Australia under fire for lobbying on California kangaroo trade

[News Manager]

By Jane Wardell SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government is under fire for lobbying the California legislature to stop a ban on the sale of kangaroo products in the U.S. state, a restriction the industry argues would cripple exports of the marsupials' meat and leather. The California senate will vote on Thursday on a bill to extend a moratorium indefinitely on the sale of kangaroo products like premier league baseball mitts and fire retardant gloves favored by U.S. firefighters. Powerful animal rights and democracy lobbyists in California are angry about the way the bill was introduced this week via the backdoor, just days before the end of the current legislative session, following extensive Australian government lobbying and financial aid.

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[Remington 1858]

Years ago, the McDonalds Corporation of the USA began purchasing Australian beef for their world-wide chain of hamburger restaurants. Australian beef is good quality; lean and free of hormones.
One of the competitors of the McDonalds Corporation spread the rumor that the beef was mixed with kangaroo meat. Their was horror and revulsion among the public and McDonalds sales plummeted until the rumor was shown to be false.
Americans look upon marsupials as cuddly, furry little creatures and don't want to eat them or buy products made from them.
Australians probably have a different view of 'roos and similar critters. They are probably seen as one step up from vermin.