The feeding or rodents or other vertebrate animals to snakes is illegal in Western Australia. It is also condition on the herpetofauna (reptile) license that people do not offer living animals (such as rodents) as food.
License condition No.13: “NO LIVE vertebrate animals are to be used as food for the pet herpetofauna held under this license.”
It is a dangerous practice and there is no need for it when keeping snakes. In the wild pythons will often lay in ambush on a scent trail. However in an enclosure there is no ambush or surprise. The prey items are aware and will fight back. There are many pictures on the internet of what a rat can do to a captive snake in just seconds.
WA Python Care 