Animal Welfare

Think tank for kangaroos leads the way

thebigriboldi — 2011-03-02T20:19:34Z

I met with staff at THINKK this week. Their work is very impressive and worth checking out. This think tank for kangaroos, part of the Institute for Sustainable Futures at the University of Technology Sydney, is working to promote understanding about kangaroos in a sustainable environment.

I met with Dr Dror Ben-Ami and Keely Boom, two of the THINKK research fellows.

Below are some of the issues they briefed me on.

The last time there was such an inquiry was in 1988. The final report of the Senate Select Committee on Animal Welfare found that “[t]o some extent, cruelty to kangaroos has become institutionalized through the system of kangaroo management”.

Interestingly there was a minority report by one member of the committee. He stated that “For the welfare of the kangaroos, the industry should be closed ..”.

Dror and Keely explained that the trade in kangaroo meat has grown out of the perception that kangaroos are pests. By 1936 more than a million kangaroos were slaughtered and their skins traded. It was not until the 1950s that kangaroo meat was traded.

Over the last decade federal and state governments have approved an annual commercial kill of four to six million kangaroos and wallabies each year. It is understood that more animals are killed without authority.

The staggering figures makes Australia the site of the largest land-based slaughter of wildlife in the world.

THINKK's report Shooting our wildlife concludes that governments have not provided any justification for the mass killing of kangaroos and wallabies which results is poor welfare outcomes for these marsupials.

This THINKK report concludes that these practices”may pose a risk to Australia's sustainability”.

I was impressed when talking with Dror and Keely and reading their reports how they are striving for a balanced approach to ensure the future welfare and survival of all our macropod species and also addresses problems many farmers do face in dealing with native wildlife.

The other THINKK report Advocating kangaroo meat towards ecological benefit or plunder? is a useful follow up to the first report . The authors pose a series of questions that need to be addressed:

1. To what extent do kangaroos impinge on grazier income?

2. What non-lethal means can be pursued to mitigate conflict where it occurs?

3. What non-lethal land management -policies can be pursued to alleviate total grazing pressure and retain value for graziers?

4. What policies could be implemented to reflect more up-to-date findings?

Kangaroos are the top herbivores in their habitat. Surely it is time we understood the implications of selectively removing them.

Cold-hearted deer hunter a 'criminal'

leerhiannon — 2010-06-15T04:40:02Z

To read the article in its original context:

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/coldhearted-deer-hunter-a-criminal/1855516.aspx

Cold-hearted hunters who beheaded a deer and dumped its carcass in suburban Figtree have been branded "criminals" and "trespassers" by the shooting fraternity's peak body.

Shooting experts believe it was killed by illegal trophy hunters seeking its prized antlers.

Shocked Figtree residents find headless deer

The NSW Game Council has seized on the incident as proof its bid to manage deer culling across the Illawarra should be fast-tracked.

Chief executive Brian Boyle said greater Game Council involvement would "see an end to these undesirable incidents".

"The fact is that this deer that was virtually left on a resident's doorstep was not taken by a hunter - it was taken by a criminal, a trespasser, who deserves to be investigated by police and brought to account," he said.

"A Game Council hunter would have certainly done things differently."

Its hunters were required to seek permission from landowners before hunting and were trained to properly dispose of remains, he said.

Their shooters were also encouraged to use all meat from their quarry, rather than just taking the antlers.

The Game Council has long been lobbying Wollongong City Council for permission to shoot deer - the city's No 1 pest - on council land.

But the group has encountered strong criticism from the Greens and animal welfare groups, who insist professional hunters should be used to carry out the killing.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon scoffed at suggestions the Game Council should be handed responsibility for deer culling in the Illawarra, describing its programs as "scientifically unsound and environmentally damaging".

"The job of managing the Illawarra's feral deer problem should lie with government experts skilled in evidence-based, safe andeffective invasive species management," Ms Rhiannon said.

A council spokeswoman said it would begin an "expression of interest" process in coming weeks to engage licensed shooters to cull deer on council land.

The process would consider safety, cost, animal welfare and risk management, she said.

The decapitated deer was removed by the landowner yesterday morning.

