Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party Member for Orange hit back at National party plans to increase red tape on hunting on private land, placing $120 million in economic activity every year, and 860 jobs, at risk.

“The National Party are proposing changes to the way that hunters supply proof of permission to shoot on private land – and new onerous requirements put much-needed rural economic investment and jobs at risk,” Mr Donato said.

“Right now, a verbal agreement between a landowner and a hunter is sufficient as permission to hunt on private land, and this can be backed up using a statutory declaration if there is a dispute.

“Police Minister Troy Grant wants to change this so that landowners will have to complete more unnecessary and intrusive paperwork, disclosing their personal information, firearms licence details, drivers licence details, property size and email address.

“These changes made in the draft Firearms Regulation 2017 are not necessary, and I am concerned about the flow-on impact by acting as a disincentive to recreational hunting. If ratified, this could be law later this year.

“We can’t ignore the benefit to rural communities that licensed, law-abiding hunters provide to rural communities. In Orange alone that adds up to $700,000 each year and six full time jobs, according to the Central Western Daily.

“Both landowners and hunters will be put through a needless process just because they are acting lawfully. The only people I can see benefiting from this are people in the city who have never set foot on a farm that will feel snug and warm at the prospect of more regulation on law-abiding firearm owners. 

“Farmers don’t need more paperwork and red-tape from the National Party. They need representation that will stand up to the city Liberals on rural issues – and right now, only the Shooters fishers and Farmers Party can make that guarantee.”

Download Philip Donato's press release here.