The Labor and Liberal parties have voted to support opening up Tasmania’s forest estate for recreational shooters. This was done under the guise of reducing invasive deer populations.
The state’s invasive deer problem is down to the Liberal Government’s longstanding protection of the species during breeding season. It’s not because public lands aren’t available to shooters.
Supporting the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers push to open up public forests for recreational shooters is an obvious public safety issue. Tasmania’s native forests are frequented by walkers and nature lovers.
At a time when Tasmania should be strengthening gun laws and firearms protections, the Liberals and Labor appear to be weaselling up the shooting lobby.
Talk of semi-automatic weapons and silencers being used on public land is not a conversation Tasmania should be having in 2025.
This is a frightening step backwards for Tasmania – a state that is fiercely protective of our strong firearms laws.
