Northern Victoria Region
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:50): (372) My constituency question is for the Minister for Outdoor Recreation. Wildlife Victoria have reported a 55 per cent increase in gunshot wounding related to cases since the kangaroo harvest management program commenced in 2019. My constituents in Bendigo, Macedon Ranges and beyond are constantly reporting illegal shooting of kangaroos and wallabies. Many are left wounded and suffering, including on Land for Wildlife properties. Last week volunteers from Central Goldfields Wildlife Rescue attended an injured mother kangaroo after a member of the public pulled her dead joey off the road. Upon further investigation it was clear she had been shot in the side of her abdomen, so not only was she hit by a vehicle and left to suffer but she was also suffering immense pain from a bullet wound. What compliance measures does the government have in place in Northern Victoria to monitor the operation of the kangaroo management program to ensure wounded kangaroos are not left to suffer?