Bounties back in vogue to cull feral goats, cats, pigs
NSW Premier Chris Minns on Tuesday threw his weight behind bounties, saying the state has to do better to control feral pest populations.
It comes after Victoria's fox bounties wiped out more than 80,000 of the species in 2022 after hunters were rewarded between $10 to $14 per scalp.
"It's about time we start thinking about novel ways of reducing the feral goat, the feral pig, the feral cat population, which has really taken over a lot of parks," Mr Minns told Triple M Coffs Coast radio.
"We should be open to bounties and other things, because we've got a lot of recreational shooters out there that are actually getting rid of a lot of the pests roaming across our native vegetation.
"We can be doing far better on it."
Nearly $1 billion is also being spent on prevention and protection against biosecurity threats in NSW.
Invasive species are the highest impact contributors of extinctions, directly endangering 70 per cent of threatened wildlife and ecosystems in the state.
Cats alone have played a major role in 25 mammal extinctions, including the lesser bilby, the Invasive Species Council says.
The premier highlighted the success of brumby culls in the Kosciuszko National Park, bringing the population down up to 80 per cent.
NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party leader Robert Borsak in January pressed for a $2 million bounty scheme, even backing novel approaches like Florida's famed Python Challenge.
The annual 10-day competition - which even spawned a TV comedy, Killing It - draws hundreds of people to the Florida Everglades to exterminate invasive Burmese pythons.
Mr Borsak's proposal involves a bounty of $10 or $20 per head being set on feral animals.
The CSIRO's most recent best practice advice on pest management however says bounties rarely work.
Animal welfare groups oppose the practice while the Invasive Species Council compares it to "jailing the occasional dealer" in a drug epidemic.
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Sky News AU
4 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Harbour Bridge pro-Palestinian protest organisers vow to fight NSW Police in court as civil society groups blast Chris Minns
A pro-Palestinian advocacy group seeking to shut down the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday with mass demonstrations has vowed to contest NSW Police's decision to block the march in the Supreme Court. The Palestinian Action Group Sydney revealed in a statement on Sunday that protestors were seeking to march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on August 3 to send a 'powerful' message to the world amid the ongoing conflict in the Gaza strip. Despite the group calling on the NSW government to facilitate the March for Humanity Premier Minns said in a statement that he could not support a protest of this 'scale and nature' on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, 'especially with one week's notice.' On Tuesday NSW Police blocked a request submitted by the organisers to close the Sydney Harbour Bridge to traffic for demonstrations on Sunday with Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna insisting the march would put 'public safety' in jeopardy. Organisers stated they were issued with a summons on Wednesday afternoon from NSW Police to attend a hearing at the Supreme Court on Thursday and said they had not yet received a time slot, according to Acting Deputy Commissioner McKenna said on Tuesday that NSW Police would be lodging an application with the Supreme Court deeming the protest unlawful. NSW Police insisted its call to shut down the demonstration in court was not influenced by Premier Minns' vehement opposition and that it was open to negotiating with the protests co-ordinators. The Palestine Action Group said in a statement after NSW Police handed down its decision on Tuesday that the protest 'must go ahead' despite authorities warning the demonstration could shut down the city and spark a logistics nightmare. 'Hundreds are starving to death … the people of Australia, and NSW, have had enough of this atrocity and are determined to take a powerful stand to make it stop,' spokesperson Josh Lees said. 'We will see them in court,' the statement read. Organisers offered to delay the protest by up to two to three weeks, however Mr Minns promptly shot down the idea and said that he would not close the bridge under 'any circumstances.' 