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ABC News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
Tasmanian Labor's Dean Winter boxed in by 'no deal with Greens' stance
Tasmanian Labor leader Dean Winter is walking a narrow path. Despite leading his party to its worst election result ever, he insists his party is prepared to govern if Jeremy Rockliff can't get the numbers. And he's not simply sitting on the sidelines watching and waiting to see if Mr Rockliff can get enough crossbenchers onside before taking action. He has started talking with the four independents who are certain to be elected — Peter George and David O'Byrne in Franklin, Clark's Kristie Johnston and Craig Garland in Braddon — plus Shooters, Fishers and Farmers candidate Carlo Di Falco, who is currently in front for the final seat in Lyons. But even if Mr Winter got all of those on side and won in Bass to secure an 11th seat for Labor, his party would still only have 16 MPs on board, short of the 18 seats required to govern. To get past that threshold, Labor needs the support of the Greens for confidence and supply. This is where Mr Winter, who has repeatedly insisted he won't do a deal with the Greens, has boxed himself into a corner. Mr Winter insists his position is clear: Labor will accept the Greens' backing, but won't do a deal. "We won't be doing deals with the Greens," he said on Monday. "We don't do deals with the Greens because we will not give up on the things that are so important to the Labor Party. "We support traditional industries like forestry, mining and aquaculture." Mr Winter spoke with Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff the day after the election. But Dr Woodruff had to make the call. Mr Winter says the conversation was brief, and perfunctory. "I told Rosalie Woodruff that I wouldn't be doing any deals with the Greens. It was a pretty short conversation," he said on ABC Mornings on Monday. Mr Winter seems to be expecting support or backing from the Greens, without giving them any policy concessions or perks. It's a pretty precarious line to walk; to need the Greens, but refuse to negotiate or come to any formal arrangement with them. How does that arrangement, where there are no guarantees or agreements about what a future government should look like, provide the political stability and certainty that everyone agrees Tasmania needs? And why would the Greens agree to provide ongoing supply and confidence to a Labor leader who hasn't once picked up the phone and refuses to compromise? What do they get out of that arrangement? Perhaps it's enough that the Greens feel like they have more in common with Labor, than Mr Rockliff's Liberals. But an unqualified offer of supply and confidence is a lot to give up for nothing in return. Supply and confidence agreements are always important, but this one seems extra crucial. After three straight early elections — the last one almost three years earlier than scheduled following a successful no-confidence motion in Mr Rockliff — every politician knows that whatever new government is formed now has to last. And there will be great consequences for whichever political outfit is seen to be responsible for sending Tasmanians to another early poll. Dr Woodruff was pretty clear on election night she wanted Mr Winter to pick up the phone, and this time consider forming a minority government with the support of the Greens, after rejecting the opportunity to do so just a month earlier. Will her enthusiasm to work together wane if Mr Winter isn't willing to have more than the most basic conversation? The other complication for Labor is that their terrible election result means they can't argue they have a mandate to govern, or have received a ringing endorsement from the Tasmanian people. Mr Winter's first public audition for the top job could hardly have gone worse. The party received just 25.9 per cent of the primary vote, a fall of 3.1 per cent from last year's election. And Mr Winter's personal vote wasn't pretty either. He fell short of a quota in Franklin, receiving fewer votes than Peter George and Liberal Eric Abetz. In Braddon, Mr Rockliff received more than two quotas, his personal vote 2.7 times higher than Mr Winter's. It's the kind of situation that normally calls for reflection, negotiation and sometimes even consideration of resignation. But while Mr Winter acknowledges that politicians will need to work together to make the new parliament work, he's so far been unwilling to compromise on policy. Mr Winter's continual refusal to deal with the Greens means he only has a few paths that can lead him to the premier's office. He can't act aggressively — he wants the public to see him to be reluctantly accepting the political reality, that