NSW Game Council & Firearms

[moosenoose]

What are people's opinions on the closure of the NSW Game Council?

I'd gather most on here would be against feral animals preying on native fauna and flora, but it seems the NSW Gov couldn't give a rats, and have done nothing short of "protecting" feral animals in their State by the closure of all State Forests to hunting due to recent legislation.

Let me just get one thing perfectly clear, this isn't a Lib bashing exercise from me as I've always been (oh gasp!!) a Lib supporter, but the decision they've made has crossed the line in my books. Politicians come and go; Governments come and go; but extinction is forever. And NSW out of any State has a massive feral animal problem which it has now ignored.

Their latest equalizer is allowing a trial of hunting in National Parks. Clearly the way it is regulated will be destined to fail.

Seems to me like the Greens are firmly in the ear of the NSW Government as their policies are nothing short of "controlled extinction" for a wide range of already endangered native animals. Programs like "Adopt a Fox" send a clear message that the NSW Government isn't serious about native animals and their protection. Along with the fact that the Common Red Fox isn't even classified as a pest in NSW speaks volumes to me.

I gather the latest move by the NSW Gov is just another step in the direction to removing firearms from people who have earnt the right to possess them. The closing down of various ranges helps eliminate the "genuine reason" of owning a firearm, which is hunting and/or target shooting.

If you're a conservationist hunter as I classify myself, and you are in NSW, or even if you're not, and figure like I do that the tentacles of this decision in NSW will spread elsewhere, then I would recommend that you read up on the information supplied by the SSAA and Shooters Magazine about what you can do to help curb it.

I'm normally a fairly easy going "she'll be right" kind of bloke. But there are faceless beaurcrats undermining what you do and for no good reason. I'm sure there are plenty of other more important issues NSW could be focusing on, rather than abolishing a platform that had been working without incident or issue over the past 7 yrs.

 

[-Peter]

They were crooks, plain and simple and unable to guarantee they could undertake the legal aspects of the job. Why anyone would transfer the processing of licenses to a private body is beyond me. It has nothing to do with owning firearms and if you had made yourself a smidge more informed Luke you would know that. Since when did you become a reactionary?

 

[fox1977]

im a fox shooter my self and i know that we have a problem in NSW!!!

 

[moosenoose]

Do you yourself understand what the point is of banning hunting in State Forests Peter? I'm open for a little more insight. Please explain. Looks like a Greens squeeze if you ask me. Why after 7yrs of a flawless safety record would you disband something that was working and opt for allowing feral animals in these areas to do as they please.

Don't tell me you're an advocate for the wonders of 1080?

So please inform me.

 

[marcus0002]

The game council wasn't a private body it was a government department and they only issued hunting licences. Firearms licenses were and still are issued by nsw police.

The rumors I have been hearing is that state forest hunting should be reopened next month. So fingers crossed.

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[moosenoose]

Well that was my impression also, but apparently Peter thinks differently?

Game Council New South Wales was a statutory authority of the Government of New South Wales established in 2002 pursuant to the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002

On one hand Peter was correct in saying one of the heads of the Game Council had committed a firearms/hunting offense (I gather the result is still in the courts?), but then information of private individuals had been breached recently and given out by a member of the NSW police force. So there are unsavory likes in all businesses and walks of life, but you don't disband an entire system (that was working) without good reason or without an underlying goal.

The shutting down of firing ranges etc. Stinks of something more.

The newspaper reports of drive-bys etc, even here in Victoria (with the use of an AK47 shooting up a gym), it has nothing to do with licensed firearm owners, but everything to do with organized crime (who incidentally can bring in weapons as easy as they bring in contraband). But what does the NSW Government concentrate on? The vast majority of people who do the right thing.

 

[marcus0002]

Hit an easy target to look like your doing something and get more votes. Same sort of thing as targeting the motorcycle riders under the guise of clamping down on gangs. At least you don't have a 28 day waiting period for a bike yet.
Imagine if you had to wait 28 days to own a python just because some criminals like them as pets?

