Shooting our wildlife: An analysis of the law and policy governing the killing of kangaroos

Although we kill around 3 million kangaroos annually, the current widespread commercial and non-commercial killing of kangaroos has yet to be proven necessary according to this report. Over the last decade in Australia, the Federal and State governments have approved an annual commercial kill of some four to six million kangaroos and wallabies each year. On average three million kangaroos are actually ‘harvested’/killed.2 Around three hundred thousand young at foot and 800,000 pouch young are either killed or left to die each year as collateral of the commercial industry. In addition, up to 200,000 kangaroos and wallabies are killed for non-commercial reasons each year. A further unknown number are killed without government authorisation. This is the largest land-based slaughter of wildlife in the world. This report provides an analysis of the law and policy governing the killing of kangaroos. It provides an historical outline of kangaroo killing in Australia and examines the reasons for and against the kill. The report describes and analyses the legislative and regulatory framework governing the killing of kangaroos, in order to assist policymakers understand an area which is complex and often misunderstood. The conclusion of this report is that the current widespread commercial and non-commercial killing of kangaroos has yet to be proven necessary. Governments do not provide any clear justification for the killing such as through a proper consideration of the reasons for and against control. State governments once treated kangaroos as agricultural pests yet today they are treated as a resource. These practices result in poor welfare outcomes for many kangaroos and joeys and may pose a risk to Australia’s sustainability