Commenting on the passing of legislation in the NSW Parliament to allow recreational hunters to shoot in national parks the President of Bushwalking Australia David Reid said today,“The action by the NSW Government in passing of legislation to allow hunters to shoot in national parks supposedly to cull feral animals is a serious threat to passive recreation in parks and reserves.
“We support the removal/reduction of feral animals from natural areas. However we have not seen any evidence, based on good science, that allowing recreational shooters into parks is the best way to deal with this issue”.
“Furthermore in this case we don’t think the government is really serious because the Premier in his press release has effectively admitted that this action was purely a deal with the shooters party so that he could secure the passing of legislation related to the sale of state owned electricity generation assets”.
“It leaves us with a clear impression that the decision was based on political expediency rather than on good science based conservation management practice”.
“Our view is that this is just the thin line end of the wedge” said Mr Reid.
“We are aware that the hunting fraternity have already made other representations to the government to allow recreational hunting of other species (some of them native) such as ducks and quail”.
“Where will it end? This sort of action has the potential to create a fear of serious injury amongst passive park users not to mention discouraging people from undertaking activities that are consistent with the values of parks and reserves that are embedded in the National Parks Act”.
Policy Statement – Shooting in Parks
Further media enquiries; president@bushwalkingaustralia.org.