This bill will give the government the option of using trained and accredited Game Council Hunters to control feral pests in areas where there is a feral pest problem. It in no way allows the hunting of native animals in National Parks. In state forests this has been occurring for about 3 years, with none of the problems opponents predicted. The only effect is the removal of over 20,000 feral animals giving our endangered native animals a chance to prosper.

Has Mr Fleming even taken the time to read what the Bill is, for goodness sake the Bill is about protecting our Native wildlife species in National Parks, not the scaremongering statements about hunters being allowed to kill them. If tourists hear a gunshot in the distance they should be grateful that the next generation of Australians might also be able to enjoy our Native wildlife because another feral pest has been removed. The outdated pic of the shot Wedge Tail Eagle supplied by Coastwatchers is just sickening sensationalism and shows the deceitful measures misinformed people like Mr Fleming will go to. Thankfully the NSW state Gov are seeing the benefits of regulated hunting in State and National parks, definitely one of the better policies adopted in recent times.

“The idea of tourists and hunters mixing in our South Coast parks is totally ridiculous without the further idea of killing the native wildlife for fun,” Coastwatchers president Mark Fleming said. Mark Fleming said does not make it fact. Please verify new stories before publishing. I know it may not stir up sentiments but as a journalist there is a code of conduct that should be followed. Check the facts and publish the truth please.

To Mark Flemming, I am highly offended that you say hunters would go out to shoot native animals for fun. By the same token Mark I would say that you should be banned from driving a car as you only drive to run over other people. I hunt for the purpose of putting food on the table and assisting in the eradication of introduced species that threaten our native flora and fauna. By catching my own meat I hugely reduce my carbon footprint (farmed animals, commercial slaughter yards, huge amounts of transportation and storage before finally ending up in a butcher all have a huge impact in terms of pollution) which almost everyone contributes too. Mark please be honest instead of rambling untruths, please show me a legal hunter that go's out purely to kill native animals just for the fun of it, just one example will suffice. I for one am sick to death of being labeled something I am not and really this borders on discrimination of law abiding shooters. If you are serious how about actually catching the criminals (people who kill for fun) instead of preying on innocent people or are the criminals to hard to catch so the next best thing is to attack innocent people with your lies.

If the facts were checked instead of just telling the story the animal liberation extremist groups want you to hear people may have a different point of view. They are claiming that this new bill will allow the wholesale slaughter of natives within the parks, which is simply untrue. The only reference to natives being culled is in regard to CURRENT National Parks & Wildlife Service Policies involving selective culling of natives considered to be in pest proportions. The bill would allow NPWS to utilise the volunteer services of GC hunters to carry out these programs. Obviously this would be in very limited circumstances and tightly controlled. The mention of shooting of Kangaroos is being blown out of proportion by these so-called 'green' groups in other ways. The current NPWS tag system for farmers to cull these natives is flawed; as the roos must be shot and left to rot in the paddock. The new bill would allow a farmer to utilise the meat from the animal in a sustainable fashion. Nothing else would change; it would still be against the law to shoot a native animal of ANY type without a NPWS permit! The selective opening of some National Parks to Restricted Game Council licensed hunters can only be a good thing for conservation in this state. I for one have noticed an increase in the numbers of native species in our local State Forests since the introduction of Game Council Hunters. At one State Forest near Glen Innes last weekend I saw 5 Lyrebirds, 20+ Wallabies of different types, and numerous parrots etc that I previously had not seen due to the destruction wrought by foxes & feral cats. I have done my part this year in reducing feral animal numbers; over 300 rabbits, 20+ foxes & numerous deer removed from NSW land. Anyone who loves our bush and considers themselves to be an environmentalist would be mad to oppose this bill!

Eurobodalla Coastwatchers? Why is their false information being put forward as news. The change does not openly allow hunters into national parks to shoot native animals. It just broadens that number of people that the national parks can use to do the shooting which presently occurs at great cost to the taxpayers. It also puts this power in the hands of the environment minister. I personally hope that those opposed to this put up their hands to pay more tax to support the expensive way that the culling is happening at the moment. I'm sick of paying for other peoples ignorance.

For crying out loud...the bill is about protecting native wildlife, not harming it. It’s impressive to see a government recognise the hidden resource of recreational hunters, and recognise the conservation merits of tapping into this very cheap and target specific method of feral animal control. Not only does the scheme support conservation in controlling our feral pest problem, it also supports recreational hunting and its traditions in a responsible and respectable matter.

These hunters have been hunting, and fishing too long and have got into the habit of exaggeration. The bill lets Game parks let loose pheasants, exotic quail and others that will become established and feral pests in their own right. It's back to 1850 for these guys - let's realease the animals to make the colonies a bit like jolly old England. Before condemining others on facts, what about telling the whole story yourselves, guys?

Re “Coastwatchers oppose National Park hunting’. It seems the basis of this article is founded on blind ideology rather than the facts of the case. Nowhere in the current private member’s Bill does it state that National Parks will be open to hunters without specific Government approval. All the Bill allows for is National Parks to no longer be excluded from the definition of “public land”. There will be no random killing of native animals in National Parks, it will only occur under permit (and these are rare) from National Parks and only with the permission of the Director of National Parks. This Bill “allows” the Director to use properly trained and insured volunteer hunters to assist in culling operations if the Director believes it is warranted. Additionally, claiming this provision as “ridiculous” as hunters and tourist will be mixing i.e. pretending this is now a new major safety issue is without basis for in Victoria hunters have been able to hunt selected introduced species in National Parks for several decades. They seem to be able to achieve this in Victoria without too many problems or are we NSW residents so different that we cannot believe that we can respect each other? The Game Council system has proven invaluable to conservation activities in the State over the past few years. Fact, since the Game Council’s inception several thousand feral animals have been removed from state forests. Fact, many of these are native fauna decimators such as foxes, cats and pigs. Fact, the average adult fox consumes approximately 20+ native birds per year let alone other native fauna. So with a couple of thousand less foxes about how many more native animals are still inhabiting our forests which would have probably been killed if it was not for the Game Council system?

Well done Ben F !!! And for you greenies all the native animals being hunted have high populations and are going to be managed SUSTAINIBLEY! Its not like the hunters will shoot every one they see!