Last year, over 88,000 kangaroos were killed under the commercial killing scheme endorsed by the South Australian Government. This year, they’ve increased the kill quota. This staggering number doesn’t account for the joeys of shot mothers who will be legally bludgeoned, decapitated, or left to die slowly across the state…

Finally, South Australians have the chance to speak directly to the government about how these native animals should be better protected from cruelty.

Parliament has launched an official Inquiry into Kangaroo and Wallaby Populations, and is accepting submissions until 18 April 2025.

Animals Australia has long called for greater recognition of kangaroos as sensitive, social native animals who deserve protection from cruelty and commercial exploitation. This Inquiry presents a critical opportunity for all compassionate South Australians to help shape a kinder future for these animals.

We’ve put together this simple guide below to help you make a submission, including:

• How to have your say
• Key points you might like to raise

Ensure your submission includes your name and address.

There are three ways you can make your submission before 18 April 2025:

1. Use our letter template at the top of this page, and be sure to add your name and address to the letter.
2. Write your own submission and email it to: nrc.assembly@parliament.sa.gov.au
3. Post your submission letter to:
   Parliamentary Officer NRC
   C/- Parliament House
   GPO Box 572
   Adelaide SA 5001

Please note that as per the government website, all submissions will be made publicly available unless otherwise determined by the Committee.

Writing your submission in your own words will be most powerful for kangaroos – copied and pasted submissions may be lumped together and not carry the same weight. Your submission doesn’t need to be lengthy or complex to be impactful.

You might consider covering one or more of the following points:

• Your individual thoughts, experiences, and values
  Whether you’re a wildlife carer, rescuer, someone who’s worked directly with kangaroos or wallabies, or a caring member of the community, this is a valuable opportunity to share why you want to see them properly protected.

• The ‘Codes of Practice’ allow for horrific cruelty, including the cruel killing of joeys
  Under both commercial and non-commercial Codes of Practice, when a mother kangaroo is shot, her young, dependent joey can be killed with blunt force trauma or decapitation depending on their size. Many at-foot joeys are left orphaned, and face slow, painful deaths from starvation or predation.
  
  The application of the commercial and non-commercial codes is unsuitable and does not meet the required criteria of the national EPBC Act that if an animal is killed, it is done in a way that is accepted to minimise pain and suffering.

• There is no effective monitoring of kangaroo killing
  No government oversight exists in the remote locations shooting often occurs, meaning welfare breaches – including mis-shots, joey deaths, and injured kangaroos escaping – go unreported.

• There is no such thing as sustainable slaughter of wildlife
  There is no sound population data or accurate record of how many kangaroos are killed, how many are wounded and escape, or how many joeys are killed by the kangaroo shooters each year, making claims of ethical and sustainable management impossible.

  Native wildlife are facing ongoing stressors, including habitat loss and fragmentation, climate change, and disease, and do not need the additional pressure from the continuation of commercial and non-commercial shooting.

• Kangaroos and wallabies are unique native animals who shouldn’t be categorised as “pests” or “resources”
  Current policy frames these native animals as an inconvenience to commercial farming practices, or resources for the commercial killing industry. This fails to reflect their sentience and intrinsic value, or the deep connection First Nation’s People and many Australians have with them, and further promotes their widespread killing.

  There should be an immediate termination of the commercial kangaroo industry and non-commercial killing of kangaroos and wallabies in the state, and a focus on respectful and compassionate coexistence with them instead.

• The important ecological role of kangaroos is being ignored
  Kangaroos play a vital part in healthy Australian ecosystems and help regenerate native flora. Any policies that permit their slaughter overlook this crucial environmental function.

• Most Australians care about kangaroos, as do people across the globe
  A 2023 national survey found 98% of Australians believe it’s important to protect kangaroos, and 83% view them as a national icon. Yet, the current government sanctioned mistreatment of kangaroos in South Australia does not reflect this.
  
  Allowing the cruel and unsustainable commercial killing industry is totally unacceptable in a modern, progressive society, and for as long as it’s permitted to continue it will be a national disgrace that exposes South Australia to international censure and condemnation.

Across South Australia and the nation, the commercial kangaroo killing industry relies on misconceptions about kangaroo populations to defend their mistreatment of this native species. Ultimately, kangaroos are being killed for profit (from the sale of kangaroo body parts domestically and internationally) and for ‘convenience’ by land managers (who also have a commercial interest in removing kangaroos from the land).

By making a submission today – whether it’s one paragraph or one page along with your name and address – you’re helping give kangaroos and their joeys the voice they deserve.