Once again, monstrous bushfires are tearing across our state. Wildlife is being obliterated by the infernos and struggling to survive in the apocalyptic landscapes left behind.

As of the end of January, over 430,000 hectares are estimated to have burned this fire season. Fires are continuing to burn, and weather conditions remain extremely dangerous and volatile.

Despite this, the government has not made any moves to halt the shooting of kangaroos in Victoria. They are forging ahead with a target on the heads of 207,800 kangaroos earmarked for slaughter both through the commercial ‘Kangaroo Harvesting Program’ and the non-commercial ‘Authority to Control Wildlife’ permit system.

The government's failure to pause the killing shows the kangaroo industry's undue influence, and how the commercial imperative trumps the 'precautionary approach' the government claims to follow.

So far, the government’s response has been to do nothing, recycling what it said in the 2025 Gariwerd/Grampians fires, namely that, “it’s been unsafe to allow rescuers in to attend to injured burned animals” (despite them having the same level of fireground safety training as other support service personnel entering the areas) and, “it’s too early to make decisions about the Kangaroo Harvesting Program” (because the last time they suspended commercial shooting in 2020, they were pressured into a backflip by those working within the kangaroo industry).

These pathetic excuses will not do.

DEECA also has a Community Charter, on which it is failing on multiple fronts. The Director of DEECA’s Biodiversity division has proudly stated on her LinkedIn profile that she is, “a strong believer in the importance of bringing the voice of the community into public policy decisions.” Let’s see that commitment now put into action. Because it's what our kangaroos need and what the community expects.

DEECA has also given assurances to the Federal Environment Minister in order to obtain its recognition under the EPBC Act, however these assurances bear little resemblance to what is occurring in the field.

It is horribly ironic that as compassionate people offer desperately needed donations to support wildlife in crisis, our own government is unnecessarily contributing to the horrific wildlife death toll.

Please join us to demand that the government stops the shooting of kangaroos by emailing the Victorian Premier, and state and federal environment ministers. Add your details and click 'start writing' to edit and send the template email.

Thank you!