News

Environment Agriculture | August 23, 2019

Labor sabotages successful kangaroo pet food program

Kangaroos in plague proportions are continuing to cause significant damage to pasture, crops and fencing while western district farmers wait months for permits to be processed and for tags to be issued.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Emma Kealy has repeatedly called on the Andrews Labor Government to address current delays in the processing of permits and distribution of tags.

“The kangaroo pet food program has proven to be successful in controlling rising kangaroo numbers while at the same time bringing significant economic benefits to our rural and regional communities,”, Ms Kealy said.

“It is a win-win situation however I continue to receive a steady stream of complaints from professional shooters and farmers who are frustrated at what they believe is Labor deliberately sabotaging a successful model.”

Ms Kealy has also been advised by shooters and farmers that DELWP are only allocating a maximum of ten tags for pet food and 100 for shoot and drop permits to applicants.

 “As well as delays with permits, DELWP is restricting the number of permits in proportion to prior years which is a huge impediment to farmers who are dealing with kangaroos in plague numbers.

“Farmers are hopping mad that precious fodder for their livestock is being consumed by large numbers of kangaroos and fences are being destroyed.

“Yet again I am calling upon the Andrews Labor Government to support the kangaroo pet food program by providing more permits and tags in a timely manner to assist farmers and professional shooters undertake the necessary work to control our rising kangaroo population,” Ms Kealy said.