Thursday, 15 August 2024

Kangaroo control

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:24): (626) My question today is for the minister representing the Minister for Agriculture in the other place. Farmers are reporting exploding kangaroo numbers whilst at the same time having their authority-to-control-wildlife permits reduced to pointless levels. Professional shooters are not making up the numbers, which has led to the situation we face today. My question is: what will the government do to overhaul the authority-to-control-wildlife system to ensure that farmers are getting their permits in a timely fashion and for suitable numbers relevant to their situation, not a made-up number in the hopes that professional shooters will do the rest?

Jaclyn Symes: Mr Bourman, you directed that to the Minister for Agriculture. I think it needs to go to the Minister for Environment because the Minister for Environment has policy responsibility for those permits.

The PRESIDENT: I think Mr Bourman is happy with that. The minister representing the Minister for the Environment, Ms Tierney?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:25): I am happy to do that.

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:25): My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Environment in the other place. Farmers are reporting exploding kangaroo numbers whilst at the same time having their authority-to-control-wildlife permits reduced to pointless levels. Professional shooters are not making up the numbers, which has led to the situation we face today. What will the government do to overhaul the authority-to-control-wildlife system to ensure that farmers are getting permits in a timely fashion and for suitable numbers relevant to their situation, not a made-up number in the hopes that the professional shooters will do the rest?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:26): Thank you, Mr Bourman, for your supplementary. I will refer that matter to the Minister for Environment.