Last night, the Opposition and the Legislative Council crossbench voted to support amendments to the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Amendment (Good Character at Sentencing) Bill 2026 which would prevent good character evidence from being used at sentencing for any and all sexual offences, and to give courts discretion to ignore good character evidence at sentencing for all other offences.
These important amendments were introduced to Labor’s bill by both the Opposition and The Greens to address the serious concerns raised by key victim-survivor support groups through the parliamentary inquiry which the Minns Labor Government tried to block.
Not a single member of the Legislative Council crossbench voted with the Government against the sensible amendments to the Bill.
Shadow Attorney General, Damien Tudehope, welcomed the widespread support for the amendments in the Parliament and called on the Minns Labor Government to pass the bill immediately in the Legislative Assembly next week to protect victim-survivors of sexual offences.
“The Attorney General Michael Daley should speak with the Premier today to make passing this bill in the lower house an immediate priority for when Parliament resumes next Tuesday,” Mr Tudehope said.
“Any attempt to delay it by playing parliamentary games now only risks more victim-survivors of sexual offences having their perpetrators benefit from good character evidence.”
“Disgracefully, Labor wanted to ignore the serious concerns raised by key stakeholders, like Domestic Violence NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service and Public Defenders, about removing good character evidence altogether.
“We chose to listen to those concerns and strike a balanced approach that excluded good character evidence for sexual offences and gave the courts the ability to ignore good character as it sees fit.”
“A key example of why Labor’s blanket approach was wrong, is the example called out by Domestic Violence NSW, the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW and Public Defenders where a female victim of domestic violence who, after years of abuse, may commit an out of character domestic violence or other violent offence where that kind of offender should not be deprived of the opportunity to have someone speak to their otherwise good character.”
“The Government did not attempt to speak with the Opposition before bringing the reform in and has not engaged in good faith negotiations through the entire process.”
“Now is the time for them to act and pass the laws that the Upper House has passed and not delay it any further.”
The Australian Lawyers Alliance’s spokesperson, Greg Barns SC, has welcomed the sensible amendments secured by the Opposition and Legislative Council Crossbench.
“Every person and every criminal case is unique,” said Mr Barns SC.
“Enforcing blanket rules that apply across the board denies procedural fairness to individuals and removes the discretion of the courts.”
“The removal of the use of character references for every crime limits the ability of the court to make informed sentencing decisions.”
The Bill now returns to the Legislative Assembly which is due to meet again on Tuesday, 12 May 2026.
Author: admin
Woman ISIS bride charged by NSW JCTT for allegedly entering Syria when occupied by ISIS
An Australian woman has been charged by the NSW Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) for allegedly entering and remaining in a declared conflict zone and joining ISIS.
The woman, 32, is expected to face Downing Centre Local Court tomorrow (8 May, 2026), after being arrested on arrival into Sydney International Airport today (7 May, 2026) by the NSW JCTT.
The woman was charged with entering, or remaining in, declared areas, contrary to section 119.2 of the Criminal Code (Cth), and being a member of a terrorist organisation, contrary to section 102.3(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). Both offences carry a maximum penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment.
It will be alleged the woman travelled to Syria in 2015 to join her husband, who had previously left Australia and joined ISIS.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt said operational planning for the potential return of individuals from the Middle East started in 2015 and later formalised under an overarching operation named Kurrajong.
“Australian JCTTs methodically investigated all Australians who travelled to declared conflict areas and will ensure those who are alleged to have committed a criminal offence are put before the courts,” Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.
“JCTTs include some of the most experienced national security investigators and analysts in our country.
“This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations.”
The NSW JCTT comprises the AFP, NSW Police Force, ASIO and the NSW Crime Commission.
The priority for law enforcement is to ensure the safety of the community, and suspicious activity can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police also recognise this information may be distressing for some people in the community, and support is available. Anyone feeling overwhelmed is encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Two women ISIS brides charged by Victoria JCTT for alleged crimes against humanity
Two Australian women from Victoria have been charged by the Victoria Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) with crimes against humanity offences allegedly committed in Syria.
The women, aged 53 and 31, are expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court today (8 May, 2026), after being arrested on arrival into Melbourne International Airport yesterday (7 May, 2026) by the Victoria JCTT.
