New Information

• NEW_POSTED_BY: UHUNT APP - Jesse Farr
• NEW_POSTED_ON: May 19, 2017
• Views : 8264
• Likes : 1
• Category : Firearms News
• Description : SKINS from tens of thousands of Victorian kangaroos are being wasted while processors wait for government permission to export them, threatening the viability of a wildlife management trial farmers say is badly needed.
  One meat processor is estimated to have up to 10,000 kangaroo skins in a freezer, while another routinely destroys the skins, potentially worth $3 each, awaiting government approval to export. Lowan MP Emma Kealy said the approval process — which requires state and federal government agreement — could jeopardise jobs. “Victorian Petfood Processors now have a stockpile of kangaroo skins from the new harvest regions, which has significantly impacted on company cash flow and is putting 30 jobs at risk,” Ms Kealy said. That company, based at Hamilton and Casterton, is one of three Victorian processors involved in the state’s kangaroo pet food trial, which allows the wildlife to be processed, but not exported. While there is an overseas market for the skins to be used in football and shoe manufacture, there is no ­domestic market for the skins. “It’s like shearing a sheep and not being able to sell the wool,” VPP spokesman David Preece said. Mr Preece said his energy bill had risen 18 per cent in the past year, greatly adding to the cost of freezing the skins. At Countrywide Pet Foods at Stanhope, Michael Scales described the skins “as a wasted resource”. “I need the freezer space and I don’t hold out hope that they’ll be able to sell them,” he said. “We’re not making a huge amount of money … it makes the economics (of the trial) very marginal.” Established by the Coalition in 2014, the trial grants permits to destroy up to 25,000 kangaroos a year. It was designed so farmers in the Mitchell, Murrindindi, Mansfield, Strathbogie, Benalla, Wangaratta, Southern Grampians, Ararat, Pyrenees, Horsham, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack shires could apply for permits to have kangaroos on their farms destroyed and sold for processing. Last September, Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires were added to the trial, which was extended to March next year. At the time, Mr Preece sought approval to export the additional skins — as was granted in the initial trial — but so far the permission has not been extended. A Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning spokesman said the trial was no longer considered small. The spokesman said an application to export the skins under a Wildlife Trade Operation had been submitted to the Federal Government and it was awaiting approval. But the processors feared it could be too late. “There’s no certainty the trial will extend beyond March,” Mr Preece said. “We’re in limbo land. We haven’t heard anything and we’re worried the trial will not go ahead (beyond March).” Mr Scales said. Casterton farmer Shane Foster said his property was experiencing one of its worst years for kangaroo numbers. “At the moment, they’re just thick and the last three months the numbers have really increased,” Mr Foster said. “There could be up to 1000 kangaroos (on farm),” he said. Under the trial Mr Foster was granted permits to cull 100 kangaroos for processing. A spokesman for Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Victoria would assess the trial later this year, before deciding whether it would continue. Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke hoped “common sense would prevail”. “Surely the state and federal governments can sit down to make this work,” he said. A spokesman for the federal Environment Department said it was working with the state on a plan that would allow the commercial export of kangaroo products. The Victorian Greens oppose the trial, which leader Greg Barber referred to as a “cowboy operation”.

Overview

• SKINS from tens of thousands of Victorian kangaroos are being wasted while processors wait for government permission to export them, threatening the viability of a wildlife management trial farmers say is badly needed.One meat processor is estimated to have up to 10,000 kangaroo skins in a freezer, while another routinely destroys the skins, potentially worth $3 each, awaiting government approval to export. Lowan MP Emma Kealy said the approval process — which requires state and federal government agreement — could jeopardise jobs. “Victorian Petfood Processors now have a stockpile of kangaroo skins from the new harvest regions, which has significantly impacted on company cash flow and is putting 30 jobs at risk,” Ms Kealy said. That company, based at Hamilton and Casterton, is one of three Victorian processors involved in the state’s kangaroo pet food trial, which allows the wildlife to be processed, but not exported. While there is an overseas market for the skins to be used in football and shoe manufacture, there is no ­domestic market for the skins. “It’s like shearing a sheep and not being able to sell the wool,” VPP spokesman David Preece said. Mr Preece said his energy bill had risen 18 per cent in the past year, greatly adding to the cost of freezing the skins. At Countrywide Pet Foods at Stanhope, Michael Scales described the skins “as a wasted resource”. “I need the freezer space and I don’t hold out hope that they’ll be able to sell them,” he said. “We’re not making a huge amount of money … it makes the economics (of the trial) very marginal.” Established by the Coalition in 2014, the trial grants permits to destroy up to 25,000 kangaroos a year. It was designed so farmers in the Mitchell, Murrindindi, Mansfield, Strathbogie, Benalla, Wangaratta, Southern Grampians, Ararat, Pyrenees, Horsham, Northern Grampians and Yarriambiack shires could apply for permits to have kangaroos on their farms destroyed and sold for processing. Last September, Bendigo, Glenelg, Loddon and West Wimmera shires were added to the trial, which was extended to March next year. At the time, Mr Preece sought approval to export the additional skins — as was granted in the initial trial — but so far the permission has not been extended. A Department of Environment, Water, Land and Planning spokesman said the trial was no longer considered small. The spokesman said an application to export the skins under a Wildlife Trade Operation had been submitted to the Federal Government and it was awaiting approval. But the processors feared it could be too late. “There’s no certainty the trial will extend beyond March,” Mr Preece said. “We’re in limbo land. We haven’t heard anything and we’re worried the trial will not go ahead (beyond March).” Mr Scales said. Casterton farmer Shane Foster said his property was experiencing one of its worst years for kangaroo numbers. “At the moment, they’re just thick and the last three months the numbers have really increased,” Mr Foster said. “There could be up to 1000 kangaroos (on farm),” he said. Under the trial Mr Foster was granted permits to cull 100 kangaroos for processing. A spokesman for Environment Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said Victoria would assess the trial later this year, before deciding whether it would continue. Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke hoped “common sense would prevail”. “Surely the state and federal governments can sit down to make this work,” he said. A spokesman for the federal Environment Department said it was working with the state on a plan that would allow the commercial export of kangaroo products. The Victorian Greens oppose the trial, which leader Greg Barber referred to as a “cowboy operation”.