NSW Game Council September Newsletter

[erron]

As usual, get it as pdf via the link at end of this post, or read it in crappy text here:

M O N T H L Y U P D A T E
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 5
Insurance benefits
Law enforcement
Monthly comment
Public land update
2
2
3
4
T H I S I S S U E
Game Council’s Game
Managers recently
attended two major
events on the NSW farming
calendar: AgQuip at Gunnedah
and the NSW Farmers
Association Conference in
Sydney.
Game Council’s Chairman
Robert Borsak also made an
appearance, attending the NSW
Farmers Association’s official
conference dinner.
Game Managers reported
a positive response to new
hunting laws in NSW from the
farming community, particularly
in relation to the $10M public/
products liability insurance,
higher hunter accountability and
cost-free feral animal control.
While at the events, Game
Council NSW circulated
hundreds of brochures about the
benefits of private landholders
accessing licensed hunters
and Game Council’s move to
further lift hunting standards
in this State through public
awareness campaigns and
hunter education.
Game Council will also be
publishing advertisements over
REPRESENTING LICENSED
HUNTERS TO LANDHOLDERS
Top: AgQuip 2005. John and Cara Drew,
Coffs Harbour with Game Manager Craig
Henderson (centre).
Centre: Sons of the soil...Pictured at
AgQuip were Oliver Moore, Nundle, Brad
Davis, Bourke, and Jason Martin, Orange.
Bottom: NSW Farmers Conference.
Game Manager, Robbie Lynn speaks with
Benjamin Thompson from Ivanhoe.
coming months in the major rural
weeklies, promoting the benefits
of the NSW Game Hunting
Licensing System to private
landholders.
AND THE WINNER IS...
At AgQuip 2005, Game
Council offered every new
Monthly Update subscriber
the opportunity to win an RM
Williams 12-inch cast iron
cooking pot. With hundreds
of entries received and added
to our mailing list, the lucky
winner was Mr Ian McCarron of
Narrabri. Congratulations!
Ben Hall, a taxidermist from Moree, draws
the winning entry in Game Council’s
AgQuip giveaway. He is pictured with
Game Manager Robbie Lynn.

COMPLIANCE
TRAINING While all NSW Police offi cers
are automatically authorised
as inspectors under the
Game and Feral Animal Control Act,
Game Council’s Game Managers recently
attended a fi ve-day law enforcement
training program to become ‘inspectors’.
This will enable them to undertake
compliance activities for Game Council NSW. The training program
involved a law enforcement workshop conducted by the Australian
Centre for Environmental Compliance and a course on client interaction
and restricted defensive tactics conducted by ‘Totally Proactive’.
Fines of up to $5500 plus suspension or loss of licence may apply to
those who breach conditions of their licence or who commit offences
under the Act.
What is the extent of liability coverage for the G-Licence? Although the General NSW Game Hunting Licence (GLicence)
is required by law to hunt wild deer and certain
species of game birds on private land in NSW, the $10M
public/products liability insurance extends to licensees while hunting
pigs, goats, foxes, rabbits, cats, hares and wild dogs (other than
dingo). This aspect makes the G-Licence particularly appealing to
those who wish to approach landholders to undertake hunting on
their property.
The policy covers legal liability to third party for bodily injury and/
or property damage caused by an occurrence in connection with
Game Council’s and the licence holder’s activities. The Certifi cate
of Currency and other general information is available on Game
Council’s website: www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au
All current distributors of G-Licence application forms were
recently given the opportunity to order promotional support
material and updated application forms.
In NSW and Victoria, Game Council has more than 200 authorised
distributors and we have received orders from about 50 to date.
The Game Council team thanks those who placed orders. The
demand was so high we required a full reprint of all material to fulfi ll
orders! Currently, thousands of brochures, stickers and licence
application forms are being distributed across NSW and Victoria and
we anticipate and encourage many more orders in the future. Orders:
email prmgr@gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au or phone 02 6360 5100
FREQUENTLY
ASKED
QUESTIONS
PR SUPPORT
FOR
DISTRIBUTORS
?
New South Wales

