NT government, Country Liberal Party joust over firearms, hunting areas

The opposition has declared it will review the Firearms Act and increase hunting areas. However, the NT government says improvements have already been made and has accused the opposition of having ‘no plan’.

The Territory’s shooting scene has received extra attention by both major parties this week.

The Country Liberal Party has its sights on Territory hunting, promising to deliver new reserves and make ammunition more accessible if elected.

On Tuesday, the opposition revealed its plan to improve hunting in the Territory, tabling a string of views aimed at empowering the Territory’s shooters.

The plan comes after the CLP last week declared it would support recreational fishing, with new floating pontoons and boat ramps promised across the Territory.

Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro says overcrowding in hunting areas has become a risk. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

For shooters, opposition leader Lia Finocchiaro said the CLP would increase the size of the Harrison Dam Hunting Reserve due to fears of over crowding.

“(While) the popularity of hunting has increased with more than 3400 permits issued last year, there has been no increase in hunting areas, meaning our five existing reserves are severely overcrowded,” she said.

“Overcrowding puts the safety of hunters at risk as well as the sustainability of local flora and fauna – Labor promised to open up a new hunting reserve four years ago but once again they have failed to deliver.”

The CLP also committed introduce an annual $50,000 grant program towards local hunting to improve conservation efforts, review the Magpie Goose Management Plan to determine the reliability of the plan’s data, and lock waterfowl daily bag limits to seven magpie geese and 10 ducks for five years.

Opposition deputy leader Gerard Maley says bag limit numbers will be locked in for five years to provide shooters greater certainty. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Opposition deputy leader Gerard Maley, a keen shooter himself, said hunters needed certainty regarding bag limits.

“The CLP will also stop the constant chopping and changing of bag limits and season length and lock current limits and dates in for the next five years so that Territorians know what they can and can’t do well ahead of time.”

Additionally, the opposition confirmed it would review the Firearms Act, with a focus on ammunition access for communities a top a priority followed by allowing registered gun clubs to hold and sell ammunition.

Further, the CLP revealed it would provide interstate firearm licence holders the ability to buy ammunition in the Territory, and renew current NT firearms licenses.

“We will also look to strengthen the NT Trespass Act to deter illegal hunting,” Mr Maley said.

“The CLP will look to open more government owned or controlled areas to hunting, pig hunting with dogs and bow hunting, on Power and Water Corporation and Land Development Corporation Land (and) we will also resolve access concerns to the Howard Swamp and Shoal Bay Coastal Reserve.”

Police Minister Brent Potter dismissed the CLP as having “no plan”. Picture: Harry Brill.

The CLP’s vision was shot down by Police Minister Brent Potter, who said the opposition’s concerns had already been dealt with.

“Lia Finocchiaro and the CLP once again showed Territorians they have no plan for our future, making promises today on topics Labor has already addressed,” he said.

“Labor committed to changing the Firearms Act and until legislation is amended an exemption has been put in place which allows interstate licenced gun holders to purchase ammunition in the Territory for recreational purposes.

“We have also already made grants available to local hunting and game organisations for a range of projects, including conservation, through the Community Benefit Fund.”

Environment, Climate Change and Water Security Minister Kate Worden says bag limits have already been at their “maximum level” for three consecutive years. Picture: Bart Irwin.

Environment Minister Kate Worden also weighed in on the announcement and maintained the CLP’s proposed daily bag limits were in line with existing figures.

“The Lawler Labor government has kept bag limits for the waterfowl season at the maximum level of seven magpie geese and 10 ducks for three years in a row,” she said.

“We just don’t pluck a number out of the air like the CLP will – bag limits and the length of the hunting season are based on science and the maintaining the magpie geese population.”

Ms Worden claimed she was already working alongside “stakeholders” to identify a second hunting reserve.

“There are many different land tenures across the Territory and areas previously discussed are not within the remit of the Territory government,” she said.