NSW Government Oversight of Kangaroo Industry Lacks Transparency, Monitoring and Compliance Parliamentary Inquiry finds
A New South Wales Parliamentary Inquiry into the Health and Wellbeing of Kangaroos and Other
Macropods has handed down its report today, with recommendations to the Government that include
strengthening monitoring and compliance around animal welfare and reviewing the way in which annual
harvest quotas for kangaroos are determined.
The Upper House committee included members of the government, opposition and crossbench and
held three hearings to inquire into the practices of the commercial and non-commercial kangaroo
industries in New South Wales, including the key assumptions and modelling underpinning the way in
which harvest quotas are set.
Cate Faehrmann, Greens MP and Chair of the Inquiry said, “The committee heard disturbing evidence
of animal cruelty and of landholders being harassed by shooters on neighbouring properties and we
don’t believe the government is doing enough to prevent this.
“We were convinced by doubts raised about the modelling and methodology underpinning kangaroo kill
quotas and have recommended that the Natural Resources Commission review the current methodology
for estimating macropod populations in New South Wales.
“The killing of kangaroos for non-commercial purposes was a major line of inquiry for the committee.
We found that the National Parks and Wildlife Service does not have adequate systems in place to
monitor compliance with licence conditions for the non-commercial culling of kangaroos.
“The committee was moved to hear the testimony of Aboriginal elders and educators who made clear
the deep and ongoing cultural and spiritual importance of kangaroos to First Nations peoples, and the
distressing impact that the disrespectful treatment and killing of kangaroos has on them.
“Environment Minister Matt Kean is set to sign off on a new 5-year Commercial Kangaroo Harvest
Management Plan before the end of this year. The committee is seeking a commitment from him that he
not endorse the new Harvest Management Plan until the recommendations of this inquiry have been
considered.
“As Chair of the Committee, I support this Report and its findings and recommendations and want to
thank all members for their contributions and genuine willingness to work together on the issues that
arose throughout the inquiry. This Inquiry has exposed the kangaroo industry in NSW to some much needed scrutiny and, if all of these recommendations are implemented, will lead to improvements.
“However, there were a number of stronger recommendations and findings in my Chair’s draft report
that were not supported. I was personally convinced by the evidence presented by stakeholders that the kangaroo industry is unnecessary, unsustainable and cruel and I did not find the evidence provided by the NSW Government in response to these assertions convincing,” Ms Faehrmann said.
A snapshot of the committee's key findings and recommendations is attached. Further information
about the inquiry, including submissions, transcripts of public hearings and the final report, can be found
on the committee's website.