MORNINGTON Peninsula wildlife activists and residents concerned about the state’s weak wildlife protection laws used a protest at state parliament two weeks ago to highlight concerns about peninsula kangaroos.
The Animal Justice Party-organised protest in Melbourne drew attention to the mass slaughter of kangaroos under the government’s controversial harvesting program, which often results in target animals and their joeys left maimed and suffering.
Rosebud resident and wildlife protection council member Craig Thomson said the protest highlighted widespread community anger about the commercial kangaroo meat industry, and highlighted flaws and gaps in the state’s wildlife protection laws.
He said the problem of hundreds of kangaroos trapped in a private paddock at Cape Schanck was an example of the state’s weak wildlife protection laws, which were in urgent need of reform.
Thomson said the Save Our Kangaroos Cape Schanck group was working with the Cape Schanck property’s manager to release all the kangaroos – originally estimated at around 600 – but were being hamstrung by state government “red tape”.
“Some of the kangaroos have been able to escape through the one-way fences, but there are still plenty trapped,” he said.
“We, the land manager and everyone in the community wants the best outcome for the kangaroos, but the main thing holding up further progress in getting them out is the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, previously known as DELWP,” he said.
“It’s an ongoing issue, but every0ne is united in getting the state government to work with us.”
DEECA was unable to provide a comment before deadline.
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 14 March 2023