Dear Birding-Aus People,
 It looks as if the case for not allowing the Shooters freedom to shoot a 
wide range of native birds and mammals in NSW is far from won.
Here is the report of the deliberations in the ALP party meeting today 
from the ABC website:
 Rees 'still to be persuaded' on hunting bill
Posted 5 hours 10 minutes ago
 The New South Wales Premier has indicated that the Government is not 
prepared to totally back a bill by the Shooters Party to open up areas 
for recreational hunters.
 The private members bill is due to be debated in Parliament this week 
and is being opposed by the Greens and the Coalition.
 It would allow the shooting of native animals and birds in national 
parks and reserves and allow the creation of private game parks.
 Nathan Rees has told Fairfax radio he remains to be convinced about 
aspects of the bill.
 "Look I'd need to be persuaded that the issues of personal safety, er 
the issues around native fauna and flora and so on are going to be 
properly accommodated," he said.
 "What I've seen to date, I still have some questions. So It'll be a 
balanced and appropriate outcome."
 My reading of the situation is that the Shooters have included birds 
such as Top-knot Pigeon, Purple Swamphen and Brush Bronzwing in the 
proposed list of game animals so that they can then make a "balanced and 
appropriate" compromise and still achieve their aims, i.e. to be able to 
shoot all duck and kangaroo species anywhere in the state.  I fear that 
we conservation minded people  have lost this argument. The vote has not 
yet been taken in the NSW upper house. Fred Nile still has the power to 
have the decisive vote to reject this obnoxious bill.
Cheers,
Jim Smart
East Maitland NSW
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