Proposed increase in Kangaroo Exploitation leads to commercialisation of all wildlife

Wednesday, 18 July 2001 10:00

Total Environment Centre natural areas campaigner Fran Kelly said "the keenness to kill off wild kangaroos or turn them into yet another commodity, will make it easier to add other species to the list of acceptable disposable wildlife, whether they are to be exploited for skin, meat or sold as pets here and overseas".

"By painting kangaroos as one great homogenous mass of pests, then describing their slaughter as "sustainable management" we are being led to believe that this proposal is a sensible vision for the future of NSW". said Ms Kelly

"Instead it shows a severe lack of vision by setting a dangerous precedent for the exploitation of all wildlife - a proposal already on the table via proposed changes to legislation such as the National Parks and Wildlife Act.

The last time there was mass slaughter and trade in wildlife products in this country many species were driven to the brink"

"All pretences that this will be a monitored, sustainable and selective commercialisation of kangaroos is not credible because there is no way to adequately control the exploitation of a species once it has been so thoroughly endorsed for slaughter." Said Ms Kelly.

"The reality of the market economy means that its exploitation will have to increase in order to keep returning a profit to those who have invested in it. Any attempt to reduce or even ban such a venture in the future will be met with vigorous political opposition by those who have built a living around it" said Ms Kelly.

"Killing and trading in kangaroos or any other wildlife won't solve the real problems with the rural environment which includes a massive increase in clearing and destruction of native vegetation, and over use of water and pesticides for crops such as cotton. Don't let's add our precious wildlife to the list of destruction"