Hunting in some NSW National Parks

[maddog]

Nuts,

When I said that sounds like a sensible suggestion, I was referring to the possibility of temporarily closing the parks, and allowing the hunters to have their fun at minimal risk to the safety or amenity of others. I was not referring to tracking devices.

Electronic tracking devices fitted to every hunter and walker are unlikely to be popular with anyone, but likely to be expensive for everyone. Given the cost blow-out in the Game Council's recreational hunting in National Parks initiative, and the certainty of future cost-benefit assessment, adding further to the costs of the scheme will greatly disadvantage the shooters case.

Cheers

[Rob A]

Wot. The penny has dropped?

Its only about vested self interests.
Generally Australians dont disapprove of hunting.
Conservation, pest control and whether parks competently manage their patches is a red herring.
All you have to do is manage the separation. No one expects to hike down conrod strait 07-09.

Personally I think killing stuff for fun isnt appropriate and the banning of hunting wouldnt trouble me.
But I cant sensibly argue that case when I google parks mandate (which I would have thought would be the straightforward preservation of the flora fauna and geology) and find gobblygook about horse riding 4wd walkers needing to be accomodated for filling parks recreational and revinue potential.

Ban hunting or dont.
Dont feed me the one group is more entitled than another.

[wayno]

i dont think you can just say recreational hunters are only killing for fun...
it can be a way of supplementing your food as it is in nz for some hunters of deer, chamois, thar pig, rabbits

[photohiker]

ABC News Today:

Leaked documents show New South Wales park rangers will have to wear high-visibility clothing to ensure they do not accidentally get shot when hunting commences in National Parks.

The State Opposition has obtained the latest draft version of the risk assessment being prepared by the Office of Environment and Heritage.

It shows that hunters will be unsupervised in around 63 per cent of the total land being opened up.

Labor's environment spokesman Luke Foley says the document shows a potentially dangerous situation for National Park staff.

"That's not a responsible course of action," he said.

"The responsible course of action, when you're faced with the report from your own experts that says there's a high risk of someone being shot, would be to abandon the program.

"The danger is not eliminated by a worker wearing a high-viz vest."

Hunting was due to begin next month, but last week the Government announced it had been postponed.

The State Government says the risk assessment is still underway and it wants to get things right.

[wayno]

maybe they should issue bullet proof vests and helmets?

[maddog]

The Australian today suggests that a zoning system is being considered to reduce the risk to other park users. It is estimated that zoning will cut the number of visitors in areas where hunting will take place from five million to no more than 100,000.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/br ... 6585082223

Cheers

[wayno]

oh well if thats the case, you won't have to worry so much about hunters shooting bushwalkers. they'll be too busy shooting each other...

[maddog]

Hunters have silencers in sights (and more details on zoning):

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hunters-have- ... 2f238.html

[maddog]

O'Farrell shoots down bid by hunters to use silencers (and a call on the government to release maps of all proposed Zone C hunting areas):

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ofarrell-shoo ... z2LxGCKSXr

[Rob A]

I mean ....y'know .

Screen shot 2013-02-26 at 10.08.38 AM.png (41.21 KiB) Viewed 13515 times

Screen shot 2013-02-26 at 10.08.49 AM.png (59.01 KiB) Viewed 13515 times

Got to be quick on the pill at the herald less you lose your chance for the beat up.

[wildwalks]

O'Farrell must just hate waking up in the morning as he is thinking - "what problems will haunt me from my dodgy deal today?".

[Tony]

O'Farrell shoots down bid by hunters to use silencers (and a call on the government to release maps of all proposed Zone C hunting areas):

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ofarrell-shoo ... z2LxGCKSXr

Hi Maddog,

Thanks for posting the links to the latest news, one comment that I have is that Barry also said that hunting will never happen in NSW National Parks.

