HANSARD
SITTING CALENDAR
SEARCH
LIVE BROADCAST
Hansard Dynamic Member Index
Legislative Council - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2015-10-14 Daily Xml
Contents
Pdf Xml

Conservation and Hunting Alliance

The Hon. J.M. GAZZOLA (15:56): I recently had the pleasure of representing the Minister for Sustainability, Environment and Conservation, Ian Hunter, at the Conservation and Hunting Alliance of South Australia's Wine and Wild Food Dinner which took place at the National Wine Centre last week.

The Chairman of CHASA, Tony Sharley, opened the proceedings with a traditional welcome and I was pleased that Mr Sharley noted that the Kaurna people and, indeed, all Indigenous Australians were the first hunters, gatherers and conservationists. Among the 120 guests, I acknowledge Mr Dan Van Holst Pellekaan MP, Mr Tim Goodes from DEWNR, Mr Bob Lott, President, Nature Foundation, and CHASA Secretary, Tom Vartzokas.

We enjoyed a variety of delicious and sustainably-harvested wild food prepared by renowned native food pioneer and chef, Andrew Fielke, as well as local wines from Angove Family Winemakers. The practice of coming together to enjoy wild food provides us with social and cultural benefits, as well as a deeper appreciation of our natural environment. When undertaken responsibly, hunting does not threaten conservation and biodiversity values.

CHASA was formed in 1994 and is a not-for-profit organisation that connects a network of environmentally-aware associations of South Australia to achieve joint goals. Eight hunting groups with conservation interests are represented by CHASA. The South Australian government acknowledges the responsible and humane modern hunting practices promoted by CHASA.

CHASA has recently released Strategic Plan 2020, which has taken the initiative to incorporate the government's state strategic priority of premium food and wine from our clean environment by showcasing how CHASA and its members help the state in achieving its goal.

The commercial kangaroo industry, for example, offers the state the economic benefits that come from employing professional shooters, processing plant workers and drivers. The industry also contributes to achieving land management and biodiversity benefits. Abundant kangaroos cause devastating impacts to crops and the environment. The humane harvest of kangaroos allows their meat to be exported throughout the world.

The sustainability and welfare of animals plays an important role in any hunting practices. Duck and quail hunting is a good example of this and are governed by strict guidelines. Before a hunting season can be announced, assessments of waterfowl numbers are carried out to ensure the conservation and sustainability of the waterfowl species. This data then informs the process that decides whether or not hunting should be permitted, which species may be hunted and in which locations hunting can take place.

It is also important to acknowledge that hunting organisations often undertake significant conservation and wetland restoration work, including the management and revegetation of game reserves and the regeneration of habitat on private land. These works have provided major benefits for the conservation of wetland systems and the wildlife that they support.

Duck hunting is often integrated with wetland conservation activities. For example, at the Tolderol Game Reserve near Lake Alexandrina, I understand that CHASA is working with the government and the local bird groups to help re-establish a wetland watering system to benefit a variety of bird species. Similarly, along the River Murray, Field and Game South Australia has worked hard to restore a number of wetland complexes back to health, and in the Upper South-East Wetlands and Wildlife is actively rehabilitating 12,000 hectares of threatened aquatic and floodplain habitat.

As well as wetland restoration the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia continues to work closely with the rangers responsible for our state's magnificent national parks. This formal partnership between the Sporting Shooters Association and the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources has helped to achieve significant conservation outcomes through the management of feral animals. CHASA's 2020 strategic plan reveals some of the economic benefits of its organisation's efforts. In its strategic plan it states:

In 2013-14 556 members of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Conservation and Wildlife Management (SA) Inc made a contribution to feral animal control in South Australia's National Parks and Conservation Reserves totalling 16,480 hours and 82,800 kilometres travelled, valued at $469,400. Their efforts removed 3,946 goats, 90 foxes, 204 feral cats, 914 rabbits and 53 deer.

I would like to acknowledge the valuable work done by CHASA and its membership and I wish them the best for the future, implementing their strategic plan and the release in 2016 of their hunting guide.

PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED
ABOUT PARLIAMENT
VISIT
LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
CONTACT