker (left) and professional shooter Jason Caldow (right).