Tony

[maddog]

I'm sure Premier O'Farrell realises he is dealing with amateurs in the Game Council. I wouldn't think he would be too pleased with his environment minister Robyn Parker either, she is running the circus.

Cheers

[Herb]

I sent an email to the state MP for Cronulla, Mark Speakman, who says he is supports the state governments decisions on shooting in National parks. Here is his response for anyone who's interested:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Dean,
Thanks for your email below. I apologise for the delay in responding.
I support the government’s decisions on “shooting in national parks” for a number of reasons.

Desperate need for infrastructure funding
First and foremost, I don't shy away from the reality that these decisions were the result of a "deal" with the Shooters and Fishers Party. The NSW government does not control the upper house of Parliament. To get legislation through, we have to negotiate with cross-benchers who were elected by the people of NSW.
We’ve been elected to get NSW moving. We told the people of NSW at the last election that we hold an independent inquiry into the electricity industry, including possible sale of generators, but we ruled out the sale of the "poles and wires". That independent inquiry recommended the sale of electricity generators. We kept faith with the NSW voters by not proceeding with the sale of the "poles and wires". We had a mandate to sell electricity generators, but Labor and the Greens sought to block the sale in the upper house. So the government had to do a deal with the Shooters and Fishers in the upper house to get it through, which was to make a very limited concession regarding the control of feral animals.
Why is the sale of electricity generators so important? It will release billions of dollars for urgently needed infrastructure. It will also avoid the need for the State to invest something like a further $7 billion in the medium term to upgrade and expand the generators.
Likewise refinancing of port facilities will release billions of dollars for urgently needed infrastructure
If we want more schools, hospitals, trains and roads, we have to find tens of billions of dollars to do it.
Modest concessions – national parks
Secondly, occasional volunteer pest control shooting - only of feral animals, only in 10% of national parks, conservation areas and nature reserves, only in places far away from Sydney, only when they are closed to the public, only at limited times, and only under strict training and other guidelines formulated by the Minister - is a very modest concession to make to the cross-benches to secure the release of billions of dollars for urgently needed infrastructure and one which doesn’t put the public at risk.
It already happens in Victoria, South Australia and New Zealand.
It won’t be happening in the Royal National Park.
Professional shooting already occurs in NSW national parks. The National Parks & Wildlife Service already spends 15% of its resources – more than it spends on visitor services – managing feral pests and alien weeds. In 2010-11, at least 24,000 feral animals were destroyed on the national parks estate.
Feral pests and animals do great harm to our national parks by destroying habitats, flora and fauna. Feral animals also go across boundaries onto agricultural land and cost farmers around $70 million a year.
Over 24,000 feral animals including pigs, dogs, cats and goats were removed through pest management programs from the national parks estate in the last year alone. The NSW Government is extending existing feral animal eradication programs to reduce the overall numbers of these pests.
The assistance of volunteers will only be permitted with the appropriate compliance and controls in place. This will importantly include appropriate safety measures and only persons who are appropriately qualified and licensed will be permitted to help remove feral animals from our national parks.
The protection of native animals will continue with fines of up to $220,000 for harming a threatened species.
For further information, visit the Office of Environment and Heritage web site at www.environment.nsw.gov.au/pestsweeds/pestanimals.htm
Conclusion

I have no personal enthusiasm for the “national parks” element of the deals. But the question is whether the overall deals are in the public interest. I believe that overwhelmingly they are, because of the importance of funding infrastructure and the modesty of the concessions made. The government’s significant mandate has not stopped Labor, the Greens and (initially) the Shooters and Fishers seeking to block major legislation in the upper house.

