Leading conservationists have urged the federal government to merge state and territory plans that manage rampant kangaroo numbers into a unified national scheme.
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The proposal was put to federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and then-local government minister Mark Coulton by ANU professor George Wilson and NSW Kangaroo Management Task Force chair Geoff Wise during a meeting in Canberra in June.
In a briefing prepared for the meeting, seen by The Canberra Times, a proposed national kangaroo management plan would better integrate agricultural and environmental aspects of previous programs run by state and territories.
"A harmonised approach by federal and state governments would more effectively allow both conventional livestock production and the kangaroo industry to defend sustainable kangaroo use, both internationally and at home," the briefing said.
"Current kangaroo management is confused and fragmented across multiple jurisdictions, portfolios and agencies."
Parties at the meeting described the talks as productive and Mr Littleproud said he would take on board the recommendations put forward.
"I am always happy to hear from those who have plans to manage kangaroo populations and commercialise the resource," Mr Littleproud said.
Among the recommendations put forward to the ministers in the meeting were calls to integrate kangaroo management into agricultural production and biodiversity programs, along with a proposed trial to reduce waste and increase kangaroo value.
Currently, it's estimated that most of Australia's 40 million kangaroos are on pastoral land living alongside domestic livestock.
"Managing them as pests is expensive, non-productive and has not achieved objectives or preventing drought-induced pasture degradation and wide-scale kangaroo starvation," the briefing said.
"Grazing by overabundant kangaroos accelerates and intensifies the impacts of drought. Their management represents a financial and mental health burden for many farmers and pastoralists.
"Improved kangaroo management could bring significant benefits to rural employment and income; more sustainable primary production and landscape health; biodiversity conservation and food security."
The calls for a unified, national strategy comes just two years after a joint statement was released by wildlife scientists urging the federal government for an Australia-wide approach.
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"Reform of kangaroo management is urgently required to improve human and animal welfare, conservation and sustainability on both agricultural and conservation lands and to reduce waste," the statement said.
"A national kangaroo taskforce, with input from ecologists and stakeholders - Indigenous, animal welfare, industry and conservation - should develop a national strategy to support state and Commonwealth governments and other stakeholders in decision-making around kangaroo management."
Currently, state and territory governments have primary responsibility for kangaroo management, which includes animal welfare.
As part of those management plans, some states determined kangaroos may be harvested as part of sustainable management.
Kangaroo culls take place each year in the ACT as part of its management strategy, with a target of 1500 set for 2021 efforts.
A Department of Agriculture spokesman said the federal government became involved in kangaroo management only when kangaroo products were exported.
"Currently there are approved programs operating in NSW, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania for the sustainable harvest of a total of seven species of kangaroo and wallaby," the spokesman said.
"No adverse long-term impacts on kangaroo populations have been detected after more than 30 years of harvesting under commercial management plans. This includes over several periods of severe drought."