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[-Peter]

You've moved into conspiracy theory territory. Lets look at a couple of facts. There is no move in the government to remove hunting from NSW National Parks or state forests. The new system was disbanded and a moratorium was put in place while investigations were undertaken. Agree or disagree with the law that's a fact. Police have the information of every individual who legally owns a firearm in NSW, fact. The Game Council is an unelected body given authority by the NSW government to oversee the allocation of hunting license in NSW parks and state forests. While it was a Statutory authority the Game Council operated as a lobby organisation run by people with a direct vested interest in the outcomes.

 

[moosenoose]

Of course they have a direct interest in the outcomes Peter, they don't want bloody Greenies and anti's in there making all the rules.

Yes the police have all the details of registered firearm users, but should they be leaking that information? And to who? And for what?

You might suggest I'm looking at a conspiracy theory, and perhaps I am. I can only go by what I'm seeing. When a piece of work like David Shoebridge is in there undermining everything, my conspiracy theory goes from strength to strength.

Not a closet Greens supporter are you Peter? Shame on you

 

[thomasssss]

Hit an easy target to look like your doing something and get more votes. Same sort of thing as targeting the motorcycle riders under the guise of clamping down on gangs. At least you don't have a 28 day waiting period for a bike yet.
Imagine if you had to wait 28 days to own a python just because some criminals like them as pets?

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the waiting period leading up to getting your first fire arm makes perfect sense to me and i would hate to see it removed , you cant compare the possession of a fire arm to the possession of a reptile or motor bike , it would be silly

the waiting period isnt just in place to stop gangs etc getting fire arms , its there to help stop a number of offences ranging from suicide to pre meditated murder and everything in between

 

[moosenoose]

I have no problem with laws introduced by John Howard, or the former tightening of gun laws. They are totally sufficient. The cooling off period is ample, and the process to identify the potential owner as a person who is "fit and proper" is more than adequate.

Not many firearms owners in this country would ever want to be compared to the U.S and their nightmare of gun issues. But this thread isn't about the current laws, it's about potential laws coming into effect due to a squeeze being applied in NSW. To me it's even more than that. It's governments inability to do anything in regards to feral animal control. They need hunters in there doing their stuff.

 

[marcus0002]

The several month waiting period for your license is more than ample to stop impulse buys, I don't see how an extra month on top of that makes any difference other than inconvenienceing me. And a waiting period for each extra firearm is hardly going to have an effect when you already have one.

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[-Peter]

Green supporter? I'm an anarcho socialist. Am I green? I bleed sap.
The thing is, there is no squeeze in NSW. Its a beat up. That's the problem with gun ownership. It seems there is an ingredient in there that causes an exaggerated belief in conspiracy theories.

and adopt a fox ***, do you really believe that is a government program? I'll adopt the one killing everyones chickens around here if I can...:evil:

 

[moosenoose]

:lol: I didn't say it was a Government program, but clearly it's an acceptable organization by the government as foxes aren't a declared pest species in NSW. Now why would a government not declare an invasive predator like that as feral?

There's plenty going on in NSW that has hunters and firearms owners asking the same questions. Even I am asking the questions and you've already identified me previously as non-reactionary (but you said I am now ) I think plenty are still reeling from the breakneck changes that affected them last time, so you can't blame those in the "firing line" for being a little apprehensive. Especially with the rapid changes since Barry O'Farrell got in eg: banning of hunting in all State Forests by abolishing the Game Council and the closure of several rifle and pistol ranges.

- - - Updated - - -

I guess the point of this thread is this. If you're a hunter or target shooter or whatever. You might just want to take a peek at what's happening in NSW at the moment. I wouldn't have been so suss about anything much happening there with just the advent of them closing State Forests to hunters... but add the several range closures and my spidey-senses are starting to tingle a bit. Thank goodness Victoria haven't gone down this path...yet.

 

[moosenoose]

After the new legislation that passed yesterday it looks like feral animals are well on the protected lists in NSW (Well done to the Greens, Libs & Nationals not giving a stuff about native wildlife). Their National Parks hunting trial is destined to fail also - aka waste of time. Looks like anyone wanting to hunt feral animals in NSW won't bother spending their time or money leaping over the shards of red and green tape.

