Greens MP Cate Faehrmann and environment spokesperson has slammed Premier Barry O’Farrell for his deal with the Shooters Party that will see the integrity of NSW National Parks trashed and for breaking his promise not to allow hunting in National Parks.
“Today’s decision will change the face of National Parks forever. Barry O’Farrell has sold out the people of NSW with his broken promise that he won’t allow hunting in National Parks,” said Ms Faehrmann.
“The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) already has licensed hunters who undertake feral animal control in our national parks. If the government was serious about this they would pump more money in to NPWS so they could increase their targeted feral animal control efforts.
“The government says this is a logical extension of its existing feral animal control policy. This is nonsense. Extending hunting in National Parks to recreational hunters means the government has no control over the behaviour of shooters in National Parks.
“This is about recreational hunting and dirty deals, not genuine feral animal control.
“Scatter gun ad hoc recreational shooting outside of a targeted feral animal control programs is not an effective way to control feral animals.
“Included in the list of National Parks in the firing line are places like the Macquarie Marshes and Myall Lakes – havens for internationally protected water birds. What on earth does the Government think it is doing allowing trigger happy hunters into nature sanctuaries like this?
“The irony of this deal is that it was hunters who were responsible for introducing some of the worse feral animal problems to Australia (foxes and rabbits).
“This dirty deal is disgraceful and is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to attacks on National Parks expected to come from the Shooters – O’Farrell alliance,” said Ms Faehrmann.
Media contact: Peter Stahel 0433 005 727
Mr O’Farrell said on 13th April 2011:
“We have a mandate for the policies, programs and principles that we put forward [at the election.
“We have no intention of doing deals with the minor parties, to sell out those plans.
“There will not be a decision to turn our national parks into hunting reserves