The 53-year-old woman was charged with:
Crimes Against Humanity – Enslavement, contrary to section 268.10 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth),
Crimes Against Humanity – Possess a Slave, contrary to section 270.3(1)(a) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth),
Crimes Against Humanity – Use a slave, contrary to section 270.3(1)(a) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), and
Crimes Against Humanity – Engage in slave trading – Purchase, contrary to section 270.3(1)(b) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
These offences each carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
It will be alleged the woman travelled to Syria in 2014 with her husband and children, and was complicit in the purchase of a female slave for US$10,000, and knowingly kept the woman in the home.
The 31-year-old woman was charged with:
Crimes Against Humanity – Enslavement, contrary to section 268.10 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth), and
Crimes Against Humanity – Use a slave, contrary to section 270.3(1)(a) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
Both offences carry a maximum penalty of 25 years’ imprisonment.
It will be alleged the woman travelled to Syria in 2014 with her family and knowingly kept a female slave in the home.
The women were detained by Kurdish forces in March 2019 and held with other family members in Al Roj Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp.
AFP Assistant Commissioner Counter Terrorism Stephen Nutt said operational planning for the potential return of individuals from the Middle East started in 2015 and later formalised under an overarching operation named Kurrajong.
“Australian JCTTs methodically investigated all Australians who travelled to declared conflict areas and will ensure those who are alleged to have committed a criminal offence are put before the courts,” Assistant Commissioner Nutt said.
“JCTTs include some of the most experienced national security investigators and analysts in our country.
“This remains an active investigation into very serious allegations.”
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Martin O’Brien said the safety of all Victorians remains paramount.
“Victoria Police will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners and other agencies to ensure there is no risk to our local community,” Assistant Commissioner O’Brien said.
“We want to reassure all Victorians that anyone residing in our state who has committed serious criminal offences, including those returning from conflict areas, will be held to account.”
The Victoria JCTT comprises the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO.
The priority for law enforcement is to ensure the safety of the community, and suspicious activity can be reported to the National Security Hotline on 1800 123 400; or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Police also recognise this information may be distressing for some people in the community, and support is available. Anyone feeling overwhelmed is encouraged to contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Australia’s first climate change case to reach the High Court — and the world is watching
On 13 May 2026, the High Court of Australia will hear the nation’s first ever climate change case to reach our highest court— a landmark moment that will set a binding national precedent on whether Australian planning authorities are legally required to consider the local climate impacts of fossil fuel project approvals.
The case, MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd v Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group Inc (DAMS HEG), was brought by a grassroots Hunter Valley community group challenging the approval of a major expansion of the Mount Pleasant open-cut coal mine near Muswellbrook. The NSW Court of Appeal ruled unanimously in July 2025 that the mine’s approval was unlawful — finding that planning authorities are legally required to consider the specific local climate impacts of a project’s downstream emissions. MACH Energy is asking the High Court to overturn that ruling.
The case arrived at an extraordinary moment. Just 12 hours before the NSW Court of Appeal’s ruling, the International Court of Justice in The Hague delivered its own landmark advisory opinion, finding that fossil fuel-exporting nations bear legal responsibility under international law for the climate harm their exports cause. Australia had argued to the ICJ that it bore no such responsibility for emissions from its coal and gas exports. The ICJ rejected that argument.
Four of the world’s leading climate law and science institutions have been granted leave to intervene in the High Court in support of DAMS HEG — from the Universities of Cambridge, Columbia and Melbourne, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. The case is being watched internationally as a test of whether domestic law can hold fossil fuel producers accountable for the local consequences of dangerous climate change.
The case directly affects 18-plus coal proposals in the NSW planning pipeline, and other fossil fuel developments under consideration across Australia. It will provide a foundation for other major climate cases including the Pabai Torres Strait appeal, the North West Shelf challenge, and future climate litigation across Australia and internationally.
Wendy Wales , President, DAMS HEG
Wendy Wales is a retired science teacher and the president of the Denman Aberdeen Muswellbrook Scone Healthy Environment Group — the community group that brought this case. She and her partner Tony Lonergan run a farm in the Upper Hunter Valley, surrounded by open-cut coal mines. She has driven this case through three court levels over four years.
