Legislative Council Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1) 55 1 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Answers to Questions Bow and Crossbow hunting Bow and Crossbow hunting The Hon. S.L. GAME Legislative Council Bow and Crossbow hunting 169 The Hon. S.L. GAME ().2 November 20222 November 2022). Can the Minister for Climate, Environment and Water advise: 1.	Why is there now a need to ban bow hunting, after the Social Development Committee's report on its inquiry into issues related to bow and crossbow hunting in South Australia did not recommend a ban? 2.	What evidence stipulates that poisoning is a more humane method of culling feral animals than hunting? 3.	What consideration has been given to hunting as a means to address protein intake during our cost-of-living crisis? 4.	Where is the evidence that banning bow hunting was a pre-election promise from the Malinauskas government? 5.	What compensation plans have been arranged if bow hunting is banned to compensate businesses and hunters, having rendered their stock and equipment useless? The Hon. K.J. MAHER Legislative Council Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Attorney-General Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector Bow and Crossbow hunting The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Climate, Environment and Water has advised: The Labor Party has had a longstanding commitment to ban hunting with bows and crossbows since before the 2018 election. This commitment has been published in letters to the Animal Justice Party and in response to a survey by South Aussies for Animals Inc. Advice from PIRSA provided to the Social Development Committee's inquiry into issues related to bow and crossbow hunting in South Australia is clear that biological control, poison baiting and trapping are typically more effective methods for killing pest animals than bow hunting. Where baiting or trapping cannot be applied, use of appropriate firearms (i.e. guns) in ground or aerial culling programs is preferred. This ban will not limit hunting with guns which will remain a legal means of obtaining meat where allowed for by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 and other relevant legislation. As it is only the act of hunting animals, specifically birds and mammals, with bow or crossbow in South Australia that will be banned, there is currently no plan to compensate business or hunters. Bow hunting equipment will not be rendered useless as this ban will not limit the use or ownership of bows or crossbows for purposes not involving the killing of birds or mammals. For example, owners will still be able to use their archery equipment for target archery or bow hunting in other jurisdictions where it remains legal. The Department for Environment and Water will be undertaking consultation to inform the implementation of the ban.