QUEENSLAND has more than double the number of roos than cattle, prompting calls for the re-establishment of a kangaroo industry.

Data released by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection at the end of last year showed Queensland had 25 million kangaroos, up three million from 2011.

AgForce general president Ian Burnett said kangaroos already had a devastating effect on primary production, costing the industry about $75 million annually.

"The results of this survey clearly show unprecedented potential for this impact to place even more strain on agriculture,'' he said.

"Escalating macropod populations also inevitably lead to poor animal welfare outcomes, particularly for our native species.

"In 2001 and 2003, 26 million kangaroos died of starvation as a result of feed supplies being depleted by animals in plague proportions.''

Mr Burnett said due to the high numbers and dry conditions this year it was likely the same thing would happen again.

AgForce is working with the State Government to propose frameworks that would alleviate the red-tape burden that limits landholder ability to control kangaroo numbers.

This work includes the ongoing development of a short-term measure to streamline the damage mitigation permit process.

Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection Andrew Powell said Agforce had raised a concern about the process for obtaining Damage Mitigation Permits for non-commercial take of macropods being too onerous for property owners at the 2012 Commercial Macropod Management Annual Forum held in late November last year.

"The Department of Environment and Heritage Protection is currently working with Agforce to develop a framework that addresses the issues raised at the forum,'' he said.