It just goes to show that hunters and target shooters should remain vigilant in the rest of the country to ensure they don't cop a shafting like NSW has. David Shoebridge is a disgrace.

 

[wokka]

As someone who doesn't have a strong opinion or interest either way, the view I have gained from the media is that the Game Council controlling hunting was a bit ilke putting the fox in charge of the hen house. I have been farming all my life and an earthmoving contractor and so spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. I would have to say that the past method of controlling feral animals hasn't worked. I am a great believer in - if it ain't broken , dont fix it! Well control of feral animals is definitely broken as was the Game Councils involvement in that. I would much rather see profeesional shooters dispose of feral animals rather than a bunch of part time hobby shooters spreading feral animals around the country for their own enjoyment.

 

[moosenoose]

As someone who doesn't have a strong opinion or interest either way, the view I have gained from the media is that the Game Council controlling hunting was a bit ilke putting the fox in charge of the hen house. I have been farming all my life and an earthmoving contractor and so spend a lot of time in the great outdoors. I would have to say that the past method of controlling feral animals hasn't worked. I am a great believer in - if it ain't broken , dont fix it! Well control of feral animals is definitely broken as was the Game Councils involvement in that. I would much rather see profeesional shooters dispose of feral animals rather than a bunch of part time hobby shooters spreading feral animals around the country for their own enjoyment.

That's a fair reply Wokka, but do you honestly think the Government will employ full-time shooters to even partially achieve what amateur hunters do free of charge?

Sure, it's a losing battle, but at least it was an ongoing battle. Thank heavens Victoria hasn't become that stupid or negligent to do what NSW has done.

The rumors spread about the Game Council might have had some merit, but it was a workable format. You don't disband an entire police force if you find a crooked cop do you? Like everyone else in the community, if you do something wrong you will be held accountable; and that's how it should be.

 

[-Peter]

Which legislation is this? Lets see, ammunition sales? No firearm use without a license? Search and seizure(Labor bill BTW)? Loosening up of air rifle provisions? Oh hang on, you mean the bills that allow game hunting in National Parks?

 

[moosenoose]

Which legislation is this? Lets see, ammunition sales? No firearm use without a license? Search and seizure(Labor bill BTW)? Loosening up of air rifle provisions? Oh hang on, you mean the bills that allow game hunting in National Parks?

Are you actually up to date with what's going on Peter or just showing your ignorance?

I don't mind any of those legislations. Mind you, the ammunition sales one is another ridiculous piece of legislative garbage.

The bill that allows game hunting in National Parks; 33 of the 800 or so (from memory) is a crock and was merely done to appease....actually nobody! It's designed to fail. and why is that? Because deep down they know hunting in National Parks (regardless of what they are hunting) is unpopular. And perhaps understandably so.

It's all smoke and mirrors to abolish all forms of hunting within the state of NSW.

 

[thomasssss]

Are you actually up to date with what's going on Peter or just showing your ignorance?

I don't mind any of those legislations. Mind you, the ammunition sales one is another ridiculous piece of legislative garbage.

The bill that allows game hunting in National Parks; 33 of the 800 or so (from memory) is a crock and was merely done to appease....actually nobody! It's designed to fail. and why is that? Because deep down they know hunting in National Parks (regardless of what they are hunting) is unpopular. And perhaps understandably so.

It's all smoke and mirrors to abolish all forms of hunting within the state of NSW.

i agree with some of your points but i do think your going just slightly over the top , i personally dont think there out to abolish all hunting in NSW there not going to try and stop old bill and bob from shooting a fox or rabbit on their property , if they ever do i will gladly eat my words

you earlier said that we in nsw are protecting ferals like foxes etc , can you please show me any kind of document thats says any type of introduced species is protected within our state ?
just because there not listed as feral doesnt automatically mean there protected , perhaps you need to get a better understanding of what a protected species is , because as far as i know i can still shoot any rabbit or fox i see on any land that i have permission by the land holder to shoot in