The closure of ANZAC Range at Malabar moves one step closer to reality...

This announcement moves us a step closer to losing the largest rifle range in the Southern Hemisphere. But you can help stop it by voting against Labor in the coming Federal and State elections.

Recreational shooting began at The ANZAC Range at Malabar in the 1850s. Originally a military range, it’s where generations of Australian’s have learned to shoot safely without having to travel too far.

Making the politically well-timed announcement Julia Gillard said: “The Federal Government will ensure that the Malabar headland remains for the future protected as a national park, protected as public open space. We will do that by transferring sections of it progressively to the New South Wales Government and working through all of the public access issues.”

Note the ominous wording of that last sentence: That’s another nail in the coffin for the ANZAC Range.

Peter Garrett said: “We have diverse, native bushland here not yet protected, now it is, endangered eastern suburbs banksia scrub, World War II gun emplacement sites, aboriginal heritage on Malabar headland as well”.

Garrett spoke of various new UNESCO sites like Cockatoo Island as “being an essential part of our Australian story”

Well Minister Garrett, The ANZAC Range at Malabar is an essential part of that story too – a living, breathing part that many thousands continue to enjoy, peacefully coexisting with many other users.

This step has been driven by the “Friends of Malabar Headland” lobby group. Make no mistake, they are no friends of the ANZAC Range: they are on record demanding its closure and rezoning as “public open space” – despite the fact that this is what it is now!

The great irony is that we’re not the noisy minority here. The shooting sports have a huge following and we need to exercise our democratic right to pursue our legal sporting activities!

It’s a part of our history and it should be part of our future. Do your bit to save the ANZAC Range and vote for the Shooters and Fishers party in the Federal Election, on 21 August.