Environment Minister Rebecca Vassarotti says she cannot meet kangaroo cull protesters in good faith, because they fundamentally disagree and it would not be possible to stop the cull.
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About 50 protesters gathered outside the ACT's Legislative Assembly on Thursday, calling on the territory government for a cull moratorium.
Speakers at the protest described the cull as "horrific" and questioned the kangaroo population numbers the ACT government relied on.
Attendees, many carrying placards, were told to do their own research and not believe what the government or media said about the culling program.
Ms Vassarotti said in a statement her colleague, Greens backbencher Jo Clay, had met with protesters after she was not able to make a planned meeting.
"I have subsequently met with members of the ACT Greens who were interested in discussing the issue (a commitment that was made at the original meeting)," Ms Vassarotti said.
"Subsequently, animal rights advocates responded by rejecting the veracity of the evidence for the cull, and made a further request to meet to discuss a moratorium on the cull.
"Given this isn't possible and we fundamentally disagree on our assessment of the evidence, I have decided that this subsequent meeting is not something that I can do in good faith.
"While I respect people have different perspectives on this issue, this is an issue that I have engaged deeply on and reluctantly accepted that this intervention is the most appropriate at this time."
Animal Justice Party ACT convenor Yana del Valle, who ran as a party candidate in Murrumbidgee at last year's territory election, told The Canberra Times on Thursday a small band of protesters was out each night of the cull program in an effort to keep tabs on the number of kangaroos killed.
The ACT government announced two weeks ago 1568 kangaroos would be culled across six reserves.
ACT Parks and Conservation Service director Daniel Iglesias said, "Nobody likes shooting kangaroos, however we accept it's the most humane method of kangaroo population management currently available to the ACT government in its role as a responsible land manager."
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