Submission: The limitations of conservation hunting
Authors
Media release
“Right to hunt” laws could backfire on conservation, regional communities and public safety
The use of hunting as a conservation method, which the Bill proposes, has been generally unsuccessful and sometimes counterproductive. Invasive species policy requires a level of care and rigour that is not reflected in the proposed approach. Additionally, the Bill risks undermining Australian gun control through establishing a “right to hunt” in NSW.
The Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025 would be a step backwards for gun control, regional economies and invasive species management.
The “right to hunt” that it proposes would represent an erosion of the position all Australian governments have agreed to for 29 years: that the use of firearms is a privilege conditional on public safety.
The proposed expansion of hunting on public land brings little potential economic benefit, while threatening existing activities such as bushwalking and camping in those areas that do generate revenue for local businesses.
Invasive species management approaches like the one proposed have a largely unsuccessful history in Australia. Worse, such methods can result in growth of invasive species populations.
Commentary surrounding the Bill has flagged that changes to legislation could be accompanied by cuts to existing invasive species management programs, something that would affect conservation efforts in NSW.
The Conservation Hunting Authority that the Bill provides for would be controlled by the hunting lobby and act primarily in the interests of hunters. Its focus is not proper conservation efforts on public land. Groups such as the Australian Natives Association, an extremist white-nationalist organisation, would have the ability to nominate members.
NSW would benefit from a considered, coordinated strategy for invasive species management that incorporates several approaches. This Bill does not represent such a strategy.