Horrific, sadistic wildlife cruelty is out of control in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia.

* CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses animal cruelty

Withthe Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (POCTA) now replaced by many states, governments are failing to urgently act on the growing extent of cruelty and trauma to which Australian wildlife is being subjected.

The situation is serious, largely unreported by mainstream media, with wildlife suffering appalling treatment, torture and dreadful pain. Animals are sentient beings; they feel pain just like humans, except theres no relief because our political parties are lacking in any compassion.Instead, using our wildlife as photo props for propaganda.

In the South West Victorian town ofKoroit, a koala was allegedly tied with a rope around its neck to the back of a ute and dragged through the town, resulting in appalling injuries, leaving a trail of blood for 100 metres, then dumped in a nearby park.

According to a report in theWarrnambool Standard:

The witness, who asked not to be named, said she was driving home from work at South West Healthcare about 5.15 pm on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, when she saw a ute driving towards her on Koroits King Street:

After devastating bushfires, critics say the Allan Government has abandoned wildlife rescue efforts while allowing hunting to continue.

The witness said she turned her car around and tried to follow to get details of the vehicle, but it drove away before she could.

She said the injured animal was dumped at Victoria Park.

The witness said once she arrived at where the koala was left, it was obvious how badly hurt it was:

The woman said she, with the help of another witness, called services to help the animal. She said she sat a few metres away, talking to the animal to keep it calm until animal rescuers arrived.

The koala, in dreadful pain, was picked up by the rescuer, who faced another dilemma as the local vet practice didnt have a vet on call. It was fortunate that a volunteer vet at theMosswood Wildlife Sanctuarywas available and euthanised the suffering koala.The injuries were dreadful; there was no possibility of the wounded koala surviving.

If no rescuer or vet had been available, the fate of the koala is not worth thinking about. With no wildlife hospital in the habitat of the states largest koala population, getting veterinary treatment is difficult.

As bushfires tear through Victoria, confused emergency responses, missing resources and government inaction are leaving Australias wildlife to suffer and die.

Under the current Victorian governments inadequate anti-cruelty legislation, any prosecution of this sadistic, brutal cruelty will be undertaken by theConservation Regulator,which is part of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA).A department which is the focus of extreme criticism by many conservation groups, shelters and local communities over its non-action on wildlife issues.

According to theConservation RegulatorFacebook page, an arrest has been made, but the alleged perpetrator has been released.

Why wasnt he gaoled? What further sadistic torture can he inflict on animals whilst the legal system drags on? Ask yourself the essential question.

If a human being with a rope around his neck tied to the back of a ute and dragged up a street, would the perpetrator be released?If the human died of injuries sustained, would the perpetrator be charged with murder?

Whats the difference?

With no wildlife hospital in the region, the plight of injured wildlife can only be described as desperate.

Australias reliance on the lethal poison 1080 to control invasive species is exposing deep regulatory failures, ethical conflicts and a worsening pest crisis.

In 2023, theAllan Labor Governmentpromised to build a $4.7 million wildlife hospital in the region to be operated byZoos Victoria. The hospital has not progressed.

Liberal MPRoma Britnell, member for the south-west coast, raised the issue in Parliament in November 2025, saying:

In 2019,RSPCA Victoriasigned a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Andrews Government, which denied the agency enforcement of wildlife issues, instead giving the conservation regulator the power to prosecute.

A draft animal care andprotection bill was quietlyshelvedby the Victorian Government in March this year. The bill was designed to eradicate the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Available evidence of government cruelty points to the fact that both the Andrews and Allan Labor governments are dead set determined to ensure minimum protection for Victorian animals remains in place.

Given the Victorian Labor Governmenthas worked tirelessly to weaken any protection of wildlife and to eradicate the powers of RSPCA Victoria, the public is entitled to ask why sentient animals are now being treated as "things in the way"with significantly limited focus on cruelty, which has been handed over to bureaucrats.

In March, the deliberate killing ofseven kangaroosin Victorias Flinders raised deep concern.

Wildlife rescuer Virginia Cartersaidthe injuries were consistent with being hit by vehicles and possibly being shot:

A similar incident happened in the same area in December last year.

Once again, the appalling incident was not reported to RSPCA Victoria as the MOU denies any enforcement of wildlife issues. Instead, DEECA, Victoria Police and Parks Victoria were given the information. No updates have been made available.

Across party lines, political ambition is outpacing environmental protection andleaving Australias wildlife without a future.

The POCTA is dead in the water in many states. Queensland passed anAnimal Care & Protection Actin 2001. South Australia has anAnimal Welfare Act,with RSPCA the primary organisation for investigating animal cruelty.WA replaced the POCTA with theAnimal Welfare Act in 2002. RSPCA inspectors are authorised to handle prosecutions.

It's important to note that these legislative changes have eradicated "the prevention of cruelty",replacing it with "animal welfare", which are two different issues.

In NSW, aterrible incidentoccurred at Wyee Point, with seven kangaroos found dead in multiple locations, suggesting a deliberate hit and run.The sole survivor, a joey, died in care.

The local mob of kangaroos had been loved by locals who are still traumatised and deeply concerned.

In South Australia, the State Government has beenpaying bountiesbetween $5 and$7 for each kangaroo shot, with a minimum of 100. Since 2025, more than 80,000 kangaroos have been shot.

Thepurpose? 'To reduce grazing pressure'.

Australia will soon be known as the cruel country.But efforts to keep the exponentially increasing acts of cruelty, particularly against koalas and kangaroos, from mainstream and international media are significant.

Bottom line the suffering of Australias defenceless wildlife is a crime against nature. Those who allow and weaken protection are equally responsible for the hideous acts which should shame any nation.

If this article has raised any issues for you, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or

1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or online at1800RESPECT.org.au.

Sue Arnoldis an IA columnist and freelance investigative journalist. You can follow Sue@koalacrisis.

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