NSW bid for duck hunting

Leslie White

June 24, 2009

DUCK hunting could return to NSW after a 14-year ban.

A private member's bill to again allow the sport is set to be introduced to parliament by the NSW Shooters Party, which is hopeful of support from the Labor government.

The bill would also allow hunting in National Parks and see private game reserves set up.

The support of the Shooters Party has been important to Labor in the NSW Upper House since the 2007 election - this month the party helped Labor defeat a bill backed by the Greens and opposition to protect farmland from coal mining.

But Labor is remaining tight-lipped on whether it will support the bill - the office of Premier Nathan Rees failed to return calls to The Weekly Times, but told radio this week he would "need to be persuaded".

A spokesman for NSW Environment Minister Carmel Tebbutt has said the Government would give the bill due consideration.

The Liberal/National coalition will oppose the bill in its current form, and will seek several amendments.

Shadow Environment Minister Catherine Cusack said the coalition would seek to quadruple penalties for releasing animals to hunt them.

The coalition will also move that the Environment Minister choose which National Parks are suitable for feral animal hunting.

Humane Society director Michael Kennedy said the bill sought to "regress conservation efforts in NSW".

"The Bill, in its entirety, must be opposed," he said.