01-05-2025
Aussie duo slapped with $9,000 fine for illegal act in national park
A warning has been issued for any would-be hunters with their sights on Queensland's national parks, after two men were fined thousands for gunning down feral pigs. The destructive animals are creating havoc around Bribie Island National Park, and many believe the problem is only getting worse.
Although the animals are considered an invasive pest, hunting in national parks in Queensland is strictly prohibited. The pigs unleash an estimated $100m economic burden on Australia's agricultural sector every year and on Bribie Island they appear to be getting more and more brazen – even stealing food from campers.
The two shooters allegedly entered the park on multiple occasions to hunt feral pigs and went to lengths to cover their tracks, including allegedly removing their number plates and travelling on restricted roads.
The Department of Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation said the men entered the park 'unlawfully', and also had pig-hunting dogs with them.
The duo was slapped with a combined fine of $9,032 under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992 and various Transport Operations Acts and Regulations.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services Manager Chris Skennar said there are already pest control programs in place, and illegal activities can undermine those efforts.
'Bribie Island National Park is a fragile ecosystem that supports a wide variety of unique native species. Illegal hunting not only poses a direct threat to local wildlife, but also damages sensitive landscapes, undermining the conservation efforts our rangers work so hard to maintain," Skennar said.
'Even if the intention is to target a pest species, the way it's done matters. National parks aren't a remote property, they're a shared, protected space. We're committed to enforcing the law and ensuring our parks are safe for both visitors and wildlife."
Any illegal activity in national parks and state forests can be reported anonymously by calling 1300 130 372.
President of the Australian Pig Doggers and Hunters Association (APDHA) Ned Makim previously told Yahoo News the extent of the feral pig problem in Australia is much higher than official government reports.
"The estimation of how many pigs there are in Australia is grossly underdone," Makim said. "The minimum number of pigs is thought to be about three million and the maximum about 23 million. We think that it's at least double that higher figure, and maybe more."
Hunting for feral pigs is allowed in most states when conducted on private land.
In Queensland, the shooters are limited to private land and must have the landowner's permission. Hunting in state forests and national parks is not permitted.
In NSW, shooting on public land requires a current R-licence and written permission from the Department of Primary Industries Game Licensing Unit. There are 350 state forests declared as public hunting lands.
In Victoria, hunters need a registration of interest, a game licence or a firearms licence to target pest animals on crown land. Hunting regulations must be followed.
In South Australia, a Basic Hunting Permit is required but feral pigs cannot be targeted in Game Reserves, National Parks, Conservation Parks and Wilderness Protection Areas.
In Western Australia, pig hunting is only allowed on private land with the landowner's permission.
In the Northern Territory, pigs can be targeted under a permit system. A permit allows the owner authority to hunt for 12 months inside the hunting reserves of Shoal Bay and Harrison Dam. Hunting on other crown land or Aboriginal land requires a permit.
In Tasmania, a game licence is required to hunt on Crown land. Feral pigs can be taken at any time, even from state forests.
In the ACT, pig hunting is restricted to private property with permission from the landowner.
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