GREENS HAVE COUNTRY JOBS IN THEIR SIGHTS

The Greens anti-hunting policies and plans to cutback recreational fishing have been described as a 'threat to country jobs' by The Nationals Spokesman for Natural Resources Peter Hall.

The Gippsland Province MLC said the prospect of the Greens holding seats in the Victorian Upper House after the November state election should concern anyone involved in actively enjoying outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, prospecting and four-wheel-driving.

"The Nationals continue to support hunting, fishing, prospecting and four-wheel-driving as legitimate recreational activities which are responsibly enjoyed by many Victorians," Mr Hall said.

"Many of the Greens don't like humans using animals and their plans to ban recreational hunting and cut back on recreational fishing is a major concern to local enthusiasts and local tourism businesses.

"The Nationals are committed to improving recreational fishing and our environment plan also supports working with shooting representative groups to investigate more opportunities for involving recreational shooters in the control of feral animals which have been allowed to explode in numbers by the Bracks Government."

Mr Hall said there was widespread concern in regional Victoria about the prospect of Greens-controlled Upper House after the November election.

"The Greens don't hold any seats in the Victorian Parliament at the moment but the changes to the Upper House introduced by Melbourne Labor will make it more likely that city-centric Greens will have some level of representation in the future," Mr Hall said.

"The Greens have never created a job in country Victoria and their policies are aimed at appealing to the inner Melbourne trendies who have never had to deal with the practical realities of life in country Victoria.

"When you track the Greens votes from previous elections, they have a core of supporters in the inner city which falls dramatically in rural and regional Victoria. I am concerned that their city-centric policies already have a disproportionate influence on Melbourne Labor and more jobs will go in the country if the Greens get a hold in State Parliament."

Among the Greens policies are bans on duck shooting; bans on live export of animals; bans on intensive meat and egg production; and bans on native timber harvesting.

"The Greens will effectively ban jobs in country Victoria," Mr Hall said.

"They refuse to negotiate and refuse to understand that public land and the natural resources it holds can be sustainably managed rather than locked up and left to run wild with pest plants and animals. The Nationals are committed to a science-based approach to active environmental management - not emotional rhetoric and ideologically driven agendas that typify the Greens attacks on traditional country industries and part-times."

Media contact: Peter Hall (03) 5174 7066