Tuesday, 15 October 2019

 Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (12:58): My constituency question is for the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change and comes from Jason, a wildlife rescuer from Torquay. In a move condemned by environmental, animal protection and wildlife groups, the government recently released their Victorian Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan and put it into immediate effect. Much of this shooting will occur in my electorate of western Victoria. This plan is a continuation of a trial for which the government’s own report found serious malpractice, including shooters suspected of providing money to landholders. It also found 1 million kangaroos had died since the trial began and that shooters were motivated by profit to kill more animals. Kangaroos that Jason has rescued after being struck by traffic or orphaned by shooters are rehabilitated by a network of carers. How will the minister ensure that animals like this are not killed?