The Shooters' Party


Policy Statement

The Party’s policies, as updated at the 2008 State Conference cover the following issues.

  1. FIREARMS
  2. SELF-DEFENCE
  3. HUNTING
  4. RIGHTS OF ACCESS
  5. FISHING
  6. LAW AND ORDER
  7. VIOLENCE
  8. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
  9. INTERVENTIONIST GOVERNMENT
  10. CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT
  11. RURAL DEVELOPMENT

In respect of each issue, the Party makes the following declarations:

  1. FIREARMS
    • The Party asserts the right of the law-abiding citizen to own and use firearms.
  2. SELF-DEFENCE
    • The party supports and will promote the right of individuals, particularly women and other vulnerable people, to carry non-lethal means of personal self-defence such as mace if firearms are not an option.
  3. HUNTING
    • The Party supports and will promote all forms of legitimate recreational hunting, including fishing.
  4. RIGHTS OF ACCESS
    • The Party supports the right of responsible 4WD drivers to have permit-free use of appropriate beaches for recreational purposes including fishing. The Party supports free access to all areas and facilities within National parks and State Forests for 4WDs, licensed anglers and horse-riders, and that areas be available to shooters to take authorised game. The Party’s elected members will actively pursue legalisation of hunting of non-indigenous animal species on all public lands of NSW.
  5. FISHING
    • The Party supports a fair and equitable share of fish stock for recreational fishers.
    • The Party supports Marine Conservation, but does not support the creation of Marine Protected Areas unless they are based on sound scientific study.
    • The Party supports the imposition of reasonable licence fees for saltwater and freshwater fishing provided revenue from those fees is managed by anglers,  and used for the betterment and promotion of fishing and fishing facilities.
    • The Party supports the establishments of recreational fishing havens, and the closure of commercial fishing activities where it can be demonstrated that commercial activities are not sustainable and/or are seriously depleting fish stocks.
    • The Party supports stocking of fish species to assist and maintain fish populations,  provided that quality of stock is maintained, and sufficient wild stock are utilised to maintain species quality.
    • The Party advocates proper use of “catch and release“ practices to maintain stocks, while allowing reasonable catch limits.
  6. LAW AND ORDER
    • The Party asserts the right of the law-abiding citizen to protect self, family and property, and to use such force as is necessary to that end.
    • The Party will work to establish laws directed at reduction of crime, through punishment of the criminal, and to identify and repeal laws which are unfair, repressive or unworkable.
    • Custodial parents should be held responsible for the criminal actions of their minor children. Juveniles convicted of heinous crimes should be named publicly in court cases.
  7. VIOLENCE
    • The Party opposes undue emphasis on violence in television, films and video. While recognising the right of individuals to watch what they choose, the Party believes the level of emphasis on violence in visual material is linked to increased violence in the community.
  8. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS
    • The Party accepts that the advancement and development of the individual are paramount, and that no law should restrict or hinder those rights, unless the exercise of those rights directly interferes with the rights of others.
  9. INTERVENTIONIST GOVERNMENT
    • The Party asserts that Government is the servant of the people. The Party is opposed to interventionist government. The Party’s policy is that any law which has no demonstrable benefit should be repealed.
  10. CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENT
    • Environmental laws should be framed with regard to the greater good and not to placate a minority pressure viewpoint. All law preserving the environment should recognise the need for compromise between responsible usage and development, and preservation for future generations.
  11. RURAL DEVELOPMENT
    • The State Government should be required to issue a Community Impact Statement before substantially altering the level of its commitment and involvement in rural areas.