Holes in sniper policy
Sunday Telegraph, Page: 42. Sunday, 19 July 2009
The report that police snipers could be flown around national parks (“Police snipers may target feral animals”, ST, 5/7) is another ludicrous example of this State Government making policy on the run.
For a start, shooting from a moving platform, ie, a helicopter is against RSPCA policy. Professional cullers must head-shoot their prey no mean feat for a shooter from a helicopter, even police marksmen. The bush in national parks does not lend itself to this type of culling, as the eucalyptus canopy is that thick you cannot see through it in a lot of areas. And it costs about $2000 an hour to keep one helicopter in the air not bad for a government that’s broke. I would rather see the money spent on health, education, public transport and policing.
This is a knee-jerk reaction to the Shooters Party bill to allow recreational hunters to do the same task on foot at no cost to the Government. This amendment bill actually stems from a report into the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 commissioned by the Government. It really makes you wonder if they know what they’re doing.
Wayne Hogan, Kiama Downs
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