To the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives:

The World League for Protection of Animals, Inc

End Recreational Hunting on Public Lands and Reserves

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Australia, draw to the attention of the House our united opposition to the inhumane practice of recreational hunting on public government lards. To permit, and by so doing, encourage shooting for pleasure is a completely anti-social and dan-gerous activity for governments to be endorsing. Recreational hunting on public lands not only en-dangers native fauna but also puts at risk public safety. In NSW, government officials have now permitted recreational hunting in some 372 public forests, covering more than 2 million hectares, with more public lands soon to be declared “open season”.

The NSW Game Council is currently using tax payers’ money to promote market and expand the interests of hunters groups. All the representatives on the Government’s Game Council are pro-hunting interests, with most being active hunters themselves. Shooters’ groups are presently over-seeing their own dangerous activities on public lands. Bows and arrows and hunting dogs are sanctioned under current government legislation, permitting unacceptable cruelty to both intro-duced animals and native wildlife.

We, the undersigned, seek the abolition of all hunting practices on public lands and reserves.