'I'm asking the organisers to work with NSW police on an alternative route. To shut (the bridge) down in these circumstances would be beyond the resources of the NSW government,' Mr Minns reiterated. Mr Minns has come under fire for his handling of the situation, with 55 union and civil society bodies penning a scathing letter to the Premier on Thursday calling on him to 'facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest'. 'Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW State and Police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest,' the letter read. The groups involved in the joint letter include the Redfern Legal Centre, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, Human Rights Watch and Asylum Seeker Centre. Premier Minns' position has also been slammed by his own MPs, with Labor backbenchers stating he needed to re-think his stance on the demonstration. Labor MP Anthony D'Adam who was sacked from his parliamentary secretary roles after condemning police tactics used at a pro-Palestinian protest said the Premier was over-exaggerating the impact of the protest. Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence separately said the Premier's conduct amounted to political interference. The march has been shared widely on social media with organisers expecting tens of thousands of attendants.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
Protesters defiant as bridge battle looms
Organisers of a pro-Palestine march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge are defiant as threats of court action loom, with civil society groups writing to the Premier to support the rally. The Palestine Action Group filed a Form 1 with NSW Police last week, seeking to march across the bridge on Sunday in protest of mass starvation in Gaza. Police are expected to seek to block the protest at the Supreme Court in Sydney on Thursday following staunch pushback from NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns. He vowed not to allow the march go ahead at any point, claiming that Sydney would 'descend into chaos' and it was a logistical 'Everest'. Organisers said they received a summons at 4.30pm on Wednesday from NSW Police to attend court, though as of Thursday morning no time had been set for the hearing. Organisers have remained defiant despite court threats. NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone Credit: News Corp Australia It comes after 55 union and civil society groups signed a letter to the Premier on Thursday, urging him to 'facilitate the exercise of the democratic right of protest'. 'Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW State and Police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest,' the letter said. 'We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest.' Organisers and the signees have repeatedly cited previous shutdowns of the bridge, including for the filming of a movie and the World Pride march in 2023. Human Rights Watch, the Redfern Legal Centre, the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and Asylum Seeker Centre are among the groups to sign the letter. Activists say the protest, which was expected to be attended by tens of thousands of people, comes at an urgent time as deliberate mass starvation grips Gaza. Israel has become increasingly isolated over its nearly two-year campaign following Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack. On Thursday, Canada joined France and the UK in recognising a Palestinian state in a retaliatory move over the aid situation in Gaza. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has in recent days ramped up his criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza but fallen short of committing to recognising Palestinian statehood. Protesters have rallied across Australia's major cities near weekly since Israel's invasion of the Gaza Strip. Acting Deputy Commissioner Peter McKenna on Tuesday said police would be lodging an application with the Supreme Court to deem the bridge protest unlawful. Premier Chris Minns warned that Sydney would 'descend into chaos' if the march went ahead. NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard Credit: News Corp Australia In NSW, police can support a Form 1 application for a protest, which affords protesters protection from anti-assembly laws, or oppose it in court. Mr McKenna said the decision to oppose the protest was made independently of Mr Minns, citing risks that emergency services may be blocked. Mr Minns has faced dissent from within his own party over his staunch opposition to the protest, which is backed by the Greens and some independents. Labor MLC Stephen Lawrence said in a statement he was 'concerned the Premier has, in effect, made a purported decision himself to try and prevent this protest'. 'This will taint proper consideration of the matter by police, and that violence may ensue as a consequence,' he said on Tuesday night. A second Labor MP, Anthony D'Adam, also accused Mr Minns of being 'more concerned about traffic flow than the plight of starving children in Gaza'.
