The role of inspections in the commercial kangaroo industry

Main Article Content

Keely Boom
Dror Ben-Ami
Louise Boronyak
Sophie Riley

Abstract

This article provides an assessment of the enforcement of the law governing commercial kangaroo killing, focusing particularly upon inspectorial practices. Australia’s kangaroo industry is the largest commercial kill of land-based wildlife in the world. Professional shooters hunt kangaroos in rural and remote locations at night. Due to the remote and decentralised nature of the killing, the industry presents unique challenges to law enforcement agencies that are responsible for the enforcement of animal welfare standards. This article focuses upon the role that inspections have in detecting offences within the commercial kangaroo industry. It provides a comparative analysis across the states, highlighting key differences in terms of inspectorial practices and the resulting outcomes. A common theme across all of the jurisdictions is that none of the agencies responsible for enforcement regularly conduct inspections of shooters, making it impossible to ensure that these parties are complying with the National Code of Practice for the Humane Shooting of Kangaroos and Wallabies. Recommendations for reform are offered, including stronger compliance policy, higher rates of inspection, increased resourcing and the introduction of alternative methods of inspection.

Article Details

Section
Articles (PEER REVIEWED)
Author Biographies

Keely Boom, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney

Research Fellow

THINKK, the think tank for kangaroos

Dror Ben-Ami, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney

Research Associate

THINKK, the think tank for kangaroos

Louise Boronyak, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology, Sydney

Project Coordinator

Institute for Sustainable Futures