Kangaroo protection
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (09:48): Recently I joined volunteer kangaroo rescue groups and advocacy organisations on World Wildlife Day on the steps of the Premier’s office to demand an end to the cruel and barbaric kangaroo slaughter industry in Victoria. Just days later Puma announced it would cease the use of kangaroo leather and switch to plant-based alternatives by the end of this year, and last week Nike, the largest global supplier of athletic shoes, announced they will also stop using kangaroo leather by the end of 2023. Can I just say I am now very much looking forward to running the Nike Melbourne half marathon again this year in celebration of this announcement. But we still have so much further to go. Australia is currently home to the largest land-based massacre of wildlife in the world, the kangaroo killing industry. Governments around the world are starting to see this for the cruel and destructive practice that it is and are completely banning the import of kangaroo products. Global organisations and governments refusing to participate in the kangaroo slaughter is a timely reminder of how people and organisations can create positive change for animals, and whilst I celebrate this win for each and every kangaroo, I am hopeful that our government is paying attention to the local and international communities standing up to governments to protect our native icons.