“Our communities are enduring increasingly terrifying climate disasters, and nature is deteriorating before our very eyes. Yet our governments are continuing to throw fuel on the fire by approving massive new projects and expansions like MACH Energy’s Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project. We have felt the catastrophic impacts of droughts, bushfires, floods and a myriad of other tragic events. The short term economic benefits can not be given priority over the exponentially increasing long term consequences”.
Tony Lonergan , Treasurer, DAMS HEG
Tony Lonergan is a retired science teacher and farmer whose family has worked land in the Upper Hunter Valley for generations. His property sits adjacent to the Mount Pleasant mine, and he has joined his wife Wendy Wales and DAMS HEG through this legal journey.
“What could be more important than protecting our unique natural heritage and biodiversity, or ensuring we can live safely in Muswellbrook and the Upper Hunter for generations to come? The continuation of coal mining in NSW prioritises the private interests of a few over a safe climate and the future of our children and grandchildren. Our planning laws are clearly not climate ready if projects as harmful as the Mount Pleasant Optimisation Project are allowed to proceed. Addressing global heating means cutting our greenhouse gas emissions, and fast. Political parties have to face reality. Do you want to address this existential problem or not? Stop pretending.”
Elaine Johnson , Director, Johnson Legal (can not do interviews before hearing)
Elaine Johnson is the founder and director of Johnson Legal, the firm representing DAMS HEG in the High Court proceedings. She has supported her clients through the Court of Appeal proceedings, and now the High Court.
“Continued fossil fuel production is driving climate harms here at home, and Australia is still one of the largest exporters of coal in the world. We look forward to supporting our clients in their defence of the NSW Court of Appeal’s decision overturning the Mount Pleasant Coal Mine expansion.
“The NSW Court of Appeal’s decision was truly groundbreaking, and is already changing how proposals for new and expanded fossil fuel projects are assessed in NSW. The High Court will now determine whether that decision holds at law on appeal.”
Professor Nicole Rogers, Professor of Climate Law, Bond University
Professor Rogers has particular expertise in climate litigation, climate activism and the law, and interdisciplinary climate studies. She is author of two monographs on the legal ramifications of the climate crisis and a co-author of the 2026 Edward Elgar publication Re-imagining Environmental Law . She has published widely on the transformative potential of climate litigation in reshaping legal and policy frameworks.
“Australia’s apex court hearing its first climate change case is a watershed moment in the history of Australian law. Courts around the world — from The Hague to London to Canberra — are being asked the same fundamental questions: can legal systems keep pace with the climate crisis and to what extent are decision makers who continue to approve fossil fuel projects accountable for climate impacts? The Mount Pleasant case is Australia’s latest contribution to that global conversation, and the High Court’s answer will be studied by others well beyond the Upper Hunter Valley.”
“In light of the recent findings of the International Court of Justice, this case and others highlight the growing legal and economic risks for anyone seeking to continue approving fossil fuel projects without considering the real-world climate consequences. Australia is positioning itself as a prime target for future climate litigation if its federal and state governments fail to heed these risks.”
Emeritus Professor Mark Howden AC, ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions; Vice Chair, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
Emeritus Professor Howden has worked on climate variability, climate change and climate impacts for over 36 years. He is a Vice Chair of Working Group II of the IPCC — the group responsible for assessing climate impacts, adaptation and vulnerability — and helped develop both the national and international greenhouse gas inventories that underpin the Paris Agreement. His core expertise covers climate science, climate impacts on agriculture and food security, ecosystems, water and energy systems.
“The science on this is unambiguous. Every tonne of carbon dioxide added to the atmosphere contributes to global warming — and that warming is already measurably increasing the frequency and severity of extreme heat, drought, flood and fire events across south-eastern Australia and globally. This is not a projection about the future. It is a description of what is happening now, documented across decades of observation and confirmed by arguably the most comprehensive global scientific assessment process in history.”
“Drawing quantitative linkages between individual greenhouse gas emitters and particularised harms is now feasible, making science no longer an obstacle to the justiciability of climate liability claims. The science linking human activity to observed and future climate changes is clear and unequivocal. The question before the High Court is whether Australian law is prepared to recognise it.”