Time Garrett backed call for koala listing upgrade to 'vulnerable'

aorme — 2010-07-08T06:24:24Z

Greens NSW MP Lee Rhiannon has backed the call of the
Australian Koala Foundation for Environment Minister Peter Garrett to
upgrade the listing of koalas to 'vulnerable'.

"The Greens are working with communities across NSW committed to
safeguarding koala habitat. Their experiences highlight the need for
greater protection of this unique Australian animal," Ms Rhiannon
said.

"Minister Garrett's announcement that he is considering listing the
koala as ‘conservation dependant' will not provide the protection
needed to safeguard koala populations currently under threat from
logging, land clearing and urban development.

"I urge the Minister to work with the Australian Koala Foundation as
this group has established the need for the koala to be listed as
'vulnerable' under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity
Conservation Act.

"Communities in the southeast, Port Stephens and the Gunnedah region
who are working hard to protect koala habitat have informed me of
their work.

"Listing koalas as 'vulnerable' would greatly assist their volunteer efforts.

"I am aware of other groups and individuals in northeast NSW and other
areas that restore injured koalas to good health and campaign to
protect their habitat.

"Minister Garrett can quickly help these volunteer efforts by changing
the listing," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568.

Mumbulla forest wins logging halt, but koala habitat still at risk

leerhiannon — 2010-07-09T03:52:12Z

"The halt to logging within two compartments with significant Aboriginal heritage values is an important win in the campaign to protect the Mumbulla forest," said Ms Rhiannon.

"I congratulate the traditional owners for pursuing the protection of their heritage.

"Areas in the two logging compartments were gazetted as Aboriginal places in the 1980s. They should have been included in the Biamanga National Park. They should never have been approved for logging.

"I call on Environment Minister Frank Sartor to also halt logging areas within the two adjacent compartments that are comprised of valuable koala habitat.

"It is unethical for Environment Minister Sartor to allow logging to continue in the precious koala habitat of the Mumbulla State Forest," Ms Rhiannon said.

South Coast based Chipstop campaigner, Harriett Swift has been present at the forest blockades since logging started on 29th March.

"Today's decision recognises the importance of the mountain to the Yuin people and also gives us hope for the survival of the koala in our region,” said Harriett Swift.

"I was thrilled to join my community in the forest this morning to see the departure of the enormous logging machines that have been destroying the koala habitat.

"Compartment 2135 and the northern section of 2133 were declared and gazetted as an Aboriginal Place in 1984 as a result of the Guboo Ted Thomas campaigning in the 1970s. Most of the area is now in Biamanga National Park, with ownership handed back to the traditional owners.

"The status of the remaining areas of Mumbulla State forest is still unclear, but conservationists are gearing up for further struggles over the significant amount of koala habitat forest that remains at risk," said Ms Swift.

For more information: Lee Rhiannon 0427 861 568

Harriett Swift, Chipstop campaigner - 0414 908 967

Visit Lee's website: http://endsoutheastwoodchipping.wordpress.com/

Orphan deer exposes irresponsible shooting programs

leerhiannon — 2010-07-09T03:53:12Z

(Daily Telegraph, page 1, http://bit.ly/aYXi1g)

"When non-professional shooters are used to cull animals, poor practices can go undetected," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Animal welfare and public safety are being put at risk by the cowboy operations of recreational shooters in the Illawarra area.

"The NSW government's backing of the Game Council implies that shooting is the way to control feral animals.

"This policy is becoming increasingly discredited due to safety concerns, animal cruelty issues and the increase in feral animal numbers.

"We don't know exactly what happened to the fawn's mother but it is unsurprising locals have linked this orphaned fawn with the activities of recreational shooters.

"The failure to have animal welfare groups supervise culls, as required in professional operations, could well be linked to this sad story.

"This fawn has suffered greatly from losing its mother. The government needs to get its priorities right and ensure that any culling programs do not put orphaned animals at further risk.

"The NSW government has been too willing to meet the wishes of the Shooters Party by allowing the expansion of recreational shooting. This orphaned fawn could well be the sorry end to one of those hunting expeditions," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 0427 861 568

Move for Upper House inquiry into RSPCA koala seizure

susie — 2010-04-07T22:35:33Z

"My office has received a number of complaints about the work of the RSPCA in the Gunnedah area in recent months and this Inquiry is clearly needed," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Concerns have been raised about why Waterways Wildlife Park was raided and the role of Channel 7 which filmed the raid for a lengthy period.

