Conservation Hunting Bill Introduced

Robert introduced our much-anticipated Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025 on behalf of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.

The bill recognises conservation hunting as a legitimate cultural, environmental and economic activity. It proposes a new Conservation Hunting Licence, and establishes a dedicated Conservation Hunting Authority. It also backs bounty schemes for feral animals and promotes responsible hunting on Crown and forestry land.

This is a major step toward restoring balance in pest control and giving hunters a proper seat at the table.

Second Reading Speech: https://youtu.be/jVFL-U94jpQ



Illegal Tobacco Linked to Gun Crime

Back in May Robert questioned the Minister on how many illegal shootings there had been over the past year and which were related to the illegal tobacco trade. Click on the link below to see the question:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3V26EBpFHI



At the beginning of June NSW Police finally provided an answer to these questions saying the Minister had been advised that:

"Between 1 June 2024 to 30 May 2025, there were 45 shootings classified as linked to criminal conflict. Criminal conflict is defined as a dispute between individuals or groups linked to criminal activity. No shootings have been identified as being connected to illegal tobacco."

While the Minister would not deceive the public, it does beg the question on how police identify shootings related to the illegal tobacco trade, especially in the wake of what the media have described as a “turf war”. Robert will continue to demand answers from NSW Police on what has become a critical problem. Robert will be chairing an inquiry into the illegal tobacco industry this month.

The War on Feral Cats Must Begin

Robert delivered a powerful call to action, highlighting the devastating impact feral cats have on our environment. Killing over 1.5 billion native animals every year, feral cats have become a national conservation crisis.

With current control methods falling short, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party is calling for a feral cat bounty, a modest $15 incentive to support hunters and landholders in targeted control. Backed by education and oversight through the proposed Conservation Hunting Authority, this practical approach would engage communities, protect biodiversity, and deliver results where government programs have failed.

“The only good feral cat is a dead feral cat,” Borsak said. “Let’s bring back common sense and give native wildlife a fighting chance.”

https://youtu.be/qjXmS_vTeFA?si=3OC1f3MJS2wgXl8F



Obstructive Goulburn Planning Department Fights Greyhound Straight Track but It Is Finally Approved

In a Private Members Statement, Robert laid bare the shocking actions of Goulburn Mulwaree Council Planning Department. The Planning Department dragged out the development process of the Goulburn Greyhound Racing Club Straight Track for 916 days, and then recommended it be refused. It was recently approved by councillors last week when they discovered Planning had ignored specific details to stop the project. Click on the link below to watch Robert reveal the damning behaviour of the Goulburn Planners:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/8swhttBLWe0



Questions Asked About Greyhound Racing Track Upgrade Funding

In another Question Without Notice Robert asked Minister Graham if unused capital funding set aside for safety upgrades on greyhound tracks would be allocated before the end of this current financial year or rolled into the next one. Click below to see the question asked in parliament:

https://youtube.com/shorts/yaFfIwNqj6g



On 17^th July the minister advised Robert that:

Approval was granted for funding of $6,970,650 from the Greyhound Capital Grants Program in the 2024-25 financial year for Greyhound Racing NSW (GRNSW) to undertake projects at Lithgow, Temora, The Gardens, Dubbo and Gosford tracks.

Further details about the projects, including scope of works and timeframe for commencement and completion, will be made in due course.

The Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport continues to liaise with GRNSW on its other proposed grants program applications, as well as with NSW Treasury on allocation of funding under the $30 million Capital Grants Program.

This advice seems to lack any clear answer to Robert’s questions, and he will continue to fight for clear information on funding for the upgrade of greyhound racing tracks and facilities. The question was not answered so the balance of the funding maybe at risk.