BACKGROUND
· The Mount Pleasant open-cut coal mine sits 3km upwind and northwest of Muswellbrook in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW. It is owned by MACH Energy Australia Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Salim Group. MACH Energy sought to double the mine’s output to 21 million tonnes per year and extend its life to 2048 — generating an additional 870 million tonnes of CO₂, 98% of it as Scope 3 emissions from coal burned overseas.
· The NSW Court of Appeal ruled unanimously on 24 July 2025 that the Independent Planning Commission had failed a mandatory obligation under s.4.15(1)(b) of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to consider the specific local climate impacts of the mine’s emissions. MACH Energy was granted special leave to appeal on 4 December 2025.
· The ICJ Advisory Opinion on climate change obligations of states was handed down on 23 July 2025 — the day before the NSW Court of Appeal ruling — finding that fossil fuel production, export licensing and subsidies can constitute internationally wrongful acts.
· Five institutions have been granted leave to intervene in the High Court in support of DAMS HEG: Melbourne Law School Climate Futures (Prof. Jacquie Peel), Oxford Faculty of Law (Harj Narulla), Cambridge Centre for Climate Engagement, Sabin Centre for Climate Change Law (Columbia University), and the Union of Concerned Scientists (Dr Christopher Callahan).
· DAMS HEG is represented by Johnson Legal. Lead barrister at the High Court hearing is Naomi Sharp SC. The hearing is scheduled for 13 May 2026 in Canberra.
NSW Government animal welfare reforms fall short of promised changes
The Australian Alliance for Animals has welcomed the introduction of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Amendment (Enforcement and Operational Powers) Bill 2026 into the NSW Parliament, while expressing disappointment that the reforms fall well short of the NSW Government’s commitment to modernise the state’s outdated animal welfare laws.
The proposed amendments introduce a number of sensible enforcement and operational improvements to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979, including refinements to existing offences and compliance powers. However, the legislation does not replace the nearly 50-year-old Act with a new contemporary animal welfare framework, as promised by NSW Labor prior to the 2023 election.
Alliance Policy Director Dr Jed Goodfellow said the reforms represented a missed opportunity for more meaningful change.
While we support measures that strengthen enforcement and improve the operation of the existing Act, these amendments do not deliver the comprehensive modernisation that was promised to the NSW community,” Dr Goodfellow said.
NSW still has the oldest animal welfare legislation in Australia. The community expects animal welfare laws that reflect contemporary science, modern community values, and current understanding of animal sentience and welfare.”
The Alliance noted that animal welfare reform has been the subject of extensive consultation processes over many years, with strong engagement from community members, animal welfare organisations, industry stakeholders and experts.
Over 7,000 submissions were made to previous consultations processes aimed at delivering a new Animal Welfare Act for NSW, yet it now appears this work has simply been shelved,” Dr Goodfellow said.
There is overwhelming public support for stronger animal welfare protections in NSW. People want laws that move beyond simply prohibiting cruelty and instead establish clear, modern standards for the care and treatment of animals.”
The Alliance said key reforms still absent from NSW law include recognition of animal sentience and a modern duty of care framework placing proactive obligations on people responsible for animals.
We remain hopeful that the NSW Government will continue the reform process and build on these amendments to deliver the modern animal welfare framework it committed to introducing,” Dr Goodfellow said.
Australia and Fiji ratify Pacific Resilience Facility Treaty
Australia and Fiji are pleased to announce the formal ratification of the Pacific Resilience Facility (PRF) Treaty, a landmark agreement that places Pacific communities in control of their own resilience financing.
This is an important step toward ensuring Pacific Island Countries have greater resources and control in addressing the growing impacts of climate change.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Sakiasi Ditoka, today lodged ratification documents for the Agreement to Establish the Pacific Resilience Facility (Treaty) at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat in Suva in the presence of Secretary General Baron Waqa.
The PRF is the first Pacific-led, owned and managed community resilience financing facility. It will provide grants for climate adaptation, disaster preparedness, and projects that respond to loss and damage. It will seize the economic opportunities of clean energy through resilient, community led projects.
