Thursday, 19 March 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:16): (1280) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Environment. Last week in Newbury, near Trentham, residents watched on in horror as a beloved local mob of kangaroos were gunned down, strung up on hooks and driven through town on a bloody ute. These native animals were slaughtered in the middle of the town, right near homes and adjoining the local pony club. This act was believed to have been done by a commercial shooter. However, there is no way to truly know because it is not a requirement to notify neighbours or nearby residents before a shoot occurs. When regional Victorians are concerned at the sound of gunshots or suspect illegal shooting activity, they are informed to call the Game Management Authority hotline. The slight problem with this is that the compliance hotline only operates during business hours on weekdays. Given kangaroo shooting occurs at night-time, is the government deliberately making it impossible for Victorians to report cruelty to wildlife?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:17): I thank Ms Purcell for her ongoing advocacy. This matter will be referred to the Minister for Environment, but also I would encourage constituents to contact police in cases such as the one that has been outlined.

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:18): Thank you, Minister. It is a wonderful segue to my supplementary. In the past when I have inquired about the Game Management Authority’s inability to monitor night-time kangaroo shooting compliance with a business-hours-only hotline, the advice I have been given is that regional residents should in fact, as the minister said, call the police if they have safety concerns or believe shooting may be illegally undertaken. I hear constantly from constituents and other regional Victorians that when they do this the police have no understanding of the rules, regulations or permit systems that distinguish between whether kangaroo shooting is legal or illegal. Again they are referred back to the Game Management Authority hotline, which they cannot call until 9 am, and by then all evidence of the slaughter and the perpetrators have moved on. Are Victoria Police officers given any training to monitor wildlife shooting activity when government services are only running during business hours, and if not, then why not?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:19): I thank Ms Purcell for her supplementary. That will be referred to the Minister for Environment.