THE Nationals’ deputy leader Steph Ryan (MLA, Euroa) is calling for increases to the kangaroo harvest quota after it was set at just 8,060 for the coming year.

The State Government this past week supported a 65 per cent increase in the number of kangaroos that can be killed for commercial purposes under the Kangaroo Harvesting Program, but the figure for the north east zone - which includes the Strathbogie government area - is dramatically lower by contrast to the central region and the lower Wimmera region who both have a quota of more than 25,000 kangaroos each.

“The government’s own survey found that kangaroo numbers are at two million, an increase of 40 per cent since 2018,” Ms Ryan said.

“Allowing kangaroos to be harvested for human consumption is a sensible change, and one which I have advocated for years.

"Kangaroo is a lean meat that is rich in protein and environmentally sustainable.

Ms Ryan said the government was more concerned about politics than data when it set the quotas for the north east zone.

“I appreciate that the government may be concerned about a political backlash if kangaroos are being shot in areas affected by last summer’s bushfires, but the reality is that the vast majority of the zone was unaffected by fire.

“Farmers are being forced to use shoot and drop permits to control numbers because the government has not been realistic about the quota. Some harvesters also believe the will have to look for alternative work.

“The Agriculture Minister needs to urgently review these limits,” Ms Ryan said.

Ms Ryan said the figure was "ridiculous" for a shire like Strathbogie and many other LGA's and that if the quota was distributed evenly, it would mean less than 60 kangaroos in each LGA would be harvested each month.

"Lumping Heathcote into the same zone as Corryong – when Heathcote has the highest number of motor vehicle collisions with kangaroos of anywhere in Victoria – is ludicrous."

“The quota set for the north east is simply not high enough to ensure a viable industry for harvesters or processors, and is not enough to manage kangaroos across our region.”

Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said it was important that kangaroo numbers are sustainably managed in Victoria.

“This program provides a service to farmers and an income to trained professional shooters," Ms Thomas said.

“The changes to how products generated from the Kangaroo Harvesting Program can be used gives more options to harvesters and processors to make use of these animals and reduce waste and create more jobs in country towns.”

However Animal Justice Party MP as critical of the changes to the program altogether, calling it cruel with quotas being excessive.

"This casual announcement that sanctions 100 000 deaths proves once again Nietzsche’s maxim that ‘Man is the cruellest animal,' Mr Meddick said.

"Our state’s wildlife has barely recovered from the catastrophic bushfires just one year ago. Wildlife needs our support to survive and thrive more than ever, yet this government wants to put our kangaroos at risk of being shot to extinction."