Game Council’s
Committee of
Management met
last week and I am pleased to
provide the following report on
the meeting.
Firstly, representations have
been made to Game Council
NSW by presidents of a number
of hunting organisations, raising
valid concerns about hunter
access to declared public land;
in particular, areas being ‘block
booked’ for long periods of time
by a hunter or group of hunters
that could lead to monopolising
declared areas.
In answer to these concerns,
access to declared public land
by R-Licence holders will be
managed through a state of
the art, electronic booking
system. Only those with written
permission after booking will
be granted access to the land.
In time, this system will also be
web-based, online to streamline
the booking process.
Until Game Council understands
demand patterns for hunting on
declared public land, access
periods will be short and licensed
hunters will not be able to rebook
in the same block unless
they have submitted mandatory
return forms. These forms will
help provide useful information
for research programs,
monitoring environmental
outcomes and integrated feral
animal control programs.
Please bear in mind that the
booking system will be a
work in progress and it will be
MONTHLY COMMENT
Cr Robert Borsak
Chairman, Game Council NSW
Chairman, Game Council Committee of Management
Life Member, Australian Hunters International Inc.
Life Member, Safari Club International Inc.
Company Director, Public Accountant
Fellow CPA Australia
Bachelor Degree in Business, Accounting & Marketing
improved over time if required,
when demand patterns are
established for individual public
land areas. Game Council NSW
and public land managers intend
on testing the system before
it commences to iron out any
perceived teething problems.
Some of the other items
discussed at the Committee of
Management meeting included
wild deer hunting seasons,
commercial hunting on declared
public land and the NSW Hunter
Education Handbook, due to be
released in November 2005.
To date, the Committee of
Management has met on
fi ve occasions since Game
Council NSW was established.
Represented on the Committee
are the following people:
the Game Council CEO, Cr
Chris Lane from Rural Lands
Protection Board State Council,
Cr Rod Drew, CEO of Field
and Game Australia, Cr John
Mumford of GameCon, Dr
Tony English, a member of
the Australian Veterinary
Association and Chairman of
Game Council’s Ethics and
Education Committee and
the Scientifi c Committee, and
myself as Chairman.
I encourage anyone with
questions about the new
hunting laws in NSW, or to
simply offer feedback, to please
email the Game Council at
info@gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au,
or telephone 02 6360 5100.
IN THE NEWS...
The latest article about Game
Council NSW appeared in
The Land newspaper on 11
August 2005. The Land has
a paid circulation of close to
55,000 copies each week
and will be a future focus for
Game Council promotion,
along with The Weekly
Times which is circulated
throughout Victoria.