Thanks again for your e-mail and letting me know your views.
Yours sincerely

Mark Speakman

Mark Speakman SC MP
Member for Cronulla

Shop 3, 347-357 Port Hacking Road,
Caringbah NSW 2229
PO Box 1006, Caringbah NSW 1495

T 02 9526 8377 I F 02 9526 8928

www.markspeakman.com.au
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From:
Sent: Tuesday, 19 February 2013 3:50 PM
To: ElectorateOffice Cronulla
Subject: No Hunting in National Parks

Hi Mark,

I am writing to express my anger with the amendments to the Game and Feral animal control act which allow shooting in national parks.
I'm concerned for my safety and the safety of other visitors and staff in national parks. I think it is evident that allowing recreational shooters to control feral animals in national parks will actually have a detrimental effect on feral animal control.
I would like to see you and your party work towards repealing this legislation ASAP. I do not accept the excuse that you were forced to negotiate with the shooters and fishers party to have other legislation passed in the upper house.
Regards,

[wildwalks]

Yeah the posts from the MP are getting pretty standard

I love this line "But the question is whether the overall deals are in the public interest" it basically says - yeah we know it is a stupid idea but we get $3B to spend - so it is worth sacrificing public safety and the quality of our parks system for it.

-- Good on you for writing the letter - it does make a difference the MP's are feeling the pressure and we need to keep the pressure up - good work.

Matt

[wildwalks]

A quick please help for a quick photo shoot in Wollongong this Sat

Saturday 2nd March 2013, WOLLONGONG Community Action
Join the National Parks Association for a simple community action

What: Gather for a community photo and send the message “No Hunting in National Parks" to the NSW Premier
When: 3:45 – 4:15pm, Saturday 2nd March 2013
Where: Corner of Trinity Row and Farrell Road, Wollongong. This location is a public park and is located close to the Bulli Beach Tourist Park
Who: For residents of the Wollongong area who oppose hunting in national parks.

Supporters will also have the opportunity to find out more information on this campaign and hear briefly from Campaign Coordinator, Justin McKee.

Why: At some point during 2013, amateur, a recreational hunting program will commence in 77 of our national parks. The National Parks Association of NSW is working with the community to effect repealing the legislation that allows recreational hunting to occur.

The photo from this gathering will be posted to the NSW Premier to encourage him to axe the recreational hunting program.

Host: National Parks Association of NSW
Note: NPA will not be facilitating additional activities or speakers to those publicised here.

Rain, hail or shine, this short press event will go ahead. Please bring rain coats, suncream, umbrellas as appropriate to protect yourself from the elements on the day.
Events Page: http://nohunting.wildwalks.com/takeaction

[Marwood]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/government-halts-hunting-in-national-parks-20130228-2f882.html

Government halts hunting in national parks


The introduction of hunting in national parks will be delayed until at least June after an investigation found evidence of alleged illegal activity by a senior executive of the Game Council NSW, the taxpayer-funded body which is supposed to oversee the program.

Premier Barry O’Farrell told parliament on Thursday afternoon he had ordered a review of the governance of the Game Council, which regulates hunting in NSW.

Mr O’Farrell said hunting in national parks would not begin until the government had received the review, which is due by May 31.

Mr O’Farrell said the review was prompted by the report of an investigation into alleged illegal hunting by two game Council employees on a property in outback NSW.
Advertisement

More to come...

[maddog]

Very interesting Marwood.

The hunter becomes the hunted:

On Thursday, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced the government had enlisted former Director General of NSW Fisheries Steve Dunn to carry out a review of the Game Council's governance...The review will investigate services performed by the Game Council, examine its performance, structure and staff capabilities and look at the company's finances and administration.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/br ... 6587785064

Game Council welcome the review:

http://www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au/docs/ ... Review.pdf

A little information on Steve Dunn and his consulting company 'Independent Consulting' here:

http://icic.net.au

Will we also hear from John Mumford on the issue?

Cheers

[colinm]

Mr O'Farrell told Parliament the investigation report stated there was evidence of ‘‘alleged illegal activities’’ by one Game Council employee, whom he did not name, and also a Game Council volunteer. A copy of the report was handed to police on Monday.

