Consultation: NSW Inquiry on the Game & Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025

The Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025 was referred to the Standing Committee on State Development for inquiry with submissions closing on the 4 August.

 

The Inquiry into Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025 terms of reference for the inquiry were referred to the committee by the Legislative Council on 24 June 2025.

Terms of Reference, that:

(1) the Game and Feral Animal Legislation Amendment (Conservation Hunting) Bill 2025 be referred to the Standing Committee on State Development for inquiry and report.

(2) That the committee report by 10 October 2025.

 

The Bill was introduced by the Shooters, Fishers & Farmers Party, the Hon Robert Borsak MLC, and proposes several legislation amendments.

 

The objects of the Bill are:

(a) to amend the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 to—

(i) abolish the Game and Pest Management Advisory Board and replace it with the Conservation Hunting Authority, and

(ii) recognise and make provision for a right to hunt, and

(iii) abolish restricted game hunting licences and replace those licences with conservation hunting licences, and

(iv) provide that national park estate land must not be declared as land on which hunting is permitted,

(b) to amend the Crown Land Management Act 2016 to establish the Crown land that is available for hunting and the mechanisms by which Crown land may be made available for hunting.

Proposed Amendments:

Schedule 1 of the Bill proposes several amendments to the Act, including to:

(a) provide for a right to hunt for cultural, recreational or invasive species management purposes, in accordance with other relevant laws

(b) require land managers when making a land management decision to consider hunting rights and whether hunting is feasible on the land

(c) dissolve the Game and Pest Management Advisory Board, establish the Authority, and outline the membership, procedures and functions of the Authority. The Authority's functions would include advising on game and feral animal management, representing licensed hunters, and promoting research into feral and game animals, including the benefits of hunting

(d) prohibit the declaration of national park estate land as being available for hunting.

Schedule 2 proposes to amend the Game and Feral Animal Control Regulation 2022 to insert references to general game hunting licences and conservation hunting licences.

Schedule 3 proposes to amend the Crown Land Act to enable hunting on designated areas of Crown land, including to:

(a) prescribe areas of Crown land to be reserved for hunting and set criteria for identifying suitable land

(b) require hunters on Crown land to hold a relevant licence and have the Minister's permission

(c) require land managers to consider hunting when preparing or reviewing management plans for designated land

(d) set out a list of designated land available for hunting.

Schedule 4 proposes to amend the Forestry Act 2012 to include promoting hunting in forestry areas as an objective and requiring consultation with the Authority on certain management plans. It also proposes to amend the Weapons Prohibition Act 1998 to recognise conservation hunting as a genuine reason for possessing or using a weapon.

Additionally, a significant number of amendments for consideration have been tabled in the Legislative Council, by the:

• Shooters, Fishers & Farmers,
• Libertarian Party
• The Greens
• Animal Justice Party
• Labor Party, and
• the Government.

Of note, the Animal Justice Party proposes an amendment for the composition of the Conservation Hunting Authority to include 1 veterinary practitioner nominated by the New South Wales Division of the Australian Veterinary Association.

AVA Policies of Interest:

• AVA Statement of principles – animal welfare and ethics 
• Hunting
• Considering welfare of target and non-target animals in planning vertebrate control programs 
• Control of feral horses and other equidae 
• Control of native and introduced animals causing damage to agriculture or habitat 

How to Get Involved: 

The AVA are seeking input from AVA Members to inform the AVA’s submission and advocacy on this Bill. To ensure your contributions are incorporated into the AVA submission, please provide your feedback to AVA Senior Advocacy Officer, Liz Gemes, at Liz.Gemes@ava.com.au by Sunday 27 July 2025.

A collective AVA submission carries weight, but individual submissions from veterinarians further reinforce our key messages and demonstrate widespread industry support. To maximise impact, we encourage members to contribute to AVA representations and provide individual feedback. Engaging in both strengthens the profession’s influence. You can make your own individual submission by the 4 August here.