I wish to acknowledge receipt and thank you for your letter dated 17 December 2001, in relation to the NSW Government's introduction of the Game Bill 2001 into Parliament. It is anticipated that the Bill will be debated early this year.

The Coalition supports the aims of this Bill, however I note your concerns about the proposed legislation.

One of the objectives of the Bill is to promote responsible and orderly hunting of game animals on public and private land and pest animals on public land.

The Game Council created by the Bill will have the ability to strictly supervise access to hunting licenses to ensure these licenses are only issued to responsible hunters. To achieve this objective, it is proposed that three new Game Council licenses be created.

a general game hunting licence for the hunting of game animals on private land, and a restricted game hunting licence for the hunting of game animals on specifically declared public land as well as private land, and an occupier's game hunting licence for the hunting of protected game animals on private land of the holder of the licence.

The Bill also emphasises humane hunting practices as part of its focus on acceptable standards of hunting behaviour. Hunters will lose their hunting licences if they do not observe appropriate standards of behaviour.

As many people living in rural and regional NSW are aware, the issue of feral animal control is one of the most pressing issues facing country areas. From a disease control perspective it is crucial that we control feral animals, particularly pigs. From the perspective of protecting native species it is vital that we properly control feral animal species such as cats and foxes without delay.

Thank you again for raising this very important issue with me, and please be assured that your views will be considered when the NSW Coalition is formulating its final position on the Game Bill 2001.

Yours sincerely
Ian Slack-Smith MP
Shadow Minister for Agriculture


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