From the SMH article ... so this is how it pans out ... there are allegations of illegal activities within the Game Council. It doesn't specify that those allegations are restricted to the current leadership or membership. The allegations aren't yet public.

We know that at least one employee and one volunteer are willing to dish dirt on the GC.
We also know that the Huntin' Fishin' and Shootin' party representatives were once GC members.

If (this is pure speculation on my part) allegations extended to those people, and they were tried and found guilty, they'd lose their upper house seats.

Then Mr O'Barrell would be off the hook - in this purely hypothetical scenario, the HFS party wouldn't be able to move without being plunged into problems (I dunno, maybe there's more than one report, and it might somehow leak.) Neat play.

I'd be looking for the current charges against the CEO to be dropped, which might tend to make him more loquacious. If that happened, we might see the hunting in national parks plan watered down or even fade away, and the HFS party suddenly decide it's not worth fighting about.

[maddog]

Are hunters losing the battle for NSW national parks?

http://www.sportingshootermag.com.au/ne ... onal-parks

Game Council review delays hunting again:

http://www.sportingshootermag.com.au/ne ... ting-again

NCC - Game Council review is welcome, now abandon hunting in parks:

http://nccnsw.org.au/media/game-council ... ting-parks

[colinm]

Are hunters losing the battle for NSW national parks?
http://www.sportingshootermag.com.au/ne ... onal-parks

The language they use is really interesting: "as they fight against new laws", "increasingly dire picture hunting", "the attack on hunting" and even "red under my bed." It's like some kind of delirium from the 1950s. The author presumably telexed the article from the fallout shelter in his backyard.

[wildwalks]

The author presumably telexed the article from the fallout shelter in his backyard.

LOL

[maddog]

The author presumably telexed the article from the fallout shelter in his backyard.

LOL

These are not paranoid delusions. It is important that we maintain focus on the legitimacy of hunting for the purposes of utilising resources...thereby keeping alive survival skills that are part of out natural genetic makeup.

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Hunters with your support we will win this battle and many more to come. Keep up the active support and campaigning.
robert borsak on 28-Feb-13 02:51 PM

[colinm]

Are they going to allow the hunting of communists in national parks too?

[corvus]

In today's local Fairfax news the NSW Gov has halted plans to allow this and have launched an investigation into the NSW Games Council re claims about illegal hunting by a council employee.
"Last week the acting CEO was suspended on allegations of illegal hunting and animal cruelty" they said.
corvus

[wayno]

also being investigated by lots of asian women in smart red outfits....

[Morton Echidna]

Interesting read. Especially by special 20 feb.
http://www.bowhunting-forum.com/showthr ... -NPA-Rally

[maddog]

Game Council under fire for licensing children to hunt:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6590292664

Restore balance to the land:
http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/ne ... o-the-land

[Tony]

Game Council under fire for licensing children to hunt:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/nationa ... 6590292664

Hi maddog,

Again thanks for posting those links.

I wonder what other surprises are going to be dug out about the Game Council, as this NPA press Game Council no good for NSW

“In the interest of transparency, the Game Council should be rebranded the ‘Department of the Shooting Party’ and the Coalition’s ‘Supplementary Pest Control Program’ rebranded the ‘Recreational Hunting in National Parks Program’.

Restore balance to the land:
http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/ne ... o-the-land

The Shooters and Fishers Party dirty deal to open National Parks to ad hoc hunting has certainly put the Shooters and Fishers Party under the spot light and they do not like it, it has exposed them to the wider general public for what they really are, a grubby ultra right wing organisation, if you read their policies, the Shooters and Fishers Party want to open up National Parks and all other public areas to not only hunting but 4WD's, forestry, and mining, the Shooters and Fishers Party are not to be trusted.

Tony

[michael_p]

Interesting read. Especially by special 20 feb.
http://www.bowhunting-forum.com/showthr ... -NPA-Rally

Have a look at the last post of the first page and post 17 on page 2 (heated discussion?).