Locals gathered at Lillydale Lake on Saturday 2 August to rally against the State Government’s rejection for the Yarra Ranges to be excluded from commercial kangaroo harvesting.
The aim of the event was to show support to the Yarra Ranges Council for its stance on wanting to be excluded from the Kangaroo Harvesting Program (KHP), as well as to urge the State Government to reconsider its decision to reject the notion.
The family friendly event hosted speakers as well as face painting and kangaroo colouring pages which was organised by the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance.
President of the Alliance, Alyssa Wormald, said the rally was a “resounding success”, with people’s spirits high and positive action taken.
“We gathered because the Minister for Environment refused the Shire of Yarra Ranges Council’s unanimous request to be exempt from commercial kangaroo shooting, despite this industry driving a massive increase in the killing of kangaroos, leaving many community members traumatised and heartbroken,” she said.
“We turned our anger into action, and were delighted with the strong show of support from the community.”
The array of speakers included Aunty Janet Turpie-Johnstone, kangaroo advocate Peter Preuss, wildlife veterinarian Dr Natasha Bassett, a statement from Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, Greens MP Aiv Puglielli and Yarra Ranges councillors Len Cox and Tim Heenan.
Ms Wormald said the speakers were “compelling” and “denounced wildlife trade, condemned Labor’s rejection of the community’s wishes, and demanded an end to commercial kangaroo shooting in the Yarra Ranges”.
The Yarra Ranges Council formally requested the State Government to exclude the area from the program following a unanimous decision on 8 April.
The State Government rejected the idea on 10 July.
Kangaroo advocate and environmentalist Peter Preuss, who has led the charge for the council to withdraw from the KHP, said it would be too late to wait until the end of the 2024-28 KHP management plan.
“By then, kangaroos will have been virtually removed from our local landscape,” Mr Preuss said.
“The words, ‘at this time’, give me hope that the Minister respects the democratic process. He should accept that the commercial killing of kangaroos is unwarranted, unacceptably cruel, unsustainable, but most importantly, it is unwanted by the majority of people living, working and visiting the Yarra Ranges.”
The Kangaroo Harvesting Program is a State Government initiative that enables commercial kangaroo harvesting in areas around Victoria to cull Eastern Grey Kangaroos, reducing their population by up to 10 per cent.
Mr Preuss said he has produced a survey to understand community sentiment that he hopes will contribute to the evidence collected by the council and advocates to support the end of the KHP.
“The council has committed to continue advocating for an end to commercial killing of kangaroos,” he said.
“Council will continue receiving evidence of how the commercial killing of kangaroos is impacting both kangaroos and people. They will also continue receiving evidence of community support for the motion.”
The Victorian Kangaroo Alliance was created out of the Save the Kinley Kangas campaign and after 250 kangaroos were killed as part of the Kangaroo Harvesting Program in Chirnside Park.
Currently, all of metropolitan Melbourne, Nillumbik, French Island and parts of the Mornington Peninsula have been excluded from the Kangaroo Harvest Program, with the Yarra Ranges still wanting to be added to that list.
Mr Preuss said considering that not all councillors were in favour of the motion at the beginning, and much debate ensued, it gives him hope that the State will also act “democratically” and listen to the people.
Pleased with the rally, Ms Wormald said the Alliance and its supporters would continue to advocate for the protection of kangaroos.
“We all departed the event united in our determination to safeguard kangaroos and hold those responsible for this horrendous wildlife trade accountable,” she said.
“We call on the community to continue speaking out, and demanding that the Premier and Minister for Environment get commercial kangaroo shooters out of our Shire, and out of our state.”