GAME COUNCIL NSW
PO Box 2506 Orange NSW 2800 P 02 6360 5100 F 02 6361 2093
E prmgr@gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au W www.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au
FREE SUBSCRIPTION
Like to receive this newsletter each month FREE of charge?
Email: info@gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au
Fax 02 6361 2093 (please provide your name and address)
Design & Layout Red Moon Advertising & Promotions
Printed on 100% Recycled Paper
Applications for Approved
Hunting Organisations are
being sought by Game Council
NSW. For an information
package, please contact Game
Council on 02 6360 5100. An
updated list of AHOs appears
below or full details can be
viewed on Game Council’s
website.
NEW SOUTH WALES
Australian Bowhunters Association branches:
Southern NSW (Tumut), Northern NSW
(Wingan); Australian Hunters International
Inc; Australian Deer Association, Hunter
Valley Branch; Alpine Hunting, Shooting &
Fishing Club, Sydney Markets; Buckmasters
Australia Inc.; Cecil Park Clay Target Club,
Rooty Hill; Cessnock District Hunting
Club; Cowra Rifle Club; Dog Hollow Gun
Club, Five Dock; Hastings Valley Hunting
Club, Port Macquarie; Inner West Hunters
Club Inc, Five Dock; Illawarra Regional
Shooting Association Hunting Club, Dapto;
Lismore Nimrod Hunting Club Inc, Casino;
Maitland Hunting Club, Thornton; Manly
Warringah Field Archers Inc, Darling Point;
New England Branch, Australian Deer
Association, Walcha; North West Hunting
Club, Tamworth; NSW Deer Stalkers
Association, Tahmoor; Orange Rifle Club;
Peninsula Firearm Academy Inc., Narrabeen;
Riverina Target & Hunting Club, Wagga
Wagga; Shoalhaven Hunting Club, Nowra;
SSAA Bega, Bellingen, Orange, Wagga
branches; St George Hunters and Anglers
Association, Riverwood; South West Slopes
Sporting Field Archers, Tumut; Southern
Highlands Rifle Club, Hilltop; Three Rivers
Big Game Hunting Club Inc, Inverell; Twin
City Bowmen Inc Archery Club, Albury.
QUEENSLAND
Australian Bowhunters Association (ABA)
branches: Northern Queensland (Kirwin);
Central Queensland (Calliope); Southern
Queensland (Charleville) and Apsley.
Australian Deer Association, Queensland
branches: Brisbane Branch, Darling Downs
Branch, Mary/Gympie Valley.
VICTORIA
Australian Bowhunting Association branches:
Maffra, Greater Victoria (Melton South);
Echuca Moama Field and Game, Moama;
Lilydale Bowmen Inc, Croydon; Victorian
Deer Association.
NORTHERN TERRITORY
Australian Bowhunting Association: Northern
Territory Branch (Humpty Doo)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Australian Bowhunting Association, South
Australia branch (Bordertown)
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Australian Bowhunting Association, Western
Australia Branch (Mullaloo).
Game Council NSW
and public land
agencies continue to
work through a comprehensive
process that will eventually lead
to licensed hunting on declared
public lands in NSW.
Declared public land will include
selected State forests and
Crown land areas (the Game
and Feral Animal Control Act
overrides the previous hunting
permit issued under 32B of the
Forestry Act 1916).
Key issues such as risk
analysis, the rights of others
using the land, current public
land management plans,
hunter access and feral animal
problems are all important
factors that must be seriously
considered before any
declaration of public land.
Only hunters who hold a
Restricted NSW Game Hunting
Licence (R-Licence) may book a
hunting period on declared public
land in NSW when it becomes
available in the near future.
R-Licence eligibility
To apply for the R-Licence,
hunters must:
1. Be a member of a Game
Council Approved Hunting
Organisation (AHO), and
2. Complete ‘adequate training’
in the form of accredited training
or recognised prior learning.
The R-Licence will not be
available to applicants found
guilty of offences in the previous
10 years involving cruelty or
harm to animals, personal
violence, damage to property,
unlawful entry onto land, or
releasing animals into the wild
for the purposes of hunting.
R-Licence application forms are
scheduled to become available
well in advance of public land
declarations.
Licence types
The R-Licence will be available
in four types: Standard,
Commercial, Hunting Guide,
Visitors and in the following
categories: Bows, Firearms,
Blackpowder and Hunting Dogs.
Only the Standard R-Licence will
include $10M public/products
liability insurance.
Hunter access
R-Licence holders will be
required to obtain written
permission via a state-of-theart
booking system to access
declared public land for hunting
in the future.
In some cases, the public land
managers or Trusts may choose
to manage hunter access
and issue written permission
themselves.
Access to public land will
depend on individual conditions
set by the land managers as part
of the declaration process and
this may include restrictions on
hunting methods.
APPROVED HUNTING
ORGANISATIONS
DECLARING PUBLIC LAND
FOR HUNTING IN NSW update

[coach]

Game Council NSW
and public land managers intend
on testing the system before
it commences to iron out any
perceived teething problems.

What does this mean ? That some selected few get to hunt first ?
Probably just being cynical , but I think they should have just left well enough alone
Just the tip of the ice berg re being regulated

[jindydiver]

I was reading the newsletter today coach, and I was wondering the same thing.
Another bit that needs explaining is

2. Complete ‘adequate training’
in the form of accredited training
or recognised prior learning.

There has never been any mention of "prior learning" in any correspondence to date, and I wonder if this is being introduced so some people that the GC guys think are "deserving" of a licence don't have to complete any club based training?
I would like to see what "prior learning" is acceptable to be spelled out before the first applications for licences are called for.

