10 March 2006

LABOR HANDS STATE FORESTS TO HUNTERS

Labor's Minister for Primary Industries gave the go-ahead for hunting to begin in extensive areas of State forests across NSW from Monday despite growing community anger that many popular bushland areas will now be dangerous to enter.

"NPA is furious that the plan affecting 419,000 ha of State forests has gone ahead effectively unchanged", said NPA Executive Officer, Andrew Cox.

"The Iemma Government will wear this decision to the 2007 State election."

"The Game Council has acted incompetently. It has failed to properly consult with the public and respond to legitimate concerns, even those from farmers," said Mr Cox.

"Regular visitors and holidaymakers will soon discover yellow signs at the entrance to their favourite State forests warning them that gun-toting hunters could be roaming anywhere in the forests. Some signs went up as early as last week."

"NSW Minister for Primary Industries, Ian Macdonald, who oversees the Game Council told NPA yesterday that he would proceed with the hunting areas, despite the lack of consultation and strong local opposition from those that did find out in advance."

"The official orders that will declare the 31 State forests as hunting areas (see list below) will be published today and come into effect on Monday 13 March, over a week later than originally planned. The hunting areas will be in place for at least the next five years."

"NPA first learnt of the full extent of forests proposed for hunting in February."

"Despite suggestions to the contrary, NPA fully supports the control of feral animals."

"Feral animals such as foxes, wild dogs, pigs, goats, rabbits, cats, horses and deer are causing serious degradation to the natural environment."

"However, their control requires a strategic approach using a range of measures, including trapping, baiting, and sometimes biological control. Shooting should only be carried out by professionals."

"Shooting a few foxes and pigs for fun is not how you protect our threatened species from ferals," concluded Mr Cox.

Oversight of hunting on public lands by the Game Council must end because:

• The Game Council has failed to properly consult the public who use the forests
• The Game Council is biased, being governed by a majority of hunters (see list below)
• Its methods undermine a strategic approach to feral animal control
• Hunters have been proven to deliberately release ferals into areas they hunt
  

For comment: Andrew Cox 9299 0000 (w); 0438 588 040 (mob)

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STATE FORESTS DECLARED HUNTING AREAS FOR FIVE YEARS 13 MARCH 2006
(*size of area declared as hunting area)

(Final list produced from information from NSW Government Gazette, Game Council, March 2006)

HUNTING REPRESENTIVES MAKING UP MAJORITY ON GAME COUNCIL:

1. Australian Deer Association
2. Federation of Hunting Clubs
3. Australian Hunters International
4. Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (New South Wales)
5. Hunters and Fishermen Association of New South Wales Artemis
6. Game Management Council of New South Wales (Gamecon NSW)
7. Field and Game Australia
8. Australian Bowhunters Association

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