Reducing grazing pressure through kangaroo management
Kangaroo numbers are high due to the drought that has followed successive good seasons. The kangaroos, many of which are starving, are impacting crops, pastures and native vegetation.
In total, $900,000 of the state government's $73 million drought-support package is available to support the management of kangaroos in drought-impacted regions.
PIRSA leads this project in partnership with Landscape Boards, Department for Environment and Water (DEW) and industry stakeholders.
The project includes:
- Field Processor Grant – for existing and new field processors to assist with operating costs
- Field Processor Incentive – financial incentives for field processors to remove starving kangaroos and commercially harvest others before they starve
- PIRSA staff connecting field processors with landholders impacted by large numbers of starving kangaroos.
Kangaroo field harvester support grant
$5,000 grants will be available to existing and new field harvesters to assist with their operating costs.
Eligible activities include kangaroo harvesting equipment, fuel, training courses, accommodation and fee and tag costs.
For more details, refer to the Kangaroo Field Harvester Support Grant Guidelines ().
To apply for the grant, you will need a myPIRSA account – see myPIRSA if you need assistance registering or logging in.
Go to the online application form.
Field processor incentives
The program commenced 22 May 2025 and will run until funding is exhausted.
Only registered South Australian field processors can access financial incentives.
Any South Australian can undertake training and apply for field processor accreditation and permits to benefit from these financial incentives – see Kangaroo industry permits.
Across South Australia, PIRSA will pay:
- $5 financial incentive for each humanely shot commercially harvested kangaroo
- $7 financial incentive for each humanely shot kangaroo that is not commercially harvested.
In addition, field processors will receive a daily incentive to commercially and non-commercially harvest kangaroos in places where the numbers harvested are typically far below the commercial quota.
For more details, refer to the Field Harvester Incentives Guidelines ().
Destruction permits for primary producers
Primary producers won't need to apply for destruction permits for support. The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) will issue permits to field harvesters for use in a particular harvest sub-region. Field harvesters will need to apply for these permits separately, by replying to the emails sent by the DEW Port Augusta office.
Primary producers who already have a destruction permit, with a field processor listed, will be able to have the field processor start sooner.
For information about obtaining destruction permits, see Manage, control or destroy wildlife.
Recreational and contract shooters
Recreational shooters, contract shooters and shooting associations aren't eligible for financial incentives.
Contact
Kangaroo Drought Support Team
Phone: 0409 131 519
Email: pirsa.kangaroodroughtproject@sa.gov.au
