Controversial legislation allowing amateur hunters to shoot in dozens of New South Wales national parks and reserves has now been passed by the State Parliament.
The legislation allows hunting in 79 national parks, nature reserves and conservation areas. MP Robert Brown from the Shooters and Fishers party says using volunteers to cull feral animals in state forests has been effective, and it will also work in national parks.
“This is an extremely safe way of doing it,” Mr Brown said. “In fact, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of animals have been taken in state forests now since 2002.”
The ABC reports that Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson sought to provide reassurance that hunting will only be allowed with appropriate controls in place.
“Importantly this will 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,” Ms Hodgkinson said. “These amendments will improve our capacity to manage pest species, provide greater scope for native flora and fauna protection and improve species diversity, while broadening opportunities for stakeholder experiences within a sound regulatory framework.”
The State Government agreed to the measure in return for the support of the Shooters and Fishers party to sell electricity assets. The measure has been condemned by the Opposition and the Greens.