Labor needs to accept the support of the Greens to avoid another early election. He can only act if Mr Rockliff has failed to get a majority of MPs on board — something that Mr Winter keeps positing as highly likely. "I'm finding it difficult to see how Jeremy Rockliff, if he continues down this same path, can secure the support of those crossbenchers … who voted no confidence in him six weeks ago, people like Craig Garland and Kristie Johnston who were scathing of the government then," Mr Winter said on Monday. If Mr Rockliff falls short, Labor can come to power a couple of different ways. One scenario is that the governor can require Mr Rockliff to test his numbers on the floor of parliament, through a vote of confidence. If he doesn't get the numbers, there can then be a similar vote of confidence in a minority government led by Mr Winter. The other scenario is that the government re-commissions Mr Rockliff's government, without requiring a confidence vote. To oust him, there would need to be another no-confidence vote in Mr Rockliff, supported by a majority of MPs, including Labor and the Greens. From there, Mr Winter would come to power through the same mechanism, a vote of confidence in a minority government led by him. But Mr Winter doesn't really want to talk about that second scenario, where there would be a second no-confidence motion in a premier inside just a few months. That hypothetical could become a reality very soon. And if it does, it will be an acid test of Mr Winter's leadership and ability to negotiate with the crossbench. And a real test of Labor's tactics of repeatedly belittling and ruling out a deal with the party whose support he needs to come to power.
The Advertiser
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Animal advocates shoot down bill for enabling 'yahoos'
Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps." Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps." Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps." Environmentalists have opened fire on a bill which could pay recreational hunters for killing invasive pests, describing the plan as enabling a "fringe minority of men" to let loose. A bill before NSW parliament aims to establish a Conservation Hunting Authority, with debate in the upper house taking place on Wednesday. It would better enable "conservation hunting" on private and public land to control invasive animals, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak told parliament. It would also recognise hunting as a cultural activity with social and economic benefits. "It is about responsible conservation, ethical hunting and ensuring that our public lands are managed in a way that benefits everyone." The proposed plan would introduce bounties for killing foxes, cats and feral pigs, which the authority could oversee, the MP explained. But Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst described those partaking in such activities as a bunch of "yahoos". "Recreational hunting is not about conservation," she said on Wednesday. "This is a fringe minority of people in our society, predominantly men, who like to kill animals for so-called fun. It is a form of dangerous violence. "Allowing yahoos with very limited training or experience to go out and shoot animals creates an unacceptable animal welfare risk." Biodiversity Council director James Trezise said co-ordinated baiting and trapping as well as aerial culls are more effective at large-scale population reduction. "Whilst recreational hunting is a perfectly valid hobby, it isn't an effective tool for invasive species management." Victoria and the Northern Territory have well-regulated public land hunting programs which have delivered positive pest management results, Mr Borsak added. The proposed hunting authority would comprise eight members, half of whom would be nominated by "prescribed hunting organisations". It would represent the interests of licensed hunters, liaise on land management and make recommendations to ministers on game and feral animal management. A new licence would be created for conservation hunters, aimed at training them in the use of night-vision technology and infrared scopes and allowing them to use suppressors on rifles. Environment Minister Penny Sharpe defended the government's approach in trying to cull feral animal populations by any means necessary. "Invasive species are one of the largest harms that occur to nature and to our ecosystems across our state - it is worth billions of dollars of harm," she told parliament. "This is not going to solve our invasive species problem... but having more people with their shoulder to the wheel being in a position to take out feral animals wherever they are ... is something that just helps."
