❓ Rick Mazza questions the Minister for Environment regarding the policy prohibiting the removal of culled kangaroo carcasses from private properties for personal use, except by licensed shooters. The Minister defends the policy as necessary for sustainable harvesting, humane practices, and maintaining international trade standards.
AnsweredQoN 568Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
KANGAROOS —
CULLING
568. Hon RICK MAZZA to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I have received advice through the Minister for Environment's
office that there is no ''drop and rot'' policy in Western
Australia in regard to the culling of kangaroos. Currently, when a landowner or
their agent legitimately culls kangaroos within the boundaries of their
property, it is unlawful for any part of the carcass to be removed from the
property for any purpose, including for personal human consumption or pet food,
unless by a licensed kangaroo shooter.
(1) Can the minister explain the genesis of this policy?
(2) Can the minister advise the common usage name of this
policy?
(3) Can the
minister provide a reasonable explanation for why the by-product of culling
cannot be utilised away from the property, except by commercial shooters?
(4) Can the
minister advise of any groups, other than commercial shooters, to whom this
policy does not apply?
(5) Is the
minister aware that the current policy provides an abundant food source for
foxes, wild dogs, feral pigs and other vermin?
(6) Would the
minister consider a ''private use'' tag system to permit, for
personal use only, the removal of a limited number of carcasses from
landholders' properties?
CULLING
568. Hon RICK MAZZA to the
minister representing the Minister for Environment:
I have received advice through the Minister for Environment's
office that there is no ''drop and rot'' policy in Western
Australia in regard to the culling of kangaroos. Currently, when a landowner or
their agent legitimately culls kangaroos within the boundaries of their
property, it is unlawful for any part of the carcass to be removed from the
property for any purpose, including for personal human consumption or pet food,
unless by a licensed kangaroo shooter.
(1) Can the minister explain the genesis of this policy?
(2) Can the minister advise the common usage name of this
policy?
(3) Can the
minister provide a reasonable explanation for why the by-product of culling
cannot be utilised away from the property, except by commercial shooters?
(4) Can the
minister advise of any groups, other than commercial shooters, to whom this
policy does not apply?
(5) Is the
minister aware that the current policy provides an abundant food source for
foxes, wild dogs, feral pigs and other vermin?
(6) Would the
minister consider a ''private use'' tag system to permit, for
personal use only, the removal of a limited number of carcasses from
landholders' properties?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
separation of kangaroos taken for damage mitigation on a property into those to
be commercially traded and those to be traded has been in place in Western
Australia for many decades. This separation is to help ensure kangaroo
populations are harvested sustainably and that they are conserved across the
landscape. Professional shooters are trained to take kangaroos humanely, and
operate under a national code of practice. Also, Australia's ability to
export kangaroo products into international markets is dependent on the state
meeting national management requirements put in place by the commonwealth
government. This includes a requirement for a kangaroo management plan.
(2) Kangaroos
may be harvested commercially or non-commercially. Non-commercial kangaroo
harvesting is harvesting restricted to individual properties.
(3) The vast
majority of kangaroos harvested under the management plan are fully utilised,
with carcasses being sold as pet meat and for human consumption, and skins
being sold for the fine leather trade. Professional shooters' licences
can be readily obtained by suitably qualified people with appropriate firearms,
including landowners who may choose not to have an outside shooter operate on
their property. Movement of by-products from non-commercial kangaroo carcasses
provides an avenue for these products to enter trade and to bypass management
plan requirements. Any detection of such illicit trade would jeopardise the
legitimate professional industry.
(4) No other
groups are able to shoot kangaroos for commercial purposes other than licensed
professional shooters.
(5) Because
the carcasses of most of the kangaroos culled are utilised either commercially
or by property owners on their own properties, it is considered that the
carcasses of kangaroos that have been shot and left to rot is not a significant
issue. The state encourages landholders to engage commercial shooters or become
commercial shooters themselves to maximise the use of harvested kangaroos.
(6) Rather
than creating a second tier of tags for use by recreational shooters, the
preferred option would be for persons who have the appropriate firearms
experience and the required category of licensed firearms to apply for
professional shooters' licences and to use standard tags.
(1) The
separation of kangaroos taken for damage mitigation on a property into those to
be commercially traded and those to be traded has been in place in Western
Australia for many decades. This separation is to help ensure kangaroo
populations are harvested sustainably and that they are conserved across the
landscape. Professional shooters are trained to take kangaroos humanely, and
operate under a national code of practice. Also, Australia's ability to
export kangaroo products into international markets is dependent on the state
meeting national management requirements put in place by the commonwealth
government. This includes a requirement for a kangaroo management plan.
(2) Kangaroos
may be harvested commercially or non-commercially. Non-commercial kangaroo
harvesting is harvesting restricted to individual properties.
(3) The vast
majority of kangaroos harvested under the management plan are fully utilised,
with carcasses being sold as pet meat and for human consumption, and skins
being sold for the fine leather trade. Professional shooters' licences
can be readily obtained by suitably qualified people with appropriate firearms,
including landowners who may choose not to have an outside shooter operate on
their property. Movement of by-products from non-commercial kangaroo carcasses
provides an avenue for these products to enter trade and to bypass management
plan requirements. Any detection of such illicit trade would jeopardise the
legitimate professional industry.
(4) No other
groups are able to shoot kangaroos for commercial purposes other than licensed
professional shooters.
(5) Because
the carcasses of most of the kangaroos culled are utilised either commercially
or by property owners on their own properties, it is considered that the
carcasses of kangaroos that have been shot and left to rot is not a significant
issue. The state encourages landholders to engage commercial shooters or become
commercial shooters themselves to maximise the use of harvested kangaroos.
(6) Rather
than creating a second tier of tags for use by recreational shooters, the
preferred option would be for persons who have the appropriate firearms
experience and the required category of licensed firearms to apply for
professional shooters' licences and to use standard tags.
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