This film is Samantha's story about her life as a single woman in Dunkeld, her business and the scenes of extreme animal cruelty that surrounded her beautiful property nearby a tourist hotspot, the Gariwerd National Park. Samantha has now sold her house and was never able to run her tourism business because of the intense shooting on the boundary of her property, just 100 metres from where she lived.

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Australia’s state of Victoria is now divided into shooting zones. In the Lower Wimmera shooting zone, where Dunkeld is located, the local government areas in this shooting zone are currently:

• Ararat
• Central Goldfields
• Gannawarra
• Glenelg
• Loddon
• Northern Grampians
• Pyrenees
• Southern Grampians

Dunkeld is in the Shire of the Southern Grampians. In the period prior to September 2016, the Southern Grampians region (not shire?) was in the Grampians shooting zone, and from September 2016 this region was switched to the Barwon South West shooting zone, along with Glenelg, at that time, a new addition to the local government areas being shot commercially. Confused? Join the queue.

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Because the government documents I have had access to are not consistent in structure and content, the reporting looks like a bit of a mess, we need to make some assumptions here, particularly as shooting zone structures have also been changed – so in the period (obtained under FOI) 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2019, this is the 34 month period during which the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial was operating (commenced 2014), taking us to the point in time when the full commercial industry was introduced into Victoria. The full commercial industry was fully operative in Victoria by 21 October 2019.

To make comparisons in relation to the number of Kangaroos being targeted I have applied the current shooting zone structure to the historical data obtained under FOI. The permits and numbers below are for the period 1 January 2017 to 31 October 2019 (number of permits in bold followed by the number of Kangaroos covered by these permits):

Reconstructed Lower Wimmera shooting zone - January 2017 to 31 October 2019

• Ararat - 64 / 3488
• Central Goldfields - 97 / 3,605
• Gannawarra - 12 / 535
• Glenelg -  143 / 7,216
• Loddon - 111 / 5,190
• Northern Grampians - 102 / 5,922
• Pyrenees - 177 / 9609
• Southern Grampians – 105 / 6,540

TOTAL: in the period January 2017 to 31 October 2019
(under KPFT / ATCW permits) – 811 / 42,105

So a total of 42,105 Kangaroos were targeted for killing, in what is now the Lower Wimmera shooting zone, in the period January 2017 to 31 October 2019, for the period from when the full industry commenced on 21 October 2019 to late 2020, an additional 21,615 Kangaroos were targeted in the region by use of commercial permits.

“Of the total state wide quota (14,090) for the period of October to December 2019, 84.9% (11,970) has been allocated to 58 harvesters, of which 65.5% (7,835) has been consumed.” Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions FOI release version (Kangaroo Harvest Program status as at 31 December2019)

The quota for the Lower Wimmera for the period October to December 2019 was significantly higher than in any other shooting zone in the state. It continues thus and explains the significant killing activity in Dunkeld and surrounds.

“As the most catastrophic fires known in Australia began to burn, as three billion wild Australian animals (five million of which were Kangaroo species) were about to die in the fires, and as the world donated tens of millions of dollars to the rescue and rehabilitation of Australia wildlife, the slaughter of Kangaroos in Victoria really took off”. Peter Hylands

“To the southern edge of Gariwerd National Park we have a grotesque confluence of extreme cruelties, the exclusion and entrapment fencing and mass shooting of wildlife (why both?), literally at national park’s edge.There is intensive 1080 poisoning, the signs warn of danger, the lopped off heads, hands and feet of Kangaroos, the smashed bodies of young animals lie among the viscera on the bloodied earth. Those who care and live in this place, search in their distress in the discarded viscera for the heads of the animals they love and know so well, to see which of them had died that night” Peter Hylands December 2020

There was a very substantial increase in the number of Kangaroos being killed when the KPFT was introduced in 2014.

“This program is informed and delivered in accordance with the State's approved Kangaroo Harvest Management Plan, ensuring that it aligns with Commonwealth requirements and meets national standards for the harvesting of Kangaroos and applies minimum competencies for harvesters”. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions FOI release version

The repugnantly named Kangaroo Harvesting Program (KHP) began in Victoria on 1 October 2019 following the Kangaroo Pet Food Trial (KPFT) which commenced in 2014. If the periods 2009-2013 and 2014-2018 are compared, the rate of killing roughly tripled from 259,288 to 747,659 animals when those periods are compared.