[Sparra]

Gaday fella's...I have sent them an e-mail to find out what they consider to be recognised prior training and as soon as they reply I'll post it up...They generally reply to e-mails quickly so let's see how this one goes...
Regards...Sparra

[jindydiver]

Good on ya bloke

[vegie]

If you read the August 2005 GC newsletter it spells out the Approved courses that meet ‘adequate training’ in the form of accredited training
or recognised prior learning requirement.


So it is hardly a secret or something new.

[jindydiver]

Vegie
I must be blind, can you quote for me the passage from the August newsletter where "recognised prior learning " is set out.

[vegie]

Jindy,
The part is about 3/4 down from the top. It is hard to read on this site. On the actual newsletter which can be down loaded off the GC site it is easier to find.
I hope this helps.


The section:
GAME COUNCIL ACCREDITED
TRAINING COURSES
The following courses have been accredited by Game Council NSW
and suffice as ‘adequate’ training for the R-Licence:
Bowhunter Proficiency Course
Australian Bowhunting Association
Hunter Education Course
Australian Deer Association, Victoria and Queensland branches.
Hunting & Conservation Accreditation Course
Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, NSW and Victoria branches.

[jindydiver]

It would appear that you may be confused as to what they are telling you there.

This is what they say in the newsletter for September


“2. Complete ‘adequate training’
in the form of accredited training
or recognised prior learning. “

What you have quoted is the “accredited training courses” part of the statement. They are setting out for us what they have accepted (and accredited) to be adequate training.
The game council have not even mentioned “recognised prior learning” in anything published to date, and have not set out in anything published to date what would be accepted as “recognised prior learning”. Recognised prior learning would (I expect) perhaps include things like a game meats training course, or maybe prior (or ongoing) employment as an aerial shooter for park and wildlife.

Perhaps we should wait until Sparra posts any reply he receives to his query to the GC on this matter?

[Sparra]

Gaday fella's...As usual a quick response from the game council which is most appreciated....

The Game Council NSW has determined that Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can be used to determine if a person has adequate training for the purposes of obtaining for the R-Licence.

The RPL component can be met in two ways;

1. Either by accreditation for other Game Council Accredited Hunter Education Courses or,

2. By an RPL assessment process that assesses the individual's non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes, or standards for entry to, and/or partial or total completion of, the required accreditation that will be established in the Game Council’s Accreditors Guide. This will provide assessors with a guide to what competencies or knowledge an applicant must demonstrate to meet the requirements of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and its associated regulations.



I hope this answers your question.

Make of this what you will but i don't really understand it...
Regards...Sparra

[coach]

So if I have a BPC ( bowhunter proficiency certificate ) from the ABA , I am a shoe in for the R Licence ?
Yeah Sparra , maybe if they spoke in English we might all understand it ! But that is the way of the Government

[jindydiver]

Thanks Sparra

.
2. By an RPL assessment process that assesses the individual's non-formal and informal learning to determine the extent to which that individual has achieved the required learning outcomes, competency outcomes, or standards for entry to, and/or partial or total completion of, the required accreditation that will be established in the Game Council’s Accreditors Guide. This will provide assessors with a guide to what competencies or knowledge an applicant must demonstrate to meet the requirements of the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 and its associated regulations.



Regards...Sparra

What this means is that they haven’t yet quite figured out what the requirements for accreditation through RPL will be.
I for one would be very interested in having a look at this “Game Council’s Accreditors Guide” when it is worked out.

[piggy]

sounds like they are just trying to make it harder and harder for the responsible hunters to hunt.

[jindydiver]

That is exactly what it means coach, as long as you are financial with ABA

[coach]

So as I have stated before this Game Council is just another way to Regulate us ! And to the ones that have supported them and kept them running ,,,,,,,,,,,,,, You will all get what you deserve !

