Hunting in National Parks is a victory for conservation

Posted on 14 June 2012 by Content Manager

Legislation introduced today allowing hunting in NSW National Parks will provide genuine, measurable benefits to the people of New South Wales, to the State’s economy and to the environment, all at minimal cost to taxpayers.

Licensed, trained and tested Conservation Hunters are already on track to remove 1 million feral and game animals from public and private land in NSW, while injected more than $100 million of their own money into regional towns, and their impact will be even greater under the new laws.

“Since the passing of the original Game and Feral Animal Control Bill 2002, hunters have demonstrated a thoroughly professional approach towards feral animal control, and have also proven over the years the value of volunteer conservation hunting, both on Crown Lands and on private property,” Shooters and Fishers Party MLC, the Hon. Robert Brown, said.

“The threat of feral animals in our national parks is great, even more so after the recent floods, where the population of feral cats, foxes, pigs, wild dogs and goats has exploded.

“The utilisation of volunteer conservation hunters, as well as working well in our State Forests, works particularly well in Victoria and elsewhere in Australia.”

He said a thorough review of the original Act, which created the Game Council to manage volunteer conservation hunters, had confirmed it was a successful approach.

“The 2012 Act addresses some of the recommendations for reform found in the review, including the expansion of the system into some National Parks,” Mr Brown said.

“National Parks near metropolitan areas, Heritage areas and other sensitive places will be excluded from the program, and there is a heavy onus on hunters to do the right thing or risk significant penalties,” he said.

Mr Brown added that Australian figures showed hunting on foot, as is required on public land, is one of the safest outdoor pursuits that Australians enjoy.

“There is no better professional body than the Game Council, and no more dedicated conservationists than volunteer conservation hunters when it comes to the control of game and feral animals in NSW,” he said.