Game Council New South Wales

Game Council New South Wales
Statutory authority overview
Formed2002 (2002)
Dissolved4 July 2013 (2013-07-04)
Superseding Statutory authority
  • NSW Game Board
JurisdictionNew South Wales
Minister responsible
Statutory authority executive
  • Brian Boyle, Chief Executive
Parent departmentDepartment of Primary Industries
Key document
Websitewww.gamecouncil.nsw.gov.au

Game Council New South Wales was a statutory authority of the Government of New South Wales established in 2002 pursuant to the Game and Feral Animal Control Act 2002 ('the Act'), subject to the control and direction of the Minister for Primary Industries. The Game Council was established as a result of legislative pressure exerted by the Shooters Party, when it held the balance of power in the Legislative Council of New South Wales. Shooter's MP Robert Brown was instrumental in the formation of the legislation.[1]

On 4 July 2013 the Minister for Primary Industries announced the dissolution of the statutory authority following a review of governance of the council by the NSW Government.[2]

However, the review of governance, completed by retired public servant, Steve Dunn, found that:[3]

"more than a decade after it was established the Game Council has no overarching governance framework; lacks a strategic planning framework; lacks some of the skills, tools and resources to ensure effective compliance with its regulatory framework; has no internal regulatory compliance program, has no approved enterprise-wide risk management framework and has an inadequate policy framework".

Immediately after releasing the recommendations of the review, the government announced the abolition of the Game Council; replaced by an appointed advisory body, the New South Wales Game Board; and the regulatory aspect of the Council transferred to the Department of Primary Industries.[4]

  1. ^ "Hunters urged to read Game Council report". Australia: ABC News. 5 July 2013. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  2. ^ Nicholls, Sean (4 July 2013). "Game Council to be abolished". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  3. ^ Norris, Andrew (4 July 2013). "Game over as hunting suspended". The Land. Retrieved 8 July 2013.
  4. ^ Manson, Skye; Herbert, Lisa; Owens, Angela (5 July 2013). "NSW Government abolishes Game Council". ABC Rural. Australia. Retrieved 8 July 2013.