Animal welfare advocates are calling for sweeping reforms to New South Wales’ licensing system that permits the harming or killing of native animals, telling a parliamentary inquiry the current framework is “weak” and “outdated.”
The number of native animals approved for harm has surged dramatically, rising from 243,078 in 2023 to more than 485,000 last year. Critics say the issue extends far beyond the numbers.
Nicola Beynon from Humane World for Animals told the inquiry that the system’s structure is fundamentally flawed. Under current rules, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service can issue licences when animals such as kangaroos, wombats, possums and various bird species are deemed threats to human safety or are causing property damage and economic loss.
Many of these licences are granted in agricultural regions, but approvals have also been issued to residents in parts of Sydney. The NSW Animal Welfare Committee is now examining the scheme’s transparency, welfare safeguards and the reasons behind the sharp rise in permits.
Several advocacy groups argued that obtaining a licence is far too easy and that non‑lethal alternatives are not prioritised. Dr Renae Charalambous from Humane World for Animals said the reliance on killing wildlife is deeply ingrained, describing lethal control as “very embedded in Australian culture unfortunately.”
The inquiry is expected to continue assessing whether the current system adequately protects native species while balancing human–wildlife conflict.
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