Environmentalists will aim to shoot down a plan which could pay hunters for killing invasive pests.
A bill before NSW Parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate due to resume on Wednesday.
It would better enable “conservation hunting” on private and public land to control invasive animals, as well as recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak has told parliament.
“It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone.”
It is also timely to introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, Mr Borsak said.
But the plan would repeat past mistakes, waste taxpayer funds and not significantly reduce feral populations according to critics.
“It will get in the way of real conservation and restoration efforts and is a distraction to the fundamental land management, biodiversity conservation and biosecurity reforms this government has an opportunity to really get some traction on,” Nature Conservation Council NSW chief executive Jacqui Mumford said.
Biodiversity Council director James Trezise has said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction.
“Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn’t an effective tool for invasive species management.”
Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak has said.
The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by “prescribed hunting organisations”.
It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management, and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management, but would not have responsibilities for enforcement or compliance.
It would also include an appropriately experienced wildlife management scientist among other ministerial and departmental appointments.
A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles.
The bill will face several amendments as it moves through parliament.
Greens MP Sue Higginson said the bill risks repeating earlier mistakes.
“The establishment of the Game Council by Premier Bob Carr was an unmitigated disaster that led to members of the public fearing being shot in the forest, worse land management outcomes, worse environmental outcomes, and straight up corruption.”
The council was abolished in 2013 following a review which found it was poorly governed and had an inherent conflict of interest in representing the interest of hunters, while also regulating the practice.
https://thewest.com.au/news/environment/pest-payday-up-for-debate-as-conservationists-take-aim-c-18918467
