Page 1196 - Week 04 - Tuesday, 24 March 2009
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There are, almost certainly in the view of those that study kangaroos, more eastern grey kangaroos within the ACT today than there have been at any time probably in the last 100 years. That is relevant in the context of the nature of the issue that we face. We have a large population of eastern grey kangaroos, a very heavy concentration and a growing population.
There are impacts. There are impacts across a range of spectrums—social, environmental and economic issues—that a detailed kangaroo management plan would seek to address.
As a consequence of the increasing numbers, as a consequence of drought, as a consequence of a narrowing of the areas in which kangaroos can congregate, gather and live as a result of the expansion of the urban area of the territory, issues in relation to kangaroos are becoming more prominent. It is a sad fact that in the order of 1,000 kangaroos a year are killed or struck by motor vehicles within the ACT. We average in the order of 1,000 callouts to attend to dead or injured kangaroos—almost exclusively death or injury—caused by collisions with motor vehicles.
We did, as a relevant and an appropriate part of the development of a draft kangaroo management plan, undertake a detailed, statistically significant survey of Canberra residents. The results of that are very important and very significant in the development of the strategy. They reveal, for instance, the acuteness and the sensitivity that Canberrans have for kangaroos. It is a species that we are all, almost universally, aware of and supportive of and it is a relationship which almost all Canberrans want to continue. We live here in the bush capital in an environment that allows us to live with kangaroos as a very significant part of our community.
There was a recommendation, however, on a range of issues. Over 70 per cent of Canberrans responded to that range of issues—most particularly in relation to pressure on grassland and the damage that kangaroos can cause to vulnerable ecosystems such as lowland grassland and lowland woodland—that there will be instances when they would support a management of kangaroo numbers through culling.
The kangaroo management plan does more than explore those issues, however. It gives detailed consideration across all the different geographic regions of the ACT in relation to specific issues based on specific localities as a result of existing numbers of kangaroos. It provides a detailed assessment and analysis of other steps to be taken in management such as fertility trials and controls, the exclusion of kangaroos from particular areas and management regimes, including of course the regretful necessity or prospect of culling being used as a management option.
The report then explores the most humane method of culling of kangaroos and does conclude that, on the basis of all scientific advice, the most humane way of culling kangaroos is by their being shot which is, of course, confronting and regrettable. That is the best advice currently available. (Time expired.)
MR SPEAKER: Ms Burch, is there a supplementary question?
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