West Australian
31-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Animal activists slam NSW plan to pay bounty hunters for feral animal kills
A controversial plan to introduce bounty killings for feral animals and expand hunting rights would 'turn NSW into a South African game park', opponents have claimed. The NSW government came under fire this week after Premier Chris Minns floated the idea of paying shooters for bounties for feral animals, including cats and pigs. The proposal forms part of sweeping reforms proposed by the NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party to hunting rights, including a new minister for hunting. NSW Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst said the Bill would 'take us backward' and bounty killings as a means of population control did not work. 'We know even just from research that these bounty programs don't work, but of course it also allows for extreme animal cruelty,' Ms Hurst said. 'There's no proper sort of oversight or accountability into these programs. It's encouraging a bloodbath for animals. 'The argument that's put forward by the Shooters (party) is that these animals are introduced. 'Therefore, we can do whatever we sort of want to them and we should ignore what animal cruelty is happening to them. 'They have the ability to feel pain and fear and we shouldn't be encouraging some kind of extreme Rambo-style killing spree on these animals within the communities.' Ms Hurst said the Bill, which seeks to open up Crown land to hunting, would 'essentially turn NSW into a South African game park' and waste taxpayer money. She urged for more species-specific control measure for feral animals in NSW, including the use of immunocontraceptive darting that is used overseas. Several feral and invasive species are active in the state, including feral pigs, deer, and camels as well as wild dogs and feral cats. Shooters MLC Rod Borsak said the Bill was about incorporating NSW's about 200,000 licensed hunters into 'the conservation hunting paradigm'. 'The whole idea is to try and develop a system of co-operation … something that brings the recreational hunting side of things into the conservation paradigm,' he said. He went on to add that bounties would 'increase the incentive to farmers and to conservation hunters to go out there and target the animals that we think are important'. Mr Borsak stressed the possibility of bounties to target feral cats that attack native fauna and are 'impossible' to control under the government's current 'instruments'. The long-term Legislative Council representative dismissed the notion that the bounty plan would result in a 'free for all', citing longstanding regulation and safety measures. 'There's a whole lot of rules around all this stuff that has been tried and true for the last 20 years,' Mr Borsak said, referencing concerns about firearms safety. 'Anyone trying to run a scare campaign is moaning in the face of the evidence of what's actually occurred in two or three million hectares of public land in the last 20 years.' Under the plan, a $1m 'pot' would be available for feral pig snouts, which Mr Borsak said could sell for $15-30, with another $1m pool for wild dogs, foxes, and cats. Mr Borsak described hunting as a 'mainstream' activity that 'really benefits rural and regional NSW primarily, and we really should be recognising that'. Under the Bill, spotlighting and the proposed use of thermal scopes would not be allowed on Crown land, including state forests. Nor would the hunting bounty scheme – or any hunting at all – be allowed within national parks in NSW. The proposal was panned by the Invasive Species Council, whose chief executive Jack Gough wrote to Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty. 'I am writing to urge you to reject the latest attempt by the NSW Shooters Party to undermine effective feral animal control in NSW,' Mr Gough said. 'This time through an attempt to secure government funding for bounties. 'Australia's long history of failed bounties has demonstrated they are expensive, ineffective and undermine genuine feral animal control programs.' The council raised concerns that the scheme could be abused by way of fraud, and feral animal control was 'very different from ad hoc killing'. While dismissing the plan, the council has lauded the successes of aerial culling into reducing the population of feral horses in the Snowy Mountains. While significantly different in purpose, planning, and practice, the shooting of brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park has been equally divisive. A recent state government report found the population of brumbies in the park could be as low as 1500, down from 13,000 to 22,000 last year. Mr Gough welcomed the report as a 'turning point', with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service releasing images of ecological recovery in the park. Ms Hurst questioned the government's earlier numbers and suggested alternatives, like darting, were also available. 'The problem that we have is that there's always this messaging pushed out there that it has to be done urgently and it has to be done as quickly as possible,' she said. 'Of course what happens is when you kill a whole lot of animals in any one system they breed back up pretty quickly, so it's always going to be a Band-Aid solution. 'It is not going to work in the long term.'