Push for Science-Based Deer Management

Robert Borsak has moved a motion in the NSW Upper House calling out the serious lack of scientific rigor behind many environmental management decisions—particularly those targeting free-living deer. The motion references a recent Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis by Chapple, Lundgren & Ramp (2025), which found most deer management policies are based on anecdote or ideology rather than peer-reviewed science. The review showed no significant ecological difference between the impacts of deer and native herbivores and highlighted the millions of taxpayer dollars spent on unsubstantiated programs. The motion calls for transparency, evidence-based policymaking, and an end to the politicisation of wildlife management by activist-driven groups like the Greens, Animal Justice Party and the Invasive Species Council.

Robert Borsak MLC: Notice Of Motion - CALLING OUT GREENS PARTY IDEOLOGY DISGUISED AS "SCIENCE"



Public Land Access Inquiry Secured!

We’re pleased to announce a big win for common sense and public access – the NSW Parliament has officially established a Select Committee into Access Restrictions on Public Lands and Waterways.

Led by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC Mark Banasiak as Chair, this inquiry will shine a long-overdue spotlight on the growing number of locked gates, red tape, and confusing rules that keep everyday Aussies from enjoying land that belongs to all of us.

This wide-ranging inquiry will cover:

• National parks, state forests, Crown land, marine parks, fire trails and more
• Recreation activities like bushwalking, fishing, 4WDing, fossicking, horse riding and camping
• The impacts of access restrictions on regional communities, tourism, and traditional practices
• Inconsistent and unclear land management across agencies
• Barriers facing diverse user groups including people with disabilities, rural residents and Aboriginal communities

The Government supported the motion, which passed overwhelmingly with 29 votes to 5. Even the environment minister acknowledged it’s time we had a proper conversation about access, conservation, and how public land is managed.

Whether you hike, hunt, fish, camp, kayak, or just want to enjoy what you already own – this inquiry is your chance to be heard.

Stay tuned as we launch the next stage, we’ll be calling for submissions and encouraging everyone with a stake in public land to speak up.

NSW Spearfishing State Titles a Resounding Success

The 2025 NSW Spearfishing State Titles, hosted by the newly formed Norah Hammerheads Spearfishing Club, was a celebration of skill, community and the great outdoors. Held on 18 May, the event saw standout performances including:

• Ladies Champion – Shelley DeCourcy (Norah Hammerheads)
• Open Champion – Josh Green
• Pairs Champions – Josh & Lachlan Green
• Teams Champions – Josh Green, Lachlan Green & Sam Morgan

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC Mark Banasiak proudly presented the awards and thanked the event sponsors and hardworking volunteers. The SFF Party also backed the comp with a dedicated safety boat on the water.

A special moment came when one of our SFF team members, won the lucky door prize, a new Osprey speargun, and chose to gift it to a junior competitor.

Events like this highlight the value of outdoor recreation and the tight-knit communities that grow around it. Congratulations to the Norah Hammerheads and all involved – here’s to many more!

https://youtu.be/sQbizQPRc-M

Recreational Fishers Slam Mulloway Strategy

Mark called out the NSW Government’s proposed Mulloway Harvest Strategy, warning it ignores real-world data and divides rec and commercial fishers. He slammed Fisheries for burying positive stock assessments, excluding multicultural communities from consultation, and misusing trust fund levies meant for habitat and access improvements. With outdated science and no consideration of the recent 1-in-500-year flood, Banasiak is calling for a total reset before trust, and the fishery, vanish for good.

https://youtu.be/S1kLf0Gt2rg



Broombush Harvesting Restrictions Under Review

Farmers in western NSW have raised the alarm over land use restrictions tied to outdated and overly broad ecological listings, particularly concerning broombush and blue mallee vegetation. In Parliament, Mark challenged Environment Minister Penny Sharpe on why her department continues to rely on flawed mapping that lumps together common plant types under a “critically endangered” label.

