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 Union orders rangers to defy hunting in parks 

Union orders rangers to defy hunting in parks

26 Oct, 2009 06:28 AM
UNION bosses have pledged to fight any deal the Rees Government negotiates with the Shooters' Party that would allow the hunting of feral animals in national parks.

The Public Service Association, which represents park rangers, has ordered its members not to assist in establishing recreational hunting in national parks in NSW.

The association's general secretary, John Cahill, says without the support of park rangers, a plan to introduce regulated hunting under the supervision of NSW National Parks would likely fail.

He called on uniformed rangers and other union members to attend a rally organised by the Greens tomorrow outside Parliament House.

The Shooters' Party, which holds the balance of power in the Legislative Council, says the bill will allow licensed gun owners the opportunity to play a more active role in conservation hunting programs in public lands.

The upper house MP Robert Brown says the intention is only to kill feral animals, not native.

But Mr Cahill said recreational shooters would compromise the feral animal control programs run by national parks officials, putting native flora and fauna at risk.

He expressed concern about danger to park rangers and the public if shooting were allowed in bushland popular with hikers and picnic groups.

The cosy relationship between the Government and the Shooters' Party disintegrated over a private member's bill that would allow hunting of feral animals in national parks and the establishment of game reserves.

Since mid year the Government has had to negotiate with the Opposition and the Greens to get legislation through the upper house.

Mr Cahill said any deal on national parks is "an attempt to garner the support of the Shooters' Party to assist in passing legislation through State Parliament".

The Greens MP Lee Rhiannon said: "For the PSA to break ranks … shows how universally repugnant shooting in national parks is and how low the Government's reputation has sunk."

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Date: Newest first | Oldest first
When the union pays the wages, then they get to call the shots. Until then they should crawl back under the rock they came out from. It would be a real shame if a recreational shooter killed a pest animal. It might help protect the environment and preserve a farmers livestock. What a tragedy that would be!
Posted by Brindi, 26/10/2009 9:11:01 PM, on The Land
The union needs to step out of the office and into reallity and see the damage done by feral animals. Once again another city based union out of touch.
Posted by ben, 27/10/2009 7:15:55 AM, on The Land
Would it be so bad to allow the shooting of pests like wild dogs in National Parks? Obviously the shooting would need to be strictly controlled as to dates, times, places, number of people shooting at any one time, etc as a free-for-all could be disastrous. It would also need to be closely supervised by the rangers so their support would be critical, but maybe a few would see it as saving them having to carry out the unpleasant task of shooting these pests themselves.
Posted by Arden, 27/10/2009 7:49:13 AM, on The Land
Do these workplace bullies actually know what damage and devastation these feral animals do to our native fauna? Feral animals should be shot on site!
Posted by tigerdicky, 27/10/2009 8:40:30 AM, on The Land
When these union officials get voted in by the general public then they can set government policy.
Posted by qlander, 27/10/2009 9:49:11 AM, on The Land
The National Parks service is underpaid, undermanned and underfunded and like its control of blackberries needs all the help it can get as both blackberries and feral animals are rampant. Have a close look at the area around Blowering and Talbingo. Maybe the greens could do some blackberry culling if they ever get out of their offices.
Posted by Tolly, 27/10/2009 4:09:10 PM, on The Land
When will people realise that so-called 'conservation hunting' is an oxymoron?!
Posted by Mystie., 27/10/2009 4:10:00 PM, on The Land
National Parks are meant to be tranquil and protected areas. If we let these gun-happy cowboys loose to shoot up the parks and shatter the serenity, terrify the Australian wildlife and cause many to die of myopia or wayward bullets, who is going to police a situation like that? And who is going to pick up all those empty beer cans and spent cartridges when the party's over?
Posted by Mystie., 27/10/2009 4:21:39 PM, on The Land
The redneck Shooters Party doesn't pay the wages either.
Posted by Mystie., 27/10/2009 4:23:01 PM, on The Land
It's obvious from the previous comments that the Shooters Party has been madly soliciting its members to post a comment! Just a thought - what happens when the Shooters Party has killed all the feral animals they are so keen on shooting?? They obviously must have plans to then move onto our native wildlife? For every single redneck shooter, there are fifty+ Australians that will fight against them to protect our wildlife from these testosterone-fueled ratbags.
Posted by Mari, 27/10/2009 5:03:53 PM, on The Land
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