"Two months after staging the raid the RSPCA have determined that no charges will be laid.

"The raid and seizure of the koalas raises many worrying questions about how the RSPCA operates.

"The local independent MP Peter Draper is backing the Greens call for this Inquiry.

"If the Coalition and crossbench MPs support the Greens motion on this issue we will have the numbers to set up the Inquiry in the Upper House.

"The Inquiry is needed to examine all circumstances surrounding the koala seizure, and to investigate the appropriateness of the RSPCA’s relationship with a reality television program when staging the raid.

"While the Channel 7 show Animal Rescue undertook many hours of filming during the raid I understand that the show about the seizure of the koalas will now not go to air.

"From my talks with the owners of Waterways Wildlife Park and Gunnedah Councillors Tim Duddy and Leon Miles there is a clear need for this inquiry to also consider the work of the compliance arm of the RSPCA.

"A number of Gunnedah locals have put to me a strong case for this aspect of the RSPCA's work to be shut down and for the police stock squad to undertake such work.

"This Inquiry would provide an opportunity to investigate the incident at Waterways Wildlife Park and to apply the lessons learnt from this incident to improving animal welfare in rural NSW," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information – 0427 861 568

Animal deaths: calls to investigate Eastern Star Gas Co

alisono — 2009-12-11T03:16:22Z

"Gas mining giant Eastern Star, exploring for gas in the Narrabri and Gunnedah region, should be investigated for possible breaches of its license," Ms Rhiannon said.

"These ponds hold waste water that contains a cocktail of toxic materials. It is clear the fencing installed by Eastern Star is inadequate to stop animals or small children from entering these very dangerous sites.

"Backyard pools are required to be properly fenced, why isn't Eastern Star under the same obligation?

"Neighbouring farmer Tony Pickard found and photographed the dead animals. Following media attention, the site has been cleaned up.

"One kangaroo had jumped a 1 metre high temporary fence and drowned in a drilling well hole. Three wallabies were found dead next to a waste water pond at a neighbouring Eastern Star drill site.

"Mr Pickard has contacted the Department of Primary Industries, NSW National Parks & Wildlife and the RSPCA to request that they investigate, with no response.

"Eastern Star has been on notice for some years about their poor fencing. A number of years ago they were forced to erect 8-foot high chain fencing around their main Bibblewindi gas gathering site after publicity about other wildlife deaths. Since then very little seems to have happened.

"This State Forest area is home to a great variety of precious wildlife, including a large undisturbed natural colony of koalas. We simply do not know how many other animals may have gained access and died after drinking from these toxic ponds.

"There should be a thorough investigation of these latest incidents to ensure the safety of wildlife and humans at all of Eastern Star's exploration sites.

"If Eastern Star has breached their licence conditions then they should be prosecuted. If not they should still do the decent thing and ensure these toxic ponds of waste are properly fenced to ensure everyone's
safety," Ms Rhiannon said.

Contact: Greens MP Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568
Farmer Tony Pickard – 02 6793 2104
Photos available on request.

Tasmanian forests – World Heritage plan to stop the clear felling

alisono — 2009-11-04T04:00:05Z

The destruction of parts of the South Weld Forests that border the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area is extreme. I was in the Weld last Friday. The magnificence of the forests untouched by the ravages of Forestry Tasmania is very special.

With staff from Senator Bob Brown's office, local activists and a colleague from my days at Rainforest Information Centre and her children we set out to explore this remarkable landscape.

To reach the starting point for our wilderness walk we had to drive through an industrial logging camp. The destructive practices could not be worse. Everything is trashed. Locals describe the operations as "clear-fell, burn, poison, shoot". Clear-felling to within 100 metres of the national park boundary has already occurred.

I had to ask for an explanation of the "shoot" part of the plan. I had obviously seen the clear-felling and had read about the burning of what Forestry call "waste" and the poisoning of regrowth and animals. But the shooting was new to me.

The explanation is one more perverse activity that human beings sometimes perpetrate on our fellow beings on this planet.

Shooters are paid $70 an hour to spend their evenings roaming through replanted state forests looking for native wildlife to shoot. Forestry Tasmania is worried a few seedlings will be devoured.

