ENVIRONMENT, ANIMAL WELFARE AND GUN CONTROL ALLIANCE SAYS MP's VIEWS ON BLOOD SPORT BILL WILL COUNT

Tuesday, 09 April 2002 10:00

The alliance have sent a letter to every MP asking them whether they support or oppose the Bill, which returns to Parliament this week. They intend to publicise the results in each electorate in order to inform the public of their representative's views.

"We believe that once the broader public is aware of the cruel, unnecessary and pathetic intent of this legislation they would be horrified if they discovered their local representative backs it" said Total Environment Centre director Jeff Angel on behalf of the anti- Game Bill alliance.

"There is no rhyme nor reason for this blood sport Bill, other than to fulfil a deal made between the Carr Government and John Tingle of the Shooters Party," said Mr Angel. "It is a Bill written by recreational hunters for recreational hunters, and promotes shooting, pig dogging and other hunting of native and introduced species on public and private land across NSW."

"The Government and Coalition are claiming the Bill is about regulation and pest control yet it will serve to undermine and weaken both. As declared game, pest species are more likely to be retained, introduced or dispersed by recreational hunters, as happens already, than controlled or eliminated. And regulation is a joke when every aspect of hunting under this Bill is run by the hunters themselves," said Mr Angel

"It also allows almost any public land to be declared exclusively available for hunting without prior public knowledge, undermines other legislation and government agencies, encourages animal cruelty, gun ownership and violence, and creates a powerful sub-government department run by hunters for hunters."

"In view of the impact this Bill will have on our wildlife, the further promotion of guns and violence, and its alienating of public land from the broader community into the hands of shooters and hunters - I am sure most MPs will want to express their opposition in the strongest terms" said Mr Angel.