[coach]

Oh BTW , where the hell is the PUBLIC land that they have been promising ?
Lured all the fools in on the G Licence and got their support ,, and still no Public land !
Makes me sick !
Another point , who appoints the reps ? Do we , if we join do we have a right to vote on who does the job? Or will it be like .ABA where they do whatever they feel is best for them ?, and stay in power for the next 50 years !?

[adam]

I see were you blokes are coming from, and maybe because Im not living in nsw anymore I don't feel the same way.

But I can't see bowhunting ever getting banned in nsw now you have the GC or anytime soon anyway.

Why isn't the GC a positive for you blokes, not starting an uproar just wondering why you don't see it this way.

Adam

Peace

[Sparra]

I have a G licence from the game council and it is of no benefit to me what so ever at the moment because i don't have any private land to hunt deer on...I applied for it for the sole reason of when i do get access to some property i will be legal...there is a lot of talk on these hunting forums about legality's and ethics and anyone who doesn't have one and still hunts deer in NSW is doing the wrong thing and if caught deserve everything they get and in my opinion is doing nothing to support the sport in Australia...I don't agree with it but it is the law just as i don't agree with helmet laws for motor bikes but i wear one because it is the law....
Regards...Sparra

[adam]

Thats good to hear Sparra and I hope some deer places come up mate.

Adam

[jindydiver]

Adam
The concept of a body like the GC is just what hunters in NSW (and possibly other states) needed to give us legitimacy in the eyes of the government and the public. It can be good for hunters if it is used to further the interests of hunters, but it could also morph into a monster that will swallow up hunters in red tape and regulation. Already we see where a body that is supposed to be there run by hunters, for hunters is already introducing regulations that restrict hunting rather than promoting it.

What possible benefit to hunters could there be in now having to buy a licence to hunt deer on private property? That is an impost designed not to help hunters, but to fill the coffers of the GC. People who blindly agree with everything the GC proposes will tell you that for the cost of that licence we get insurance cover to ensure our future access to properties owned by farmers frightened of possible litigation, and that this is a good thing. What crap. Since when is it considered a good thing to have compulsory insurance cover imposed on us, and we have no choice in the provider of that insurance. I, as well as every other SSAA member, already have insurance as part of our membership there and don’t need to be insured twice. And the growing paranoia of the farmers in regards to their being sued by some litigious hunter is fed in no small part by the “information” campaign being engaged in by the GC. Their representatives are happily running around the state telling any farmer who will stand still long enough for them that they should ask to see a GC licence from any hunters using their land because “you never know what will happen and then you get your farm sued out from under you”. Ask tracker about that one too, he also has first hand info from a property owner who has hit him with that one.

Anyway, I have a licence because they are now obligatory if you want to hunt deer anywhere in NSW. I didn’t want to pay a new tax just to do what I always did in the past, but the law is the law, and when your family lives off the deer you shoot you have to do what you have to do. Doesn’t mean I have to like it.



And sparra, maybe we can get you out on a deer hunt soon hey. Hit me up about it at Cam's hunt.

[adam]

Thanks for that jindy, I see were your coming from mate.

Adam

[Sparra]

Thanks for that Jindy but I'll have to hit you up for it at the Ozbow hunt...
Regards...Sparra

[tracker]

Jindy wrote

Ask tracker about that one too, he also has first hand info from a property owner who has hit him with that one.

Yep.. landholders I know have been told that if you have the G you are 'insured'... that is a STRONG word these days.

I can remember how outraged I felt when I had to buy a fishing license. Now I just buy it. "They" wear you down in the end.

I thought one interesting point in the newsletter was that you would need to apply for your access to public lands through a computer system and that if you fill in the 'after hunt' report <I assuming that's online too??> you stand a better chance of getting back on again. It sounds like it really is killing ferals that they are going to be keen on. If you don't whack lots of game <bowhunter?> does this mean you'll have less chance of getting access?

It will be interesting to see the format of the 'after hunt' report.

I hope it is more than just a series of "what did you kill" and "how big was it" boxes to check.

Interesting times.

Mick.