The Weld and other forests of universal value that surround the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area should never have been logged.

The Australian Greens have put forward a plan for an expanded World Heritage Area that would ensure the destruction ends and protection is put in place. "Western Tasmania, a place of outstanding universal value", if implemented, would provide protection to areas that satisfy the World Heritage criteria and extend the economic benefit that currently flows to many towns and regions associated with the existing World Heritage Area. This plan was commissioned by Senator Bob Brown and written by Geoff Law.

It is estimated that the existing World Heritage areas brings in $200 million in annual income for Tasmania and creates more than 5,000 jobs.

The other fascination this area held for me is the story of the Weld Angel. Art and actions are to the forefront in the campaign to save the Weld.

For being perched on top of a tripod dressed as a Weld Angel, Allana Beltran, was sued by Forestry Tasmania and the Tasmanian Police for nearly $10,000. They made out they had to recover their costs. After much wasting of time and money in early 2008 the case was dismissed by Magistrate Peter Dixon.

The outcome has wide implications. Protesters do have rights despite what Forestry Tasmania might do and say.

The court action against the Weld Angel sent her images flashing around the world. They have appeared on postcards, Senator Bob Brown’s website and in Richard Flanagan’s Monthly essay on Tasmanian forestry operations.

The message of the Weld Angel and the thousands of others who support protecting Tasmania's forests is also on its way to Japan.

Anja Light, who I visited the Weld with, is another extraordinary forest campaigner. In the early 1990s we worked together on many Rainforest Information Centre campaigns to save the forests of Southeast Asia.

Anja wanted to take our message direct to the people of Japan so they would understand what Japanese logging companies were doing to the world's native forests. Anja learnt Japanese to help ensure her message was heard and has visited Japan on many occasions for campaigning tours. She is about to head off again to amplify our message that the woodchipping of Australian native forests must end.

Her achievements for forests in Latin America, Southeast Asia and Australia are extensive and impressive. So it is good to be working with her again.

And thanks to Adam Burling from Senator Bob Brown's office who arranged our visit and to local forest campaigners, Jasmine Wills and Nishant Datt, and Marcus Tatton, a local sculptor, who joined us on our magnificent bushwalk.

Check out the Huon Valley Environment Centre for more on the campaign to save the Weld.

Kangaroo slaughter for Bathurst 1000 puts car race before animal welfare

alisono — 2009-10-02T00:18:27Z

"The slaughter of 140 kangaroos and their joeys, estimated to be almost the entire population at Mount Panorama, for the sake of a motorcar race is a knee-jerk response that is not justified," Ms Rhiannon said.

"Bathurst City Council is using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.

"The Council should have continued its practice of herding the kangaroos off the site before the event.

"Allowing the kangaroo slaughter for the sake of a car race is a dereliction of duty on the part of the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Bathurst City Council.

"There are other more humane and ethical ways of managing the possible safety risks.

"Council could herd the kangaroos away before the race to provide safety for them and motorists. It could also work to create corridors for dispersal in future.

"This large scale culling exercise is at odds with the usual harvesting quotas of 15 percent of a kangaroo population and is not sustainable.

"Local consulting ecologist Ray Mjadwesch judges that a license to shoot 140 kangaroos would most likely wipe out the entire population at Mount Panorama.

"At this time of the year many kangaroos will have a joey at foot and one in the pouch.

"It is unclear if the Council has a Kangaroo Management Plan to deal with these infants when their mothers are killed.

"National Parks and Wildlife reportedly issued two licenses to Bathurst City Council to conduct the cull, the first for 60 kangaroos and the second for 80.

"In recent years kangaroos have mistakenly entered onto the track. In 2007 a number of cars swerved and missed a kangaroo during the race.

"The risk of a car crash needs to be managed, but that can be done with non-lethal control methods," Ms Rhiannon said.

For more information: 9230 3551, 0427 861 568

Abolish the Game Council

Susie Gememll — 2009-09-02T02:59:14Z

The message from tonight's meeting is that the NSW Game Council has to go – we need a broad based campaign to wind up this organisation.

Mr Robert Brown presents himself as Mr Reasonable but we should be in no doubt that what he and his colleagues are about is using public money to promote their sporting interests. This is not about feral animal control - it is about going hunting with your mates.

