Recreational Hunters' Dispersal Of Feral Pigs Should Make Scrapping The Blood-Sport "Game" Bill A Pr

Thursday, 20 June 2002 10:00

The recently reported widespread dispersal of breeding feral pigs across NSW by hunters and shooters should make scrapping the Game Bill a priority a peak state environment group said today.

The Total Environment Centre said recent government agency reports of recreational hunters breeding and dispersing feral pigs across the Sydney Basin and other previously pig free areas should put an end to the only excuse given for the Game Bill - that giving more opportunities to recreational hunters will help reduce pest numbers.

"Rather than solving pest problems, the pro-shooter Game Bill makes it easier for such irresponsible activity as the dispersal of breeding feral pigs to occur. Its reliance on hunter self-regulation, the increase in lands that can be used by recreational hunters and its undermining of agencies and Acts that try to prevent such irresponsible hunter action are just some of the areas where the Bill falls down," said TEC campaigner Fran Kelly.

"The Game Bill is simply a sop to the recreational hunter and shooter fraternity - it legitimises and eases pig dogging and other hunting activities . The irresponsible actions by so many hunters should lead to an increase in legislation and action that stops such activity, including making pig dogging and other forms of pig hunting by anyone other than contracted professionals and agencies illegal," said Ms Kelly.

"Warnings of the continued dispersal and breeding of the favoured targets of recreational hunters - mainly pigs and deer - and the diseases such as foot and mouth that they can spread if they ever get hold should serve as a red light to the Government to switch the path it is following. Instead of doing whatever it can to please recreational hunters it should be giving out a clear signal that their activity is unwelcome in NSW. A start would be the scrapping of the Game Bill," said Ms Kelly.