A fact about which there can be no doubt, is that the level of Kangaroo killing in the Lower Wimmera shooting zone is completely unsustainable despite the pretence otherwise. We need to remember that just because a certain number of permits have been issued for Kangaroos, often covering very large numbers of animals, this does not mean that this is the number that is killed. This is because populations of Kangaroos are exaggerated.

Given the mass killing in Victoria, only two things can happen in the future, a drastic reduction in quotas leading to attempts at prey switching (adding new species to the commercial trade in wildlife list) or only a small percentage of quotas being met. The unthinkable third option, and it is being worked on, is to get into state and national parks in Victoria and kill those animals that seek safety in these places amid nonsensical claims they are damaging the environment.

What is particularly curious is that the Victorian Government department responsible for business development in the state, the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, is promoting and enabling the conduct described here at the great cost to those businesses that are most likely to provide a strong economic future to the region. As in so many parts of Victoria, Ramsar sites are an example, where mass shooting and extreme cruelty to Australian wildlife occurs as either a sport or some form of commercial activity, these places become no-go-zones for most of us who would otherwise spend money in these places. So the natural assets of a region are not only being destroyed, these places and regions are also being excluded from contemporary forms of economic development by the government’s preferred and outdated culture of killing. What is also extraordinary is that these killing activities employ so few people, as the cost to many more, is likely to be substantial.

And what goes on is extremely dangerous.

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The initially secret DELWP report Kangaroo Pet Food Trial Evaluation stated that:

“However there has been a disproportionate increase in the number of Kangaroos approved for control in trial areas, compared to non-trial areas since the commencement of the trial. Over the period of the trial the average number of Kangaroos approved for control in trial areas was nearly 250 per cent higher than the long-term average. The deviation from the long-term average is much larger in trial areas than in non-trial areas. This is primarily due to KPFT authorisations being issued, on average for larger numbers of Kangaroos than type 1 ATCWs”.

The DELWP report goes on to state:

“There had been major offences against the wildlife act including the misallocation of Kangaroos against KPFT authorisations; overshooting the authorised number of Kangaroos; shooters possibly providing incentives, including money, to ‘landholders’ for access to Kangaroos and landholders claiming false and misleading information on applications (i.e. Claiming damage or higher numbers of Kangaroos).”

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So what does it look like from Dunkeld?

In the lands surrounding Gariwerd National Park to the south, the following has occurred; most Kangaroos on land not directly associated with farming or where farming activities no longer occur, have no or few Kangaroos as they have been shot, large areas including the Victoria Valley and on large agricultural holdings where land holders have allowed shooting have no or few Kangaroos (including those vast areas with exclusion and entrapment fencing); the land holdings, some large, where shooting has not been allowed still retain healthy Kangaroo mobs, as do some small land holdings.

These animals that remain are vulnerable and likely to be killed as soon as they leave these safety zones. So the story is one of rapid depletion of the Eastern Grey Kangaroo population at the southern end of Gariwerd. This has become an extremely stressful situation for many of the residents opposed to the shooting of Kangaroos and the extreme levels of cruelty witnessed by them.

Property owners with small holdings are particularly vulnerable to the impact of the killing, both personally and to their tourism sector / knowledge economy businesses. Tourism, cruelty and killing do not mix.

One other matter of extreme concern (and it also relates to matters of extreme cruelty, particularly as it concerns joeys, is the high probability of the involvement of children in the killing of Kangaroos, that is aged 12 years and above (we regard this activity, which it appears is condoned by the government, as abuse of the child). This matter needs to be investigated.

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Given the very high level of redactions in the government documents, from what remains I have tried to create a thread that describes the cultures in government departments and their attitudes to people who complain about what is happening around them. Some people are too frightened to speak up because of the consequences that would bring. 

