Thursday, 13 August 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:03): (1414) My question is for the new Minister for Environment. On Tuesday Anthony Albanese shook hands with the president of Vietnam to announce the recommencement of a kangaroo meat deal. This is despite growing international opposition to the commercial killing of kangaroos. California has banned the import and sale of kangaroo products, alongside Russia and China. Belgium has moved to do the same, with more of the European Union expected to follow, and legislation has been introduced in the United States to ban kangaroo products nationally. The collapse of this industry has come from international horror that our government allows the shooting of our national icon and the bludgeoning of their joeys, as per the code of practice. While the federal government oversees the national framework for the killing of kangaroos and trade deals, the states run the day-to-day program. Can the minister confirm whether the kangaroos slaughtered here in Victoria will be exported to Vietnam?

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:04): Thank you, Ms Purcell, for your question. Whilst I am not familiar with the issue you have asked about, my initial reaction to that would be, yes, you have acknowledged that it is a federal matter and then gone on to say there is some state management of that issue. I will double-check, but I would consider that it would be a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and the minister for trade, not the Minister for Environment. But given that I am not familiar with the issue, I am more than happy to have a look and see if there is any information that would be of use to your question.

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:05): Thank you, Minister. Of course there is a crossover of portfolios when it comes to the kangaroo harvest program, so any clarity would be great. We get them passed around constantly. Kangaroo shooters themselves admit that there is vanishing international market demand, major corporate boycotts and a collapsing workforce, resulting in many of them leaving the commercial industry. This federal government announcement comes despite constant opposition to commercial kangaroo killing, including in my own electorate. The Yarra Ranges council have unanimously called for their removal from the kangaroo harvest management plan, especially as they are the only metropolitan municipality remaining in the program. Will the minister commit to removing Yarra Ranges from the plan, or will the government continue to prioritise the commercial program ahead of the wishes of the local community and the council that represents them?

The PRESIDENT: Given the minister’s substantive answer, I am sure she can respond, but she will answer as she sees fit.

Georgie Purcell: On a point of order, President, could I just give some clarity on this. When I asked the ag minister about this, I got passed to environment. In fact I have many questions on notice doing exactly this. I am happy for it to be referred on; it is just that they pass them back and forth constantly. That is why I have asked the Minister for Environment, because they both oversee the program.

The PRESIDENT: I am not sure that is a point of order.

 Jaclyn SYMES (Northern Victoria – Minister for Energy and Resources, Minister for Environment, Minister for Climate Action, Minister for the State Electricity Commission) (12:06): Ms Purcell, when I was agriculture minister, kangaroo harvesting was all under the agriculture portfolio. As I have committed to you, I will check. My invitation has always stood in this place that if you have any confusion about which minister you would like to direct a question to, if you want to speak to me before you ask the question, then I can provide that clarity in advance. As I have agreed to have a look at the information in your first question through the environment portfolio, for your supplementary I will do the same.