The whole premise of the Game Council is a farce, born out of the reciprocal relationship between NSW Labor and the Shooters Party to exchange favours in the NSW parliament.

The Game Council would never have seen the light of day if it was judged on its merit.

The Game Council is an unaccountable body that:
·    sucks millions of dollars of public money
·    puts public safety at risk
·    inflicts unacceptable animal suffering, and
·    is a set back to the management of feral animals.

The amount of public money is considerable –
o    $3.5 million last year, and
o    $2.8 million is expected this year

The speakers tonight have set out a clear case of why the Shooters Party legislation - the Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill – is an ugly and unnecessary piece of legislation.

I would like to look at how it has come to this. How does a political party, which at the last election gained only 2.8 per cent of the vote, come to have so much sway with the NSW government? And let's not forget the opposition.

The establishment of the Game Council, the weakening of gun control laws and the other wins the Shooters Party has achieved have been won with both Labor and Coalition support.

Opposition to Shooters Bill

Firstly, some good news. The Game and Feral Animal Control Amendment Bill has not become a law already because of massive public opposition. My office received more than 1000 emails, faxes and letters from people deeply troubled by this push.

Your public outcry put the Labor government on notice that this Bill went too far. I had senior government ministers – and I am not referring to Carmel Tebbutt – say to me not just that the Bill should not pass but that the relationship between the government and the Shooters Party was too close.

I am certainly not saying we have won. We need to keep the pressure on and if you are opposed to this Bill I encourage you to let your local member know and let the Premier know your concerns.

Establishment of the Game Council

A frequently asked question is “How has NSW found itself in this position, where two members of the Shooters Party have so much power that they are able to win support of the government and the opposition to weaken gun control measures, gain millions of dollars for shooting complexes and the establishment of the Game Council?"

It is worth looking more closely at the relationship between the Shooters Party and the Labor government.

When Labor was elected in 1995 they had a majority in the Legislative Assembly, while in the Legislative Council a variety of independents held the balance of power. This was the election that saw the Shooters Party enter parliamentary politics.

Who knows if it is true, but the corridor talk in the 1990s was that the then premier Bob Carr and John Tingle, the Shooters Party MP, who had been colleagues when they both worked as journalists, had a weekly cup of tea.

I know of no evidence of what was discussed at these events but as the years rolled by two trends emerged.

·    Mr Tingle supported unpopular Labor legislation when the government struggled to gain the numbers.
·    From the mid 1990s the gun lobby enjoyed unprecedented success in winning:
o    millions of dollars for new shooting complexes,
o    support for their legislative program, and
o    the establishment of the NSW Game Council.

A major achievement for the shooters lobby was when John Tingle won Premier Carr's support for the establishment of a Ministerial Advisory Committee on Shooting Clubs (MACOSC). The purpose of the committee was to:
·    provide a whole-of-Government approach to issues affecting shooting clubs,
·    help clubs obtain Crown Land for shooting ranges, and
·    obtain government finance.

This is some achievement – shooters having their own ministerial advistory committee that has a whole of govt approach – I think we read that to mean all ministers doors are open to you and its works on obtaining government finance and obtaining public land for the sport of shooting.

MACOSC has delivered for shooters but there is no publicly available information on who sits on this committee, no minutes, no transparency.

Money for Shooting Complexes

Let's look at what has been won for the shooters lobby since the first Shooters MP was elected to the NSW parliament.

·    From 1998 to 2001 the Shooters Party secured over $5 million in additional funding for shooters clubs.
·    An average 20 clubs per year were given funding ranging from $2,000 to $45,000 for specific projects.
·    Overall shooting clubs received a huge increase in public funding and several new shooting ranges and regional shooting complexes were built.

John Tingle in his newsletter 22 June 2001 said:

“Sport and Rec has some $4 million to distribute amongst all sporting bodies in the state, and the demand is heavy.    Approximately $100,000 is tagged each year for shooting clubs.   I’d like it to be more, but we try to place it where it will do the most good.     The fact that we’ve managed to persuade the Government to allocate well over $2.5 million extra in the last 3 years, in addition to the standard Sport and Rec grants makes up for the shortfall, I believe.”
https://www.ssaa.org.au/newssaa/political%20archive/documentsofinterest/australianz/nswspnewsletter.doc.

