[Greens-Media] Media Release: NSW government sponsors pro-hunting program with weapons dealers

[David Shoebridge MLC]

*NSW government sponsors pro-hunting program with weapons dealers*



The O'Farrell government is allowing the NSW Game Council to use public
funds to co-sponsor an "adventure hunting" TV series with international
arms manufacturers Hanrady and Beretta.  The program celebrates the killing
of moose, deer and other wild animals and actively promotes some of the
world's largest international arms dealers.


See today’s Sun Herald:
http://www.smh.com.au/comment/greens-blast-game-council-for-backing-tv-show-20130622-2opa6.html


Greens MP and firearms spokesperson David Shoebridge said:


“This action by the Game Council NSW is further proof that the organisation
is more about pushing a guns and hunting culture than it is about feral
animal control.


“In the NSW budget released last week the Game Council NSW was allocated
$4.35 million, representing a 63.5 per cent funding increase from the
previous year.


“In a tight state budget with limited funds for hospitals, schools and
public transport, the O’Farrell government managed to spend millions on an
organisation that promotes guns and hunting.


“This hunting program celebrates trophy hunting and killing for fun, it is
not about feral pest control and it is extraordinary that thousands of tax
payer dollars are being spent on it.

**

“This is not the first time the Game Council has been criticised for
associating itself with a weapons manufacturer. The June 2012 Shot Expo was
also jointly sponsored by the Game Council and Beretta.


“The NSW government must not be getting in bed with death merchants to
co-promote events or programs such as this.


“This program is not about feral pest control or conservation, it is about
hunting for the thrill of the kill and not a single tax dollar should be
spent on it,” Mr Shoebridge said.


*Fast Facts:*


Hornady is the largest independent producer of bullets in the world.


Beretta is a global firearms manufacturer, selling arms in over 100
countries with links to the military in the United States, Spain, Turkey
and Italy.  In 2009, Beretta controversially exported some €8 million worth
of arms to Libya's General People's Committee for Public Security.


According to the the television programme’s website, the main theme of the
show is the “true adventure behind the hunt”. The first episode focusses on
the hunting of wapiti deer in New Zealand – a species introduced for
hunting, primarily because of their impressive antlers.


The Game Council NSW was set up in 2002 as the result of a deal between the
Shooters Party and the then-Labor government.


Both current Shooters Party MPs are former chairmen of the Game Council.

**

*Media contact: 0408 113 952*


-- 
*

David Shoebridge

Greens MP in the NSW Legislative Council

P: (02) 0408 113 952|Media: 0433 753 376|T:
@ShoebridgeMLC<http://twitter.com/#%21/shoebridgemlc>

SIGN UP TO STAY IN TOUCH at
davidshoebridge.org.au/sign-up<http://davidshoebridge.org.au/take-action/sign-up/>
*