“As these residents try to stop the killing, the Kafkaesque dance of these public servants, passing on the distressed from government employee to government employee, from the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, to the Police, to the GMA, to Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Parks Victoria and to Agriculture Victoria”. Peter Hylands 9 December 2020

The following appears in a Victorian Government document (Kangaroo Harvest Program status as at 31 December 2019) – clearly produced for large scale circulation:

“There was some media regarding an alleged incident in Dunkeld where Kangaroos were allegedly shot and left on private property. Enquiries regarding the alleged incident were made, however, no offence was substantiated. Information provided by the public was found to be misleading”. Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions FOI release version

The RSPCA refers a complaint regarding Kangaroo cruelty to the Victorian Government in late November 2019 and the Australian media responds to the cruelty.

Correspondence under FOI (although heavily redacted) reveals a pattern of communication between departments that attempts to manage complainants (and deny them and disparage them widely) and the media when instances of abuse are reported. 

“DJPR has contacted us seeking assistance on the below enquiry. Apparently, a member of the public tried contacting us to report the shooting of 40 roos, and has not received a response. Do we have any record of a report?” 12 December 2019 DEDJTR

On responding to a proposed press release from the Victorian Government, its executives discuss the messaging:

"I have not been following this closely. Are we aware if the animal remains were from a cull or is this still an allegation to be proven? This reads like an apology". 13 December 2019 DEDJTR

“While I understand the media responses can require ridiculously short timelines grateful if we could in the future over do rather than under do consultation with departments and agencies”. 16 December 2019 DEDJTR

“While the GMA is not conducting an investigation, we are comfortable with that line - Authorised Officers are currently undertaking enquiries into this matter - Would be good to check in with DELWP, to ensure cross government alignment". 17 December 2019 DEDJTR

“GMA is not conducting an investigation into this. If there are any matters that need following up, DELWP is the responsible lead. However, I reiterate we are not investigating this as there is no conclusive information that either an offence has occurred nor is there any information that links alleged concerns to the harvesting program”. 18 December 2019 DEDJTR GMA

This correspondence looks as if it was reporting on (in part) dealings with one of the shooters operating in Dunkeld. The tone in anyone's language is highly prejudicial to the complainants. 

“Our conversation ended well with agreement to work in a way that won't draw attention. He now has my details for a direct point of contact if ever required. I really liked response to the DELWP media enquiry today - spot on and professional. Keen to put this one to bed - if anything further is needed, please let me know and I can attend to same”. Game Management Authority". 19 December 2019

“The GMA has not received a formal report from DELWP regarding this alleged incidence. Enquiries regarding the alleged incident were made, however, nothing has been substantiated. The information provided by the public was found to be misleading. DELWP is the primary agency responsible for all wildlife matters”. Game Management Authority. 31 December 2019 

The following statement appears in the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions FOI release version (Kangaroo Harvest Program status as at 31 December  2019):

“As a result of this compliance activity, no offences were detected or reported, and no offences were proved”. 

There is an evident lack of applied logic to many of the attitudes that shape policy and law in Victoria in relation to animal welfare matters and the evolution of the framework that supports it (including department structures, management and job types, as well as documentation and plans). The entire focus of which is to support any activity or scheme, in relation to animals, being promoted by the Victorian Government at the time. This means that animals can suffer at the hands of a particular politician in relation to imagined political benefit, and this is occurring regardless of fact or against the wishes and direct interests of a significant number of Victorians.

Matters of human rights also arise, particularly for those individuals choosing to invest in Victoria’s regions, who now find themselves confronted by the large scale killing and butchering of animals in the lands surrounding their properties. This group of Victorians, and under the current government, have no rights at all. And this is another aspect of the cruelties being inflicted in the state.

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The killing of native Australian wildlife is now so entrenched, and the sense of entitlement of governments promoting this behaviour and the individuals carrying it out, mean poor standards are applied to matters relating to animal welfare and biodiversity. 

“As in many exploitative industries, unsustainable ‘harvesting’ has led to ‘prey switching’ to new species which is now occurring along with the expansion of ‘operational areas’, where the industry is now shooting Kangaroos, South Australia and Victoria are among recent examples.This is occurring as a number of Kangaroo shooting zones are closed in other states because of the dramatic decline in Kangaroo populations. We may also expect to see Wallaby species added to the commercial wildlife list in Victoria as Kangaroo populations dwindle”. Peter Hylands

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