The Pre-COP, to be hosted by Fiji and Tuvalu in October, will bring leaders to the Pacific to see climate impacts and solutions first-hand, with a special session at COP31 to provide a platform for pledges to the PRF.
Donors are encouraged to use this opportunity to announce new pledges to maintain momentum towards the ‘USD1.5 billion for a 1.5-degree world’ fundraising goal.
Tonga, Nauru, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Niue have already ratified the Treaty. This is a clear reflection of Pacific Islands Forum Leaders’ shared resolve to create a Pacific-led institution that puts communities at the centre of resilience financing.
This step paves the way for the initial call for proposals, set for launch at the 55th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Palau in late August 2026.
Lock, stock and barrel: ACT Greens secure win on comprehensive fuel relief plan
The ACT Legislative Assembly have backed the Greens’ practical plan to make clean transport cheaper and more accessible to Canberrans.
The Greens secured an ACT Government commitment to expand the Sustainable Household Scheme to include cargo bikes – bikes with increased storage space, helping more people access a low-cost alternative to driving.
A commitment from the Government was also secured to do more to actively encourage and support people to choose e-bikes and e-scooters as their transport of choice more often.
Canberrans can expect to see pop-up cycle lanes trialled across some of the Territory’s busiest transport corridors, creating safer, more accessible routes for cyclists.
Loan caps for electric vehicles under the Sustainable Household Scheme are slated to be increased, alongside an expansion of EV charging infrastructure across the ACT.
Andrew Braddock, Spokesperson for Transport:
“This is a win for Canberrans who are feeling the pinch at the pump, giving people real, practical and affordable alternatives to gas-guzzling cars.
“The fuel crisis is far from over, and it’s the ACT Government’s responsibility to step up with tangible options that take pressure off household budgets
“Based on Federal Government analysis, the worst impacts of the fuel crisis are still to come, and Governments at all levels have a responsibility to step up with tangible options that take pressure off household budgets while reducing our dependency on polluting fossil fuels.
“Cargo bikes are a smart alternative to cars – fast, efficient and significantly cheaper to run. Expanding the Sustainable Household Scheme will put them within reach for many more Canberrans.
“Pop-up cycle lanes make riding a genuine option for more people, creating safer, dedicated space so cyclists of all ages and abilities can get from A to B with confidence.
“Today’s result shows that we don’t have to accept the status quo. Canberrans expect their government to back them in during tough times and make it easier to choose cheaper, cleaner ways to get around.
Minns Labor Government refuses to rule out fracking for gas in Great Artesian Basin
Minns Labor Government refuses to rule out fracking for gas in Great Artesian Basin
NSW Minister for Resources Courtney Houssos has refused to rule out the use of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in Western NSW, including in the largest freshwater supply in Australia, the Great Artesian Basin. This comes after the Government reduced the application fee for petroleum (including gas) exploration licences by 98% on the same day as they announced their plan to open mining for gas in NSW.
In 2021, the Coalition Government released an assessment reportthat identified the Western NSW, areas that Labor have put on sale last week, are inaccessible to traditional drilling methods and would require hydraulic fracturing.
Greens MP Sue Higginson has given notice of a motion in Parliament to stop the Government from reducing the exploration application fee from $50,000 to $1,000.
Greens MP, Solicitor and spokesperson for Justice Sue Higginson said,
“Everyone in NSW should be concerned that the Minns Labor Government is ready to let our freshwater be poisoned and drained through fracking by gas corporations,”
“Fracking is one of the most damaging and polluting gas mining processes that has ever been employed, and every politician in NSW should be able to say clearly that they do not support fracking in our State,”
“Premier Minns’ decision to chase a media headline by reducing gas exploration fees by 98% is already offensive to the people of NSW who are having our resources stripped away with barely any profit, but this refusal to rule out fracking is an existential threat to our future,”
“The Coalition Government walked away from this dangerous proposition of new gas fields in NSW, they even spent $25 million to buy back a gas licence from Metgasco in the Northern Rivers. People showed how harmful gas mining and fracking is, so it’s hard to see how this Labor Government thinks there is a social licence to start this fight again,”
“I have a motion in Parliament to restore the exploration fees to $50,000, so overseas gas giants are not getting a free ride, but the real fight against fracking in NSW starts again right here,”
“The Government has confirmed that there are already gas companies rubbing their hands together over the prospect of new gas in NSW, and they have no interest in what is best for us,”
“This is a decision that impacts everyone. Our food security, our fresh water, the environment that we rely on, and public health and safety. Chris Minns has stepped too far and he should pull back now,” Ms Higginson said.
