A recent viral video of an American influencer taking a wombat joey from its mother has sparked widespread outrage and condemnation. The incident highlights a disturbing pattern of wildlife abuse and exploitation in Australia.
The government’s sanctioned authority to control wildlife (ATCW) permits allow landholders to kill native animals, including wombats, under the guise of “management.” However, this policy prioritizes killing over coexistence, reinforcing a culture of harm towards native wildlife.
The hypocrisy is glaring: while leaders condemn individual acts of wildlife abuse, they secretly sanction slaughter through policies like ATCW. This includes permits for kangaroos, native birds, possums, black swans, and emus, as well as lethal control programs for dingoes.
Wildlife protection charities warn that these legislative choices perpetuate a culture of exploitation. The prime minister’s response to the incident, telling the young woman to “take another animal that can actually fight back,” is a satirical comment that only distracts from the real issue: protecting native wildlife.
As an MP for the Animal Justice party, I will bring this issue to parliament next week, demanding action to protect wombats and other native animals. Our leaders have a responsibility to confront the truth of their involvement in wildlife destruction and work towards coexistence, not exploitation.
The consequences of inaction are dire: habitat destruction, road strikes, mange, and lethal control permits all take a devastating toll on wombat populations. It’s time for our leaders to acknowledge the harm caused by their policies and take concrete steps towards reform.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/mar/14/attacking-a-young-tourist-over-her-treatment-of-a-wombat-is-hypocritical-and-misses-the-point