Horrific footage went viral of a laughing Waylon Johncock repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat’s head at South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula on Thursday
Aboriginal hunting laws could be up for review after a video emerged showing a police officer stoning a wombat to death.
Horrific footage went viral of a laughing Waylon Johncock repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat’s head at South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula on Thursday.
Aboriginal elders have condemned Johncock but others have stepped in to defend him, saying he was within his rights because Indigenous people in South Australia have traditionally killed wombats with rocks.
Under the Native Title Act of 1993, Aboriginal people are allowed to maintain ancient customs such as hunting local wildlife.
Johncock is indigenous.
Almost 230,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the officer to be disciplined and a review of the law.
‘This is allowed under the Native Title Act and accepted as traditional hunting however this contradicts Part 3 section 13 of the Animal Welfare Act,’ the petition reads.
‘We are asking for all native animals to be protected under the Animal Welfare Act and for this perpetrator to be prosecuted.’
The off-duty police officer can be seen turning around and giving his friend a thumbs up before throwing the rock at the wombat’s head
South Australian premier Steven Marshall heads the state’s Aboriginal Affairs and has the power to bring in new legislation.
While he described the footage as ‘gut-wrenching’ he told Adelaide Now he would not make any decisions until police were finished with their investigation.
‘Every piece of legislation exists in a dynamic environment … but let’s just wait to see what this investigation shows.’
Greens MLC Tammy Franks added that customs should act within the confines of the law.
‘If an animal is killed for food using halal or kosher slaughter, again, rules apply. Traditional hunting, while lawful, should not allow gratuitous or prolonged pain and cruelty.’
Wirangu-Kokatha elder Jack Johncock has stepped in to defend the officer on Thursday evening.
‘For the people of the west coast of South Australia, the wombat is a big part of their diet and they’ll get wombat any way they can,’ he told the ABC.
Horrific footage went viral of police officer Waylon Johncock (pictured) repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat’s head at South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula
The video was taken on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, showing the off-duty officer repeatedly throwing rocks at the wombat’s head while being encouraged by a friend
He said a petition to make killing with rocks illegal showed a ‘lack of understanding of cultural practices’.
‘Don’t they think they’ve done enough changes in this country to take away all our rights and customs?’ he said.
‘I think enough is enough.’
Jack said that people should not judge something that has been part of his culture for thousands of years.
Waylon has been in the South Australian Police Force for ten years working as one of the state’s 36 Community Liaison Officers.
He is now a Senior Community Constable based in the remote Nullabor region near the border with West Australia.
Video of the attack shows the wombat waddling along the road as two men in a car follow, before Waylon steps out of the car wearing only shorts and shoes.
He starts chasing the animal before the man behind the wheel tells him to ‘get up close’.
Mr Sumner (pictured) said if Johncock was indeed hunting the wombat then it would be done in a more humane way
Ngarrindjeri elder Major Sumner (pictured) said the officer’s shocking cruel actions in stoning the gentle animal was ‘wrong’
Waylon is seen picking up a large rock and viciously throws it at the wombat’s head as both men laugh.
The wombat starts running in an attempt to get away from the men before they both chase after him.
‘You’ve got him, you’ve got him, hit him, hit him,’ the man in the car can be heard saying as Waylon picks up another rock.
‘Kill him!’
As the man behind the wheel speeds up to keep the headlights shining on him, Waylon gives a final blow causing it to topple over.
‘Yeah! You did it!’ the man in the car says.
‘First man I’ve ever seen kill a wombat on foot, bro.’
Ngarrindjeri elder Major Sumner said the officer’s shockingly cruel actions in stoning the gentle animal were ‘wrong’.
‘We didn’t hunt like that. We still don’t hunt like that,’ the 71-year-old told The Advertiser.
Mr Sumner said if Waylon was indeed hunting the wombat then it would be done in a more humane way.
‘If they’re saying it was hunting for food, you wouldn’t go and hunt a sheep like that (and) you wouldn’t go and hunt any cattle like that,’ he said.
‘That animal would be bruised up (and) it wouldn’t be good for you to cook or eat or anything.
‘If you want to hunt something for food, it’s done in the most humane way and end their life straight away – it’s not a fun game for you.’
Animal welfare organisation PETA also issued a statement on the incident on Friday morning.
‘A police officer who smiles as he pelts a living, feeling being to death should not only be struck off the force but also be locked up,’ spokeswoman Emily Rice said.
‘We must treat all acts of violence with the seriousness that they deserve. Otherwise, we risk endangering the lives of both animals and humans.’
Once the wombat falls over, both men are heard laughing as the off-duty police officer stands up triumphant
Wirangu-Kokatha elder Jack Johncock (pictured) said the cop, who is also Indigenous, was acting within his rights