Liberals promise to independently review 'abhorrent' kangaroo culling labelled a 'political stunt' by Greens

CONTENT WARNING: This article contains content some readers might find distressing.

“Abhorrent” and “inhumane”: that’s how the Canberra Liberals have described the ACT’s kangaroo management program, with a promise to stop culling practices until it has held a full and independent review into the program.

The election promise has been slammed as a “political stunt” by the ACT Greens, with the Environment Minister stating the promise was “redundant” given a statutory review is already underway.

Canberra Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee said the statutory review wasn’t independent enough.

“Statutory reviews do not give the opportunity to various stakeholders, experts and members of the community to have a say in a public forum about what their concerns are. There is a lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to a review of that kind,” Ms Lee said.

“What we’re calling for, and what we are committed to doing in government, is a genuine, independent review that will be public.”

The Canberra Liberals have long raised concerns about the program, particularly around how joeys are disposed of during culling.

Previous questions revealed mis-mothered joeys are killed with “blunt force trauma”, while the national code of practice for the humane shooting of kangaroos and wallabies for non-commercial purposes also outlines they can be decapitated.

Shadow Environment Minister Nicole Lawder said it hadn’t been made clear enough to Canberrans that this was how joeys were culled.

“When the government asks about views on the kangaroo management plan, they don’t make it clear that joeys are clubbed to death,” she said.

She said while the over-population of kangaroos was an issue, a review was needed to ensure best practice and the most up-to-date research was being considered.

Ms Lawder pointed out it used to be “accepted practice” for animals such as bettongs and bush-stone curlews to be killed, and they were now endangered.

“Is that what’s going to happen in the future with kangaroos? I would hate to see that day come,” she said.

It’s a stance welcomed by advocacy group Save Canberra’s Kangaroos (SCK), which has previously accused the government of misleading the public about kangaroo culling.

SCK’s Kel Watt said the current government review process was a “tick and flick” exercise.

“The Canberra Liberals will look at the need as to whether it should go on rather than checking if the process is fine,” he said.

He accused Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti of using “political weasel-words” when it came to the issue, as she avoided explaining exactly how joeys were killed.

“They are actually clubbed to death or decapitated while still alive. It’s needlessly cruel and it should end,” Mr Watt said.

“The minister will not take ownership of this. She will not say what actually happens.”

Mr Watt stated Canberrans, concerned about the environment, had a “clear choice” in the lead-up to the next election: “They can vote for the cruelty to continue, or the cruelty to end.”

When questioned if the Canberra Liberals would stop kangaroo culling if their review found it was necessary, Ms Lee said she didn’t want to pre-empt any outcomes.

“[But] that is the entire purpose of having an independent review, to ensure that a decision made by a Canberra Liberals government is going to be based on the most up-to-date scientific data and research that’s available,” she said.

“To ensure that we protect our biodiversity while at the same time not undertaking unnecessarily inhumane kangaroo culls.”

Ms Vassarotti hit back, accusing the Canberra Liberals of creating confusion around the management program.

“I’m really surprised the Canberra Liberals are prepared to undermine the credibility of really credible, independent scientists and researchers in this community,” she said.

“It really is muddying the waters in terms of what the general program is about, creating some misinformation or simply not understanding how the program works right now.”

Ms Vassarotti insisted the government was committed to evidence-based policy and was happy to consider alternative methods to manage the kangaroo population if that was recommended.

The 2017 Eastern Grey Kangaroo: Controlled Native Species Management Plan is being reviewed by the ANU’s Professor Sarah Legge, with her final report expected in early 2024. A new Controlled Native Species Management Plan will be drafted based on her recommendations, which will be made public, along with community consultation.

Ms Vassarotti said the Canberra Liberals’ announcement wasn’t about looking at evidence and responding to an “important” issue, but was focussed on the forthcoming election.

“It is a political stunt that is really focused on muddying the waters and undermining community confidence around a program which is challenging, but there has been a whole lot of research and evidence,” she said.

“Kangaroo management is the difference between a healthy environment and the destruction of our native ecosystems.”