Story: Jo Harrison
A healthy crowd rallied in the mall on Saturday to show their dissatisfaction at the O’Farrell Government’s decision to allow recreational hunting in national parks across NSW.
Organised by the National Parks Association of NSW, the rally was a lively affair, with a small group who support hunting in national parks voicing their views.
“Under Barry O’Farrell’s leadership, the very essence of why we create, and how we enjoy our beautiful national parks, has been destroyed. Amateur, recreational hunting has no place in our national parks,” said Justin McKee for the National Parks Association of NSW.
“Residents from Armidale have worked tirelessly for years to create a stunning network of national parks in the surrounding area. Every Liberal and National Party member of the NSW Government has failed to stand up and protect our ability to enjoy them in a peaceful and tranquil manner.”
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay echoed the sentiments of the various guest speakers opposing recreational hunting in NSW national parks. In a statement read out on the day, Mr Torbay stated: “This legislation is bad policy arrived at for the wrong reasons as part of a deal with the Shooters and Fishers Party to secure Upper House support for the sale of state owned electricity generators. The bill was put forward with little or no detail about the management of shooting in national parks. More importantly, there was no detail on what procedures would be put in place to guarantee public safety.”
Armidale Dumaresq Greens Councillor Peter O’Donohue spoke at the rally opposing hunting in national parks.
“The Greens oppose and condemn the actions of the Premier and, by direct extension, the actions of the Shooters and Fishers Party,” said Peter O’Donohue.
“Allowing access by shooters to national parks is supposedly based on feral animal control. This so-called justification is patently false. Amateur recreational hunting is not an effective way to control feral animals.”
Local landholder Matt Graham from the Australian Hunting Net Inc (AHNI) was part of a small contingent of recreational shooters who attended the rally.
“We came here today to listen to what the National Parks Association had to say,” said Matt Graham.
“However we pretty much knew what was going to be said but really we were here to counter any lies that were being told, basically that is all they have got against recreational hunting in national parks.
“We have had a very successful program in state forests for the last seven years; there is really no argument, there have been no major casualties.
“The whole premise that national parks users will be injured by hunters is just a fabrication.”