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Protesters pledge Bridge defiance as court battle looms
Police and pro-Palestine protesters are heading for a court showdown, as an open letter calls for a state government to facilitate a demonstration across an iconic Australian landmark. Tens of thousands of people were expected to join the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday opposing Israel's war on Gaza, before police confirmed they would not permit it and would take court action to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. Undeterred protesters, including organising group Palestine Action Group Sydney, have continued promoting the demonstration ahead of a legal challenge later this week. They have been backed by an open letter signed by 55 entities, including protest and civil liberties groups, unions, social action bodies and political factions, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to reverse his opposition to the march. "Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW state and police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest," the letter read. "We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties are among the 55 signatories. Palestine Action Group leaders posted on Facebook on Wednesday night confirming they've received court summons, with a hearing likely for Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. The protest group vowed to protest regardless of the court outcome, ending their post with "whatever happens, see you on Sunday". The group's spokesman Josh Lees had accused Mr Minns of interfering in police operations, after the premier spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the march for reconciliation in 2000 which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production. Police and pro-Palestine protesters are heading for a court showdown, as an open letter calls for a state government to facilitate a demonstration across an iconic Australian landmark. Tens of thousands of people were expected to join the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday opposing Israel's war on Gaza, before police confirmed they would not permit it and would take court action to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. Undeterred protesters, including organising group Palestine Action Group Sydney, have continued promoting the demonstration ahead of a legal challenge later this week. They have been backed by an open letter signed by 55 entities, including protest and civil liberties groups, unions, social action bodies and political factions, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to reverse his opposition to the march. "Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW state and police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest," the letter read. "We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties are among the 55 signatories. Palestine Action Group leaders posted on Facebook on Wednesday night confirming they've received court summons, with a hearing likely for Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. The protest group vowed to protest regardless of the court outcome, ending their post with "whatever happens, see you on Sunday". The group's spokesman Josh Lees had accused Mr Minns of interfering in police operations, after the premier spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the march for reconciliation in 2000 which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production. Police and pro-Palestine protesters are heading for a court showdown, as an open letter calls for a state government to facilitate a demonstration across an iconic Australian landmark. Tens of thousands of people were expected to join the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday opposing Israel's war on Gaza, before police confirmed they would not permit it and would take court action to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. Undeterred protesters, including organising group Palestine Action Group Sydney, have continued promoting the demonstration ahead of a legal challenge later this week. They have been backed by an open letter signed by 55 entities, including protest and civil liberties groups, unions, social action bodies and political factions, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to reverse his opposition to the march. "Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW state and police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest," the letter read. "We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties are among the 55 signatories. Palestine Action Group leaders posted on Facebook on Wednesday night confirming they've received court summons, with a hearing likely for Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. The protest group vowed to protest regardless of the court outcome, ending their post with "whatever happens, see you on Sunday". The group's spokesman Josh Lees had accused Mr Minns of interfering in police operations, after the premier spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the march for reconciliation in 2000 which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production. Police and pro-Palestine protesters are heading for a court showdown, as an open letter calls for a state government to facilitate a demonstration across an iconic Australian landmark. Tens of thousands of people were expected to join the march across the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Sunday opposing Israel's war on Gaza, before police confirmed they would not permit it and would take court action to categorise it as unlawful and unauthorised. Undeterred protesters, including organising group Palestine Action Group Sydney, have continued promoting the demonstration ahead of a legal challenge later this week. They have been backed by an open letter signed by 55 entities, including protest and civil liberties groups, unions, social action bodies and political factions, calling on NSW Premier Chris Minns to reverse his opposition to the march. "Seeking to shut down this rally would be a serious departure from the NSW state and police's responsibility to uphold the democratic right of protest," the letter read. "We urge your government to facilitate the exercise of democratic freedoms in collaboration with community groups and support the holding of this protest." Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International Australia, the Jewish Council of Australia and the NSW Council for Civil Liberties are among the 55 signatories. Palestine Action Group leaders posted on Facebook on Wednesday night confirming they've received court summons, with a hearing likely for Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. NSW has a permit system that allows protest participants to block public roads and infrastructure, but police can go to court to deny permission. The protest group vowed to protest regardless of the court outcome, ending their post with "whatever happens, see you on Sunday". The group's spokesman Josh Lees had accused Mr Minns of interfering in police operations, after the premier spoke out against the protest saying he "cannot allow Sydney to descend into chaos". Mr Lees said the group had lodged the application on Saturday in compliance with the required one-week notice for a demonstration. The action group had said more than 50,000 people were expected to attend the protest. The number of Palestinians believed to have been killed during the war in Gaza is nearing 60,000, according to local health authorities, while dozens of people are reported to have died in recent days due to starvation. Israel's military campaign began after Hamas, a designated terrorist organisation in Australia, attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1200 people and taking 251 hostages. The bridge has previously been shut for separate demonstrations, including the march for reconciliation in 2000 which attracted more than 250,000 people and a film production.
