The findings of the recent Parliamentary inquiry on the population of kangaroos and other macropods have struck a nerve with agricultural body NSW Farmers, being deemed 'reactive politics'.  

Handed down last Friday October 15, the inquiry found that kangaroo population management programs need desperate attention, with 23 recommendations that suggest reviews to licence regulations, population counts, and the creation of national parks to preserve kangaroo populations.  

NSW Farmers president James Jackson says a too cautiou approach to kangaroo harvesting – particularly commercially – will be a missed opportunity for an industry with potential. 

“It’s actually cruel to collapse the kangaroo meat industry, it could be quite a sizeable industry if the meat was better advertised. There is simply no appetite for rural people to eliminate every single kangaroo. That is just nonsense,” Mr Jackson said.  

The recommendation to reinstate regulations for landholders that were removed in 2018 due to drought is, according to the chair of the inquiry’s committee Cate Faehrmann, intended to maintain better records of the numbers of kills that occur.  

“It seems that when landholders can host shooters on their property, there’s pretty much a free for all when it comes to kangaroos,” Ms Faehrmann said.  

Mr Jackson argued that increased regulations will be bad news for both the environment and kangaroos, with building populations placing pressure on groundcover and the health of kangaroos during droughts.  

“I think it’s a terrible indictment on society that we’d rather let them starve than kill them humanely,” Mr Jackson said.  

In response to the recommendation to increase national parks and preserves for population protection, Mr Jackson said that the idea completely missed the mark.  

“One of the statements they make is that clearing land for agriculture puts habitat at risk. That’s incorrect. Forestry is cover for kangaroos, but they graze on grasslands and emerging crops. Farmers want them managed to a level that they’re not having significant impact on their business” he said.  

Still, the two opposing side could agree that the threat reckless non-commercial shooters have on the reputation of the industry, particularly through inhumane acts of animal cruelty. 

“I think a lot of recreational shooters probably need educating to manage things like joeys,” Mr Jackson said.   

“The animal welfare issues in relation to that are too great,” Ms Faehrmann said. 

Still Mr Jackson is adamant that the inquiry was more political than productive.  

“The whole inquiry has an underlying tone that demonstrates a lack of connection with the issue,” Mr Jackson said.  

The findings and recommendations from the Parliamentary inquiry have been submitted to government, potentially informing changes to legislation around kangaroo harvesting.  

A more detailed outline of the inquiry’s purpose can be found in a previous article here.