Licensed shooters caught with drink and drugs

In an article in smh.com.au, the NSW Premier, Barry O'Farrell announced a review of the governance of the Game Council, which will delay the start of the program to hunt in national parks and reserves until at least June 2013.

The review was launched after it was revealed in January 2013, that two senior Game Council employees were under investigation for allegedly driving across a national park into private land in outback NSW, where they illegally shot a goat. One employee was later cleared and reinstated.

Documents released under freedom of information laws describe almost a dozen examples of serious transgressions last year that were considered by the Game Council NSW. Some of the incidents reported were:

• licensed shooters being caught with prohibited firearms,

• the use of drugs and alcohol; and

• trespassing on restricted land.

Mr O'Farrell told Parliament that an investigation found evidence of illegal activity by a Game Council employee and a council volunteer. The report has been passed to the police.

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