Media release – Guy Barnett, Minister for Primary Industries and Water, 18 August 2021
$50,000 for study into hunting and sporting shooting
The Tasmanian Liberal Government recognises that recreational hunting and sporting shooting is an important tradition for many Tasmanians.
It also provides significant benefits to landholders in assisting with management of browsing wildlife as well as to regional economies through travel and purchase of good and services.
In recognition, the Government has committed $50,000 towards a study into the economic and social value of recreational hunting and sporting shooting to Tasmania as part of our First 100-Day Plan.
The study will assess the contribution that thousands of Tasmanians, hunting and shooting clubs, support organisations, retailers and suppliers make to regional Tasmania.
An advisory group of key stakeholders including the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, Australian Deer Association and the Tasmanian Deer Advisory Council is being formed to help scope the project with findings to help inform future policy and management directions.
We greatly value our unique way of life and are pleased to deliver on this commitment to support traditional recreational pursuits and the Tasmanian way of life.
Media release – Bob Brown Foundation, 18 August 2021
Minister Barnett heads in wrong direction on feral deer
“Clearly Minister Barnett has been prodded into action by the release of the Invasive Species Council and Bob Brown Foundation report, Feral Deer Control: A Strategy for Tasmania, but his action is entirely in the wrong direction,” Christine Milne of Bob Brown Foundation said in response to Minister Barnett’s pledging $50,000 to a socio-economic study of hunting.
“Feral deer are causing upward of $100million damage a year to Tasmanian farmers and land managers and they need recreational shooters and pest controllers to take action to significantly reduce the numbers. They do not need the Government to justify on going partial protected status of feral deer to keep the numbers increasing.
The very landholders to whom the Minister refers, are the ones saying that the current management of browsing animals is failing. The Legislative Council and the Federal Senate agree that feral deer are out of control and radical action needs to be taken now.
Deer hunters, recreational shooters, and conservationists agree that deer should be eradicated from the TWWHA and areas where there are satellite populations like Bruny Island. Recreational shooters are all for ending the partial protected status of feral deer. Only Minister Barnett and the trophy hunters are out of step with 21st century thinking on biosecurity,” said Christine Milne.
Objectives – Australian Deer Association Inc, 19 August 2021 (from website)
The improvement of the status of deer in Australia,
The promotion of research into the habits of deer; and the scientific study of deer in Australia and their relationship to the Australian environment,
The promotion, application and publication of the methods of management and control of deer whether semi-domesticated or wild,
The retention and improvement of habitat for deer and other wildlife, particularly by encouraging governments to pass legislation and make regulations based on sound management principles,
The preservation, and where appropriate the generating of deer hunting as a legitimate sport,
The preservation and extension of public access to the Australian bushland for recreational use, and the encouragement of such use,
The preservation of the environment,
The education of hunters in the safe handling of firearms, and,
The personal adoption by members of the Association’s Code.
