Rudd undertakes to release “black and white” policy
on recreational shooting and hunting

By Tim Bannister

Labor will release its “black and white” policy on recreational shooting and hunting prior to the election, Federal Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd announced recently in Adelaide.

Talking to SSAA National’s Publications Executive Director Tim Bannister, Mr Rudd said the policy would enable SSAA members and shooters to make their own minds up on Labor’s stance on sports shooting.

The Federal Labor party currently does not have a public policy on recreational shooting, which, it could be argued, would leave law-abiding shooters vulnerable to further knee-jerk legislation should there be another mass or criminal shooting if Labor was in government. But, according to Mr Rudd, Labor will reinstate its policy prior to the election.

“It is my overwhelming experience that members of the SSAA and sports shooters abide within the legal framework that has already been laid out,” he said. “I am confident we will have something in black and white for shooters between now and the time of the election and you will form your own judgments as to whether you are happy with it.”

SSAA National President Bob Green welcomed the news and said it was a step in the right direction and looked forward to analysing Labor’s policy on the shooting sports. Mr Green has previously met with Mr Rudd’s office late last year to discuss the safe guarding of the shooting sports and further explain the role of the SSAA, as the largest member-based recreational shooting and hunting association in Australia.

Mr Green will also be meeting with Shadow Minister for Justice and Customs Arch Bevis this month. In addition, SSAA National has invited all major parties to submit a written statement on their parties’ policies on the shooting sports, which will be published prior to the Federal election.