Perth Now
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Why Aussie state wants bounty hunters
A controversial plan to introduce bounty killings for feral animals and expand hunting rights would 'turn NSW into a South African game park', opponents have claimed. The NSW government came under fire this week after Premier Chris Minns floated the idea of paying shooters for bounties for feral animals, including cats and pigs. The proposal forms part of sweeping reforms proposed by the NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party to hunting rights, including a new minister for hunting. NSW Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst said the Bill would 'take us backward' and bounty killings as a means of population control did not work. 'We know even just from research that these bounty programs don't work, but of course it also allows for extreme animal cruelty,' Ms Hurst said. 'There's no proper sort of oversight or accountability into these programs. It's encouraging a bloodbath for animals. 'The argument that's put forward by the Shooters (party) is that these animals are introduced. 'Therefore, we can do whatever we sort of want to them and we should ignore what animal cruelty is happening to them. 'They have the ability to feel pain and fear and we shouldn't be encouraging some kind of extreme Rambo-style killing spree on these animals within the communities.' NSW Shooters, Fishers and Farmers have proposed a bounty system for feral animals. Credit: News Regional Media Ms Hurst said the Bill, which seeks to open up Crown land to hunting, would 'essentially turn NSW into a South African game park' and waste taxpayer money. She urged for more species-specific control measure for feral animals in NSW, including the use of immunocontraceptive darting that is used overseas. Several feral and invasive species are active in the state, including feral pigs, deer, and camels as well as wild dogs and feral cats. Shooters MLC Rod Borsak said the Bill was about incorporating NSW's about 200,000 licensed hunters into 'the conservation hunting paradigm'. 'The whole idea is to try and develop a system of co-operation … something that brings the recreational hunting side of things into the conservation paradigm,' he said. He went on to add that bounties would 'increase the incentive to farmers and to conservation hunters to go out there and target the animals that we think are important'. Mr Borsak stressed the possibility of bounties to target feral cats that attack native fauna and are 'impossible' to control under the government's current 'instruments'. The long-term Legislative Council representative dismissed the notion that the bounty plan would result in a 'free for all', citing longstanding regulation and safety measures. 'There's a whole lot of rules around all this stuff that has been tried and true for the last 20 years,' Mr Borsak said, referencing concerns about firearms safety. 'Anyone trying to run a scare campaign is moaning in the face of the evidence of what's actually occurred in two or three million hectares of public land in the last 20 years.' NSW Animal Justice Party MLC Emma Hurst said the Bill would 'take us backward'. NewsWire / Simon Bullard. Credit: News Corp Australia Under the plan, a $1m 'pot' would be available for feral pig snouts, which Mr Borsak said could sell for $15-30, with another $1m pool for wild dogs, foxes, and cats. Mr Borsak described hunting as a 'mainstream' activity that 'really benefits rural and regional NSW primarily, and we really should be recognising that'. Under the Bill, spotlighting and the proposed use of thermal scopes would not be allowed on Crown land, including state forests. Nor would the hunting bounty scheme – or any hunting at all – be allowed within national parks in NSW. The proposal was panned by the Invasive Species Council, whose chief executive Jack Gough wrote to Environment Minister Penny Sharpe and Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty. 'I am writing to urge you to reject the latest attempt by the NSW Shooters Party to undermine effective feral animal control in NSW,' Mr Gough said. 'This time through an attempt to secure government funding for bounties. 'Australia's long history of failed bounties has demonstrated they are expensive, ineffective and undermine genuine feral animal control programs.' The council raised concerns that the scheme could be abused by way of fraud, and feral animal control was 'very different from ad hoc killing'. While dismissing the plan, the council has lauded the successes of aerial culling into reducing the population of feral horses in the Snowy Mountains. While significantly different in purpose, planning, and practice, the shooting of brumbies in the Kosciuszko National Park has been equally divisive. A recent state government report found the population of brumbies in the park could be as low as 1500, down from 13,000 to 22,000 last year. Mr Gough welcomed the report as a 'turning point', with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service releasing images of ecological recovery in the park. Ms Hurst questioned the government's earlier numbers and suggested alternatives, like darting, were also available. 'The problem that we have is that there's always this messaging pushed out there that it has to be done urgently and it has to be done as quickly as possible,' she said. 'Of course what happens is when you kill a whole lot of animals in any one system they breed back up pretty quickly, so it's always going to be a Band-Aid solution. 'It is not going to work in the long term.'