Land for shooting complexes

The Shooters Party, through MACOSC:
·    gained 540 hectares for the Illawarra Shooting Association in the Dharawal Nature Reserve.
·    played a key role in establishing or extending shooting complexes at Cessnock, Emmaville, Inverell-Glen Innes, Mudgee, Bodalla, Port Macquarie, Kempsey, Hilltop and Hornsby.
·    obtained Crown Land for the Far South Coast Hunting Club at Bodalla.
·    started lobbying for the Southern Highlands Regional Shooting Facility.

John Tingle was very proud of his achievements and set them out in his many newsletters.

Shooters Party support for government bills

Shooters Party MPs in the Upper House have provided reliable support to the Labor government:
·    in tight votes to have bills passed,
·    to block the release of secret government documents, and
·    against potentially embarrassing parliamentary inquiries.

Legislation backed by Shooters Party MPs

·    Law and order bills - Crimes Act, various amendments
·    Weakening of Workers Compensation Legislation. (2001)
·    Planning laws - Environmental Planning and Assessment Act amendments (Part 3A) and Environmental Planning Legislation Amendment bills. Part 3A allows large developments, like shooting complexes, to more easily proceed. (2005)
·    Gene Technology (GM crop moratorium) Bill. (2003)
·    Biodiversity Banking Bill, set to cause loss of high conservation areas. (2005)
·    Stopped the public release of documents relating to the Sydney desalination plant and the proposed M4 East motorway. (2007)
·    Helping the government avoid a public inquiry into how planning laws have delivered the planning system to the big developers who donate millions to the Labor Party. (2007)
·    Keeping the Greens off the Political Funding Inquiry, which had been initiated by the Greens. (2007)
·    Blocking the Greens private members bill to ban mining on prime agricultural land. (2009)
·    V8 supercar race at Homebush. (2009)
·    Repco rally in northern NSW. (2009)

Why do 2 Shooters Party MPs have so much power?

In the NSW Legislative Council:
·    Total number of MPs - 42
·    One MP becomes President
·    Majority needed to win vote - 21

From 2003-2007:
·    The government had 18 votes and needed at least 4 additional votes to get a majority, however it had a cross bench of 11 to work with.
·    There was only one Shooters Party MP.

After the 2007 election:
·    The government has 19 MPs – one MP is President leaving 18 government votes.
·    Cross benches
o    Four Greens MPs
o    Two Shooters MPs
o    Fred Nile – Christian Democrat
o    Gordon Moyes – independent
·    The government needs three of these votes to secure a vote.
·    Fred Nile regularly votes with the government.

Current state of play in NSW Upper House

·    The Shooters MPs have been reliable supporters of the government for unpopular legislation.
·    Shooters Party MPs Robert Brown and Roy Smith and Christian Democrat MP Fred Nile have voted with Labor in over 60% of divisions in which they voted.
·    Shooters Party vote becomes more important because they represent 2 of the 3 votes needed by the government.

Shooters Party wins since 2007 election

Since the 2007 election the Shooters Party have had a number of wins in the Upper House. The nature of these wins gives an insight into why Robert Brown and Roy Smith would have thought they were over the line with their planned amendments to the Game Council Bill.

Two major changes that Shooters Party lobbied for since the 2007 election were both passed:
·    with support of all Labor and the Coalition MPs.
·    during the busiest time of parliamentary sitting when the Shooters Party has maximum leverage as government has many bills it wants to pass.

1.    June 2008 – Shooters Party introduces Firearms Amendment Bill.
o    Labor and Coalition vote to bring this on as a matter of urgency. Bill passed.
o    Changes mean that unlicensed people can access and use guns at shooting clubs, an end to waiting times for licensed owners buying additional guns and weaker penalties for breaches of the Firearms Act.
o    This is the first watering down of the national uniform gun laws brought in after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.

2.    December 2008 – Government legislation on domestic violence amended.
o    Perpetrators of domestic violence who have been the subject of an apprehended violence order can regain their firearms when the AVO is revoked.
o    Prior to this change anyone subject of an apprehended violence court order had to wait 10 years to hold a gun licence.

