NOT HAPPY BARRY: National Parks Association of NSW protesters will rally in Armidale on Saturday against the O’Farrell government’s changes to national parks hunting laws.
ARMIDALE’S mall will be full of anti-hunting activists at the weekend when they protest against the state government’s proposed changes to national parks.
The National Parks Association of NSW will hold a community rally on Saturday from 11am in the Beardy St mall, during peak shopping traffic.
Rally coordinator Justin McKee expects about 60 people to turn up to the protest, which will be held between the post office and court house.
It will be the 17th rally held by the association so far, as its members continue to spread the message against opening up 78 of the state’s national parks to hunting.
The association is against the state government’s vote, in June last year, to allow amateur and recreational hunting to occur in the parks from March 1.
The association said the unpopular legislation was not publicly challenged by any Nationals or Liberal members of parliament.
When the news first broke, the association said the O’Farrell government had broken a pre-election promise, to keep recreational shooting out of national parks.
The association suggested the government did that to appease the Shooters and Fishers Party and get their support on an electricity privatisation bill.
The association says they’re working hard with the community to repeal the legislation.
Armidale’s Australian Labor Party branch president Tony Ramsay and Armidale Dumaresq Councillor Peter O’Donahue, of the Greens, will speak at the event.
Independent member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay can’t attend the rally but will provide a statement to be read on the day.