Geoff3DMN
Member
One thing that can change policy at least around the edges is a minority party that's not afraid to do deals. If they have done nothing else the Greens have proven this time and time again.
The problem has been (and still is) that the issues that most of us seem interested in (4 wheel driving, national parks access, state park access, camping, track closures, shooting, fishing, trail bike riding etc) haven't been represented by a single party in the same way that the Greens have done.
Whilst they fight and argue amongst themselves they generally manage to present a single front on issues, that's something that parties representing us haven't generally managed to do.
Heres how I see things... and feel free to disagree
The Fishing party was basically formed from a recreational angling supporter base because the founders didn't want 'their' party associated with shooters, then it further splintered when the Queensland branch broke away to form the Australian Fishing & Lifestyle Party. Now I'm a fisher, I've got a tinny, I go fishing... but personally I don't agree with the we don't want anything to do with shooting attitudes of these two parties. I think there's room enough for both.
Then there's the Outdoor Recreation Party which was basically formed by people from people involved in the NSW 4 wheel drive scene whos goals I mostly agree with but it's yet another small party splitting the vote amongst 'our side' of politics (and I use that to mean people supporting the sorts of things we generally support) and they are too narrow focused to attract a large enough voting base in my opinion. Sure there are plenty of 4 wheel drive people (I'm one, if you're reading this then you're probably one too) but there are more people when you add 4 wheel drive people to fishing people to shooting people to trail bike people to outdoor camping people and people is what makes parties get seats and seats are what change laws.
The Shooters and Fishers aren't perfect but they've at least made genuine attempts to attract voters from not only Shooters (which is where they started) but also from Recreational Fishers (and they changed their name to reflect this drive) and they are increasingly working with issues around 4 wheel drive access and trail bike riding.
I think this is what's needed to effectively counter the Greens, another block of senate seats held by a party or group of similar parties who will vote as a block when it comes to outdoor recreation issues. I don't think this erosion of our rights will stop until and unless we get that representation in Canberra.
Now me? I'd love to see people voting for the Shooters and Fishers (well sure I'm a member like I said) but the simple fact is if people vote for any of the outdoors type parties in the senate, just the senate that's all that's needed then that at least gives us a chance to get someone there who's got half a clue.
It's a free country, you can do what you want, well you can for the moment anyway... until the Greens decide you can't.
http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/
The problem has been (and still is) that the issues that most of us seem interested in (4 wheel driving, national parks access, state park access, camping, track closures, shooting, fishing, trail bike riding etc) haven't been represented by a single party in the same way that the Greens have done.
Whilst they fight and argue amongst themselves they generally manage to present a single front on issues, that's something that parties representing us haven't generally managed to do.
Heres how I see things... and feel free to disagree
The Fishing party was basically formed from a recreational angling supporter base because the founders didn't want 'their' party associated with shooters, then it further splintered when the Queensland branch broke away to form the Australian Fishing & Lifestyle Party. Now I'm a fisher, I've got a tinny, I go fishing... but personally I don't agree with the we don't want anything to do with shooting attitudes of these two parties. I think there's room enough for both.
Then there's the Outdoor Recreation Party which was basically formed by people from people involved in the NSW 4 wheel drive scene whos goals I mostly agree with but it's yet another small party splitting the vote amongst 'our side' of politics (and I use that to mean people supporting the sorts of things we generally support) and they are too narrow focused to attract a large enough voting base in my opinion. Sure there are plenty of 4 wheel drive people (I'm one, if you're reading this then you're probably one too) but there are more people when you add 4 wheel drive people to fishing people to shooting people to trail bike people to outdoor camping people and people is what makes parties get seats and seats are what change laws.
The Shooters and Fishers aren't perfect but they've at least made genuine attempts to attract voters from not only Shooters (which is where they started) but also from Recreational Fishers (and they changed their name to reflect this drive) and they are increasingly working with issues around 4 wheel drive access and trail bike riding.
I think this is what's needed to effectively counter the Greens, another block of senate seats held by a party or group of similar parties who will vote as a block when it comes to outdoor recreation issues. I don't think this erosion of our rights will stop until and unless we get that representation in Canberra.
Now me? I'd love to see people voting for the Shooters and Fishers (well sure I'm a member like I said) but the simple fact is if people vote for any of the outdoors type parties in the senate, just the senate that's all that's needed then that at least gives us a chance to get someone there who's got half a clue.
It's a free country, you can do what you want, well you can for the moment anyway... until the Greens decide you can't.
http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/
