Hunting petition reaches massive milestone

RECREATIONAL shooters across Queensland have given a resounding thumbs up to a conservation hunting e-petition after it attracted more than 10,000 signatures in just over a few months.

Sponsored by Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto, the parliamentary E-Petition proposes a three year trial of conservation hunting in Queensland State Forests where feral species such as deer, rabbits, cats and pigs would be targeted.

Mr Dametto congratulated Queensland’s recreational shooting fraternity on throwing their support behind the petition in such a short space of time after it was first lodged by Brisbane man Daniel Boniface in early September.

“The message this petition sends to the government is clear: recreational shooters want the ability to hunt feral animals in State Forests,” he said.

“The lock it up and leave it approach” to State Forests taken by government has allowed feral animals to explode in population, wreaking havoc on the environment and our native wildlife in State Forests.

“If the State Government refuses to properly maintain their forests and parks, then allowing recreational hunting is a good solution to keeping a check on feral species.”

Mr Dametto said Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) was supportive of “any initiative that ensures Queenslanders are free to enjoy the great outdoors, whether that be fishing, camping, driving or shooting”.

“The KAP believes in individual freedom and Queenslanders should be able to enjoy the best our natural environment has to offer,” he said.

“We will be consulting with a wide range of stakeholders to potentially develop policies geared towards allowing recreational hunters the ability to hunt in State Forest.”

A report commissioned by New South Wales’ Game Licensing Unit into the economic impact of recreational hunting in NSW found “recreational hunting by 19,000 game hunting licence holders accounted for $119 million of Gross State Product and 860 jobs within the NSW economy”.

The 207,000 non-game licence holders “accounted for between $446 million and $1.366 million of Gross State Product and between 3932 and 11,572 jobs”.

“I believe the economic and tourism benefits of recreational hunting offered by the NSW scheme could be replicated in Queensland, combined with an environmental benefit of helping to eradicate feral animals, such as pigs,” Mr Dametto said.

Once the E-Petition closes on February 24 next year, Mr Dametto will formally table it in parliament which will require the appropriate minister to issue a response.

To view the E-Petition, click here.