Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie has announced that the Liberal and Nationals Government has commissioned the first ever nation-wide report into the benefits of recreational shooting to Australia, at the country’s largest sport shooting exhibition and field day Shot Expo in Perth.
The Minister for Sport, Senator Bridget McKenzie said it was time the Federal Government understood the national impact of the sport on the back of two state-based reports.
"I’m happy to announce that the Federal Government is commission a study into just how much of an impact recreational shooting has in Australia, Minister McKenzie said.
"There’s never been a comprehensive look at just what recreational shooting as a sport and pastime contributes to our country.
"It’s time to analyse recreational shooting’s economic impact on a national scale. We want to really get under the hood of this sporting industry and understand what makes it tick, and just what it is contributing every day in dollar terms to our regional economies.
"There will also be a social aspect to this study – as a keen sporting shooter myself I know the anecdotal benefits of shooting as a sport and the social benefits of recreational shooting are particularly important to regional people. Gun clubs just as much as part of the social scene of other sports, Lions Clubs and community groups," she said.
The Australian Government has engaged RCMG, a leading independent agriculture and environmental consultancy group to conduct the research.
A report is due by June 2019 which will help inform the Government’s policy on the industry’s economic impact as well as its impact on participant’s health, well-being and social cohesion.
Facts
- It is estimated that approximately 300,000 registered Australians engaged in sport shooting across nearly 1,200 clubs.
- The economic contribution of these clubs is significant particularly to regional towns
- There are approximately 1200 shopfront sport shooting small and medium businesses across Australia
- Sport Shooting in Australia has a long and proud history. It is thought that Donald Mackintosh won Australia’s first gold medal in the 1900 Paris Olympics in shooting.
- To date Australia has won 5 Gold Medals, 1 Silver and 5 Bronze medals in sport shooting at the Olympic Games.
- Shooting is Australia’s 7th most successful sport at the Olympics after swimming, athletics, cycling, rowing, sailing and equestrian.