“Instead of making dodgy deals with Lotto, tax the gambling corporations” Greens say
The Greens have called out Jacinta Allan’s Labor government for doing dodgy deals with gambling corporation, The Lottery Corporation, in the name of getting votes at the next election.
It comes after the state budget on Tuesday where it was revealed that The Lottery Corporation secured a 40 year license to continue to operate in Victoria. The Lottery Corporation has donated $132,000 to the Australian Labor party since 2022.
In March Labor voted with the Liberals to block the Greens’ amendments to ban donations from gambling corporations.
The Greens say everyday people should be shocked about the lengths Jacinta Allan’s Labor government is willing to go to win votes at the November election and is exactly the reason we need to get corporate donations out of politics.
Leader of the Victorian Greens, Ellen Sandell.
“If this Labor Government had any integrity and guts they would properly tax the gambling corporations to pay for the things we need, not do dodgy deals with them.”
“Jacinta Allan’s budget was good for Labor’s corporate donors, not for everyday people. Labor just locked Victorians into a half a lifetime deal with a gambling corporation so they can receive kickbacks from their gambling company donors.”
“The Greens are the only party who have the guts to fundamentally change the system, get corporate power out of politics and make billionaires and big corporations pay their fair share, to put that money back into the public good, so that everyone can afford a home and the things we need to live a decent life.”
Major push to control feral deer in western NSW underway
In a major assault on feral deer in western NSW, the Minns Labor Government is targeting large swathes of private land and national park to proactively prevent the spread of the destructive pest.
In a joint effort, Local Land Services and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) will undertake aerial culling across some 726,000 hectares of mostly flat, open terrain in Western NSW.
Western Local Land Services is currently delivering a targeted aerial shoot across private land in the Hillston-Euabalong area until 19 May, through the NSW Government’s Good Neighbours Program.
This will be followed by a series of shoots delivered by the NPWS throughout May and June in the neighbouring Hunthawang, Nombinnie, Round Hill and Yathong national parks.
Western Local Land Services is working with about 60 private landholders to coordinate control efforts through the Good Neighbours Program, which aims to increase collaboration between public and private land managers to more effectively manage pests and weeds across the state.
Feral deer compete with livestock for pastures, trample vegetation, degrade water quality and pose a public safety risk on roads.
They are listed as a priority pest in the Western Regional Strategic Pest Animal Management Plan, with fallow deer being the most widespread species.
All land managers in NSW have a general biosecurity duty to manage pest animals on their properties, including feral deer.
Local Land Services provides advice and support to land managers to manage feral deer and helps facilitate landscape-scale coordinated control programs, such as the western NSW program.
Landholders are encouraged to participate in coordinated control programs and report feral deer activity to their local biosecurity officer or via FeralScan.
Visit the Local Land Services website for more information about the Good Neighbours Program.
Minister for the Environment, Penny Sharpe said:
“Deer are a feral pest that are destroying public and private land across NSW.
“These operations are about preserving our natural environment, improving safety for regional communities and protecting agricultural productivity.”
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“The Minns Government is taking decisive, coordinated action to get on the front foot and stop feral deer from spreading further across western NSW.
“While there are fewer species of feral deer established in western NSW compared to other regions, that doesn’t mean we can become complacent. In fact, it presents an ideal opportunity to work together to keep on top of feral deer populations and prevent the spread.
“That’s why we’re taking proactive steps now to bring together public and private land managers to bridge borders and set them up for success.”
Information for media
NPWS West Branch has conducted more than 480 hours of aerial shooting so far this financial year.
This has removed just over 27,000 feral animals, including 22,000 goats and 4,000 pigs.
NPWS also uses ground baiting, mustering, ground shooting and trapping to remove feral animals.