Illegal hunting a priority for Grant

Mr Grant said he was looking forward to the report he would receive from former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Bradshaw who had been to meetings around western NSW to talk to landholders about rural crime. 

Mr Bradshaw had already relayed some reports of farmers feeling intimidated and unsafe in their own properties and Mr Grant said it’s unacceptable.

“These issues are not new. I’ve lived my entire professional life out here, and it (rural crime) frustrated me when I was in the police force and the frustration still exists,” he said. 

Almost 100 local and regional landholders met at the Nyngan RSL last month to discuss their rural crime worries. Farmers told horror stories of being assaulted on their own properties and being intimidated by illegal trespasses. 

Mr Bradshaw and Member for Barwon Kevin Humphries listened to the queries and qualms of the landholders. 

“It’s a significant issue and it’s not just the rural crime, but the issue of trespass. Landholders have been put on the back foot and the issue is not going away, it’s starting to increase,” Mr Humphries said. 

Mayor of the Bogan Shire, Ray Donald expressed his concern the reforms would be forgotten once the report was submitted. 

“This has to happen quickly, let’s see something come out of this meeting (otherwise) we’re going to get two parties coming together, one illegal both with guns and we know what’s going to happen,” he said. 

Mr Grant said this report wouldn’t be forgotten once it’d been submitted.

“I’ll commit to a time frame once I’ve seen the report,” he said.

Mr Grant, who will receive the report on June 7, is hoping to get the ball rolling on the reform this year.

“I welcome the report,” he said.