The Minister acknowledged the long-running concerns and confirmed she had recently met with affected landholders. She revealed two key developments:

• A review of the listing by the independent Threatened Species Scientific Committee has been requested
• A joint mapping review is underway by Local Land Services and the Department of Environment

Sharpe also noted that landholders can request property-level map reviews and apply for approvals via the Native Vegetation Panel. Banasiak pressed for a commitment that all map reviews involve on-ground verification, not just desktop analysis. The Minister agreed ground-truthing is often necessary and took the question on notice to confirm process details.

Progress is finally being made, but for farmers who’ve harvested broombush for decades, it can’t come soon enough.

https://youtu.be/Ou8ly7xsY1s



Dutton Trout Hatchery Update

Despite the public-facing section of the Dutton Trout Hatchery being temporarily closed due to building issues, the hatchery remains fully operational with breeding programs continuing as normal. In response to a question from Mark Banasiak in Parliament, the Minister for Agriculture confirmed that staffing levels are roughly the same as they were in 2023, with only one or two positions currently being advertised. The Government has assured ongoing support for the hatchery and will investigate whether any staff have been redeployed because of the partial closure.

Standing Up for 4WD Enthusiasts and Vehicle Owners

One issue we’re tackling head-on is the growing disconnect between vehicle compliance laws and on-the-ground enforcement, especially affecting our four-wheel drive and motoring communities. These are the responsible drivers who spend their weekends exploring our bush tracks, supporting rural towns, and investing time and money to legally modify and certify their vehicles under conditional registration schemes. But too often, they’re being stopped, defected, and dragged through court by police who don’t understand, or refuse to accept, the rules around engineered vehicles. Take Jake, a small business owner who spent thousands getting his LandCruiser certified, only to be sidelined by an officer who didn't like the look of his engineered bull bar. He’s now out $3,000 in legal fees and lost work. That’s not just unfair - it’s broken. We’re calling for better education and consistency across the board, accurate registration documents, and most importantly, respect for the people doing the right thing. The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party will always back those who follow the rules and love the bush.

https://youtu.be/Ol7MqrFy8gs



REZ Inquiry Update

The NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) is now well underway, with hearings already held in the Central-West Orana and New England regions - two areas facing the heaviest concentration of large-scale renewable energy developments. The evidence so far has painted a troubling picture: secretive negotiations, non-disclosure agreements, and a disturbing lack of genuine community consultation. We’ve heard from farmers whose properties are being encroached upon, councils frustrated at being cut out of the planning process, and residents worried about the long-term impacts on their roads, water security, and way of life.

In Walcha, locals spoke of being completely surrounded by transmission lines and wind projects, with no capacity to upgrade the roads that will soon carry hundreds of heavy vehicles. In Armidale, the community was shocked to learn that one renewable project alone had requested access to 25% of the town’s entire water supply, despite the town only having enough water to meet 60% of its population’s needs.

This inquiry, instigated and chaired by Mark Banasiak, is finally exposing what many in the bush have known for years: that regional NSW is being treated as collateral damage in the rush toward Net Zero. We’re making sure these communities are heard, and that the truth about this so-called “transition” is brought to light.



Toonumbar Dam

The future of public access to Bells Bay at Toonumbar Dam is under serious threat, with Water NSW moving to shut down the long-standing campground and recreational site with just four weeks' notice. The Kyogle Fishing Club, which has maintained the area since the 1970s, has offered to take on the lease and continue operations. The site is a much-loved destination for camping, fishing, kayaking and bushwalking – drawing both locals and tourists. We’ve met with the Minister for Water, who supports finding a solution, and we’ve now reached out to the Mayor of Kyogle to work together on securing the site’s future.



In the community:

During the winter break Robert has been particularly busy meeting with voters and supporters and getting out into the field. He attended the NSW Deerstalkers Association’s and the Shire Hunting Club’s meetings, and the spent the weekend up the coast, attend the Clarence Valley Hunting Club’s Christmas In July event.




Robert has also hunted rusa and fallow deer, assisting farmers in removing introduced species and filling the freezer.





Thank you for your continued support!