Tuesday, 26 August 2025

Northern Victoria Region

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:46): (1762) My question is for the Minister for Environment. Chronic phalaris toxicity is a neurological disease caused by ingesting the early growth stages of phalaris grass. While this has long been recognised in livestock, particularly sheep with so-called phalaris sudden death, recent research highlights its increasing prevalence in kangaroos, raising serious animal welfare concerns. In my electorate of Northern Victoria volunteer wildlife rescue groups were recently called to a distressing case in Bendigo, where more than 50 kangaroos were found suffering from phalaris grass poisoning. Chronic phalaris toxicity can be prolonged, agonising and extremely distressing to witness, with the end stages, known as phalaris staggers, causing affected kangaroos to appear to be hopping drunk. There is no cure, and the result of ingesting these toxins is death. What surveillance and management actions is the government undertaking in Northern Victoria, and will the minister commit to working with rescuers and land managers on this important issue?