[Greens-Media] Government body pushes pro-hunting propaganda on primary school children

[David Shoebridge]

Government body pushes pro-hunting propaganda on primary school children
Media Release - 24 September 2012
Following reports that the NSW statutory body the NSW Game Council is distributing pro-hunting propaganda to children, Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge has called on Premier O'Farrell to condemn this use of public funds.
The propaganda is contained on water bottles with a pro-hunting message that were distributed last week at Catherine McCauley Catholic Primary School in central western NSW. 
"Mr O'Farrell is cutting jobs in education and health while using scarce public funds to push hunting to five years olds," Mr Shoebridge said.
"We need to know if Barry O'Farrell approves of a publicly funded body promoting hunting to primary school students.
"Pushing hunting on primary school children via drink bottles is clearly inappropriate. The Premier needs to step in and put an end to it.
"This is not the first time the pro-gun Game Council has pushed its pro-gun pro-hunting agenda on primary school children.
"Last year pro-hunting materials were snuck into Neville Public School, without the approval of the Department of Education.
"A push by the Game Council to have children as young as twelve hunting on public land unsupervised was overturned earlier this month after a campaign from the Greens, animal welfare groups and concerned members of the community.
"While the Game Council is supposed to regulate recreational hunting in NSW, this confirms it is little more than a publically funded front for the Shooters Party.
"Both Shooters Party MPs are former chairmen of the Game Council. There are clear links between this statutory authority and this far-right party pushing for an increased gun culture in NSW.
"The Greens are calling for the Game Council to be abolished and for feral animal control to be returned to the hands of professionals in NSW," Mr Shoebridge said.
Media contact: Mark Riboldi 0433 753 376
 
 

Mark Riboldi
Communications & Policy 
Office of Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge
P: (02) 9230 3030|M: 0433 753 376|T: @thebigriboldi ( http://twitter.com/#!/thebigriboldi )
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