Biggest Shooters Party win remains the NSW Game Council

·    Set up in 2002 on an initiative from the Shooters Party.
·    Responsible Minister Ian Macdonald promised that the Game Council would be self-funding.
·    The NSW Auditor General in 2008 raised significant concerns about the financial viability of the Game Council.
·    The Treasurer approved $5 million dollars in NSW Tcorp loans between 2004/2005 and 2006/2007.
·    When the Game Council failed to pay back $2 million the government wiped the loan.
·    October 2007 the Cabinet Standing Committee on the Budget approved additional recurrent funding and requested the Game Council develop a business plan by 30 June 2008.
·    Minister Ian Macdonald has refused to:
o    release the 2008-2012 Business Plan for public scrutiny, deeming it 'commercial in confidence'.
o    provide a date for when the Game Council will become self-funding. The government will only say it has 'developed a number of scenarios regarding the future funding of the Game Council'.

The Game Council's poor financial health continues despite an increase in the number of restricted game hunting licenses being issued following an advertising blitz across Sydney and rural areas in 2008/2009.

New figures just obtained by the Greens show that the NSW Game Council has spent well over $1 million over the last five years in advertising, with its annual advertising budget increasing more than five times since 2004/2005.

Government funding

Government funding levels have increased dramatically since the Game Council was first established. A significant drop in funding in 2006/2007 was followed by an unprecedented boost in 2007/2008 as a result of the Council's pressing debt problem . Questioning from the Greens revealed that $2.89 million is expected to be allocated to the Council in 2008/2009, but the final figure is not yet publicly available.

Game Council = hunting weekend with your mates

·    372 State forests licensed for hunting.
·    Over 9,000 licensed voluntary conservation hunters today in NSW.
·    standard license fee costs an economical $60

Is the government keeping the Game Council afloat as a trade off for the Shooters Party MPs voting with the government when the numbers are tight on crucial votes in the NSW Upper House?

We may never know the answer to that question. But whatever the reason, the financial arrangements of the Game Council should be clear and publicly available.

Shooters use language of science and conservation to mask their intent

In 2007 Shooters Party MP Roy Smith, in his first speech in parliament, said his party would "pursue the reintroduction of science-based duck and quail seasons and the expansion of the highly successful Game Council model to include conservation hunting in national parks".

The use of this language does not legitimise the Shooters Party attempts to pursue their sport using public money and public land.

Shooters Party donations

In the lead up to the 2007 election the Shooters Party declared taking $667,370 in donations. Roy Smith was the Shooters Party candidate. He brought in huge donations from the Sporting Shooters Association Australia (NSW) Inc (SSAA (NSW)).

Roy Smith was the Executive Officer of the SSAA (NSW) at the time that it donated a total of $428,175 to his own Shooters Party election campaign. His name even appears on some of the donor forms. A further $124,786 of the campaign money was donations in kind made from the SSAA (NSW) to the Shooters Party for office expenses, staff and advertising. That’s well over half a million dollars.

Roy Smith was certainly delivering for his mates when he undertook to expand the Game Council and resume duck-hunting season.

In the lead up to the 2003 election, before Roy Smith and his SSAA connections came on the scene, the Shooters Party only raised $256,782 - half the amount raised in 2007.

A question for Robert Brown is why doesn't he attract the same level of donations from his shooting mates as Roy Smith and is he pushing so hard for hunting in national parks to shore up support for his 2011 re-election bid.

Greens policy on firearms

The Shooters Party run a scare campaign on the Greens position on firearms.
·    Greens policy is not to stop sporting shooting or take all guns off people.
·    Do not support guns being stored in urban homes.
·    Call for guns in urban areas are to be stored at gun clubs under lock and key, with firing mechanisms kept at designated police stations.

National Parks – protection

·    In recent months understandably public concern has concentrated on the Shooters Party push to shoot in national parks.
·    At same time national parks under threat from the NSW government's plan to expand commercial tourism development and in particular construct new accommodation facilities inside National Parks.
·    Our voice of concern needs to be heard in opposition to the commercialisation of national parks.

Our message to the government

I urge that you contact your local member and Premier Nathan Rees with a clear four point message -
·    Wind up the NSW Game Council.
·    Re-direct the Game Council budget to truly scientific feral animal control programs.
·    No commercialisation of national parks.
·    In the Upper House no deals, debate legislation on its merit.

Thankyou.

End