Something has become impatient and can't wait for the figs to ripen. So its trying to eat the tree instead!

It looks like it knows what its doing.  Its going for the nodes.

Can't see a bird chewing on a fig bud...LOL
 
What critters have you got in Australia that like to chew on buds that high up on a fig tree? 
What do kangaroo eat? 

woodpecker????

I vote rat/mouse.

Limurs , most are nocturnals.

I'm with pitangadiego on this, it looks like rodent damage to me.

yeah it's an easy guess

Looks to me like a beetle or ant damage.

Hi mic,
This an educated rat . He is trying the girdling method for you ...

I would vote for the rat . Try pouring harissa/hot chilly pepper on the trunk of the tree and at her base.
And add some traps . Have no mercy against rodents or they'll take the tree away from you... direct to fig heaven.
Yesterday I found the highway of some rodents under my trumpet-creeper (luckily not a fig tree but because most have protections ) ... My fist would fit inside ...
I threw some baits inside . No way; I won't let them make yearlings in my garden.

Mouse/vole/small rodent. Going for the sap.

Kangaroo.

Leon ........... lol

bats

Now I'm thinking it could only be the "extinct" Giant Sloth...


(I still think the culprit is a rodent)

Ha ha!  And pictures too!

Ok, I think by popular concensus rat/mouse is the number one suspect.  I went and looked closer and think I can see little teeth marks.

Beetles, bats and kangaroos are otherwise possibilities. And possums of course. I have seen them destroy trees two stories high by eating every node and shoot.  Sorry, no woodpeckers, limurs or giant sloths around here, well, none that I know about!

There are birds around here (bush turkeys and cockatoos) that can destroy things when they put their mind to it but I seriously don't think it was any of them.  If it was the tree would be pieces or all the figs ripped off.