The question of kangaroo culling raises issues about governance in the ACT as much as whether or how kangaroos should be treated. Opinion is divided. Rural lessees want greater freedom to shoot kangaroos. Animal liberationists want no killing; just contraception and reflectors to divert kangaroos from roads; and conservationists seek a place for all species and a long-term solution to balance their numbers which may or may not include some culling. They also want reflectors.
The Government cannot please all. Initially avoided the wrath of any group by setting up an advisory committee. It was fortunate to have one of Australia’s leading marsupial experts, Professor John Rodger, to chair it.
But instead of waiting for the advice the Minister, Gary Humphries seized upon one element in an interim issues report … that some kangaroos be culled at Tidbinbilla because some are diseased and malnourished and took it out of context and added that some rural lessees would be allowed to shoot some kangaroos in March. It seemed as if that was his preferred solution, committee or not. So why did he waste the community’s and committee’s money and time.
It makes the committee and community consultation process a sham and will discourage other experts from bothering … to the detriment of ACT governance. The discourtesy to Professor Rodger and his committee can only be remedied by an assurance that nothing will be done … except emergency measures … until it reports in December.