The discovery of a hidden surveillance camera up a tree in a remote national park has once again thrown a spotlight on the use of these devices … and has some asking ‘how do we know who is watching us … and when?’.
A bushwalker spotted the camera at the Grampians National Park in Victoria recently, and sent a picture to the Australian Climbing Association Victoria (ACAV), which posted it on Facebook.
Mike Tomkins, the president of the Australian Climbing Association, told the Grey Nomads that the discovery raised serious privacy concerns.
“Most people visit remote bushland to disconnect from the pressures of modern life,” he said. “It’s a sad state of affairs when rangers are now engaging in hostile management tactics when they previously presented such a friendly and informative face to the public.”
A bushwalker was surprised to discover a camera in a tree in a national park. PIC: Australian Climbing Assocation
However, many grey nomads have no problems with the presence of surveillance technology in the parks.
“I am aware of cameras, and no I have no issue with them,” said veteran traveller, Tom Johnson. “If they deter the grubs who litter our national parks, they are a good thing … if you do the right thing, you will have nothing to worry about.”
A Parks Victoria spokesperson told the Grey Nomads there was nothing new or unprecedented about its use of cameras or visitor counters.
“Track counters help rangers count visitor numbers and make informed decisions about resourcing, trail maintenance and conservation and cameras are used to prevent illegal activities like rubbish dumping or firewood theft,” the spokesperson said.
Parks Victoria stressed its camera operations were run according to strict procedures and cameras were only installed by authorised officers at specific locations where alleged offences have been reported.
It said all cameras were installed within the requirements of the Surveillance Devices Act 1999, and information captured by cameras was handled in accordance with the Information Privacy Act 2000.
In New Zealand, CCTV has been installed by local councils at some freedom campsites as a way of monitoring behaviour there.
However, there is no indication that national parks here are planning to use cameras as a way of permanently keeping an eye on camper behaviour.
In South Australia, the National Parks and Wildlife Service SA (NPWS) said cameras were ‘occasionally used for specific purposes in parks, reserves and campsites’.
“NPWS adheres to strict privacy protocols to protect the identity of anyone whose image is captured on a camera,” a spokesperson said. “NPWS does not have any plans to install permanent surveillance cameras in its campsites.”
In WA, the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation Discovery of hidden surveillance camera sparks privacy concerns and Attractions (DBCA) said it primarily uses surveillance devices for monitoring or researching native wildlife and pest animal species, as well as for fire management, asset management, promoting public safety and crime prevention on department-managed lands.
“DBCA does not use surveillance cameras to monitor visitor behaviour at designated campsites in national parks,” it said. “Cameras may at times be used in public open spaces, such as day-use areas and carparks, to ensure visitor safety.”
A spokesperson for Queensland’s Department of Environment, Science and Innovation spokesperson said remote cameras had been used in protected areas for many years as the safety of visitors and our staff is our number one priority.
“Remote cameras are an effective tool to ensure conservation as they can be used in our protected areas to capture offences such as unlawful access, damage to facilities or infrastructure, antisocial behaviour and the unlawful removal of natural assets such as trees,” the spokesperson said. “Remote cameras help us protect the natural and cultural values of our protected areas, and they help us conserve our threatened species … for example, they can detect feral species ahead of feral animal control programs and monitor our native animals and threatened species.”
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We’ve known about surveillance cameras in Victorian National Parks for years.
In the Mallee area of Victoria, bird smuggles have been stealing the eggs & fledgling of parrots & cockatoos.
They’re worth thousands of dollars overseas.
The smugglers get a GPS fix on a nest tree & then come back after dark & climb it to steal the eggs.
We regularly camp in a campground with cameras, its no problem at all if you’re doing the right thing.
We dont have enough cameras around Australia, there should be one every 500mts on every road track highway, beach national park, every where including housing estates, for all the law breakers and if you drive wrong, or walk funny you should be fined, that means nomads as well, they break the law just as much as young people.
Then..you shud put one in your house and bedroom..!!
Just in case you also might do something “funny”….??
What an odd thing to say,really very odd.
That’s a bit over the top, don’t you think?
Like all things if you are doing what is right and legal you don’t have a problem. Anyway most Chinese cars can be hacked and the cameras used to track where you are and what you are doing. Recently people found that their Chinese manufactured robot vacuum cleaners where being ha ked and where being used to monitor people in there homes.