At the heart of Primary Producers SA’s mission is protecting South Australia’s $18.5 billion primary industries sector, along with the rural communities, landscapes and ecosystems that sustain it.
Farmers are not only producers of food and fibre — they are stewards of the land, managing productivity while caring for the natural environment that supports it.
One growing challenge for primary producers is the management of kangaroo and wallaby populations.
While these native species hold cultural and ecological value, over-abundant numbers in some regions are placing unsustainable pressure on the land and the people who work it.
The impacts are stark: degraded pastures, damaged crops, eroded soils and increased stress – particularly during drought, when every blade of grass matters.
Historically, kangaroo populations followed natural “boom and bust” cycles tied to resource availability.
But this balance has been disrupted by agricultural development through the creation of artificial water points, improved pastures and removal of natural predators.
As a result, kangaroo numbers in many areas have grown well beyond what the land can sustain.
These population spikes not only threaten agricultural productivity and biodiversity they also pose a growing risk to public safety.
In regional and rural areas, vehicle collisions with kangaroos are alarmingly frequent.
These incidents can cause serious injury, write-off vehicles and increase emotional trauma.
These impacts often overlooked in the broader debate.
For rural motorists — often farmers travelling before sunrise or returning home after long days — the risk is constant.
Most confronting is the reality these same community members are often left to deal with the aftermath, including the distressing task of euthanising injured animals.
Modern agriculture must coexist with healthy ecosystems, but that coexistence is only possible through active regionally tailored management of native species.
Without effective oversight, the environmental, economic and emotional costs fall squarely on those who live and work on the land.
To ensure these voices were heard, PPSA submitted detailed evidence to the South Australian parliament’s inquiry into kangaroo and wallaby populations.
Our message to the natural resources committee was clear: population control is not only an environmental concern — it is essential to the sustainability of farming, welfare of animals and resilience of rural communities.
Commercial harvesting, in line with the national codes of practice, provides a humane, practical solution.
It supports regional economies while achieving vital population control outcomes.
Crucially, it avoids the alternative: unmanaged population crashes, starvation and ecological degradation.
PPSA strongly supports a science-based, regulated approach to kangaroo management — one that protects animal welfare, supports farm viability and safeguards the landscapes we all depend on.
In a changing climate and amid widespread drought, proactive management is not optional.
Rather, it is essential to ensuring agriculture and native species can thrive side by side.
This column was written by PPSA CEO Caroline Rhodes and originally appeared in the 24 April 2025 edition of Stock Journal.
