Park rangers to stage NSW shooting rally

AAP

Rangers who are angry at plans to allow shooting in NSW national parks will stage a rally at a state government meeting on Monday.

Ministers will be in Bathurst from midday (AEST) as part of their latest community cabinet meeting.

It’s a chance for locals to hear what the government is up to and fire questions at the pollies inside the Mount Panorama V8 Supercars Pit Complex.

But most revved up will be dozens of National Parks and Wildlife Service staff who are due to protest outside the building over plans to let hunters shoot feral animals in 79 national parks.

NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell announced last week he’ll support a push by the Shooters and Fishers Party to permit the shooting.

It’s in exchange for the Shooters and Fishers backing the O’Farrell government’s electricity privatisation bill.

The rangers don’t like it and Monday’s protest heralds the start of low-level industrial action opposing the move.

The Public Service Association (PSA) says it’s directed the national parks staff to refuse to help the government with anything to do with recreational hunting.

They have also been asked to withhold information and advice sought by Environment Minister Robyn Parker or any other coalition minister.

“Industrial action like this is not a decision we take lightly but we simply cannot let the state government’s compromise of our national parks to go ahead,” PSA general secretary John Cahill said in a statement.

He said the recreational shooting of feral animals was expensive, unsafe and untested and could put rangers, visitors and native wildlife at risk.

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