Cats, both wild and tame, are taking precedence over our endangered wildlife, after a recent NSW parliamentary inquiry into their management failed to deliver meaningful recommendations to protect native species, a critic has claimed.

The hearings – led by the Animal Welfare Committee – examined the growing impact of feral and domestic cats on native wildlife and possible control options that could be utilised.

According to Nationals Upper House Member Scott Barrett – Duty MLC for Orange and Barwon and a member of the inquiry – it was clear throughout, however, that the rights of cats were being prioritised above the rights of native animals to not go extinct.

“Cats are doing untold damage to our native wildlife,” Mr Barrett said. “Even the Government agrees they are a persistent, ongoing and critical threat, yet there seems to be an inclination to look for excuses not to take serious action.”

Mr Barrett was in furious disagreement with some participants of the inquiry and sections of the report that placed a higher value on the life of a cat than that of our native species.

“Far too much of this inquiry was spent discussing whether de-sexing and releasing wild cats back into the environment was a viable alternative to culling.

“Given the enormous amount of damage cats are doing to our native wildlife, I don’t know how anyone can take this prospect seriously.”

Mr Barrett lodged a dissenting statement to the report, particularly criticising its weak stance on cat containment laws.

“We should absolutely be looking to support local councils who want mandatory cat containment, and to suggest anything else takes away an important tool in the fight against a remarkably harmful invasive species,” Mr Barrett said.

Mr Barrett said the Minns Labor Government needs to show “some courage” and commit to real action on cat management, instead of entertaining the prospect of expensive and time-consuming de-sexing programs.