Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Vic)
Ph: (61-3) 8892 2777 Fax: (61-3) 8892 2700
Email: state_office@ssaavic.com.au
SSAA (Vic) – Supporting the Shooting Sports and Ethical Hunting
*Shooting Sports and Competition * Programs for Youth, Women and People with Disabilities * Ethical Hunting and Conservation
Media Release
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, 6th January, 2010
City Selfishness Destroying Farmers
It comes as no surprise to the SSAA (Vic) that farmers feel “the victims of neglect and
selfishness by their city cousins.”- As the Herald Sun survey results reported on Monday
4/1/2010, Voteline results 5/1, showed 98% agree.
The SSAA (Vic) president Mr. Bob Cooper stated today; “With over 25,000 members
State-wide, we have been aware of this problem developing for many years but our
concerns until now, have fallen on deaf ears. It’s a worrying trend with several potential
outcomes, none of which are good. Increasing suicides in country areas is just one of the
indicators. We are concerned as well that despite this survey, most groups and individuals
don’t have any concept of the causes, yet many are themselves part of the problem. It
would appear that the causes have not been seriously canvassed in the survey.”
We all know that the causes are multiple and, all add up to what could best be described
as ”an accidental assault on the essential industry of iconic Australian Primary producers.”
Responsibility for this country disaster rests in several quarters; Political Parties (Federal
and State); Peak Farming groups; Media (particularly city media) and more recently; direct
assault by super greens.
Where to from here? We have forums on all sorts of issues and this is a major issue
having severe financial, employment and welfare impacts on our essential rural
community. Surely this demands Federal, State and Local Governments get together with
Community Representatives to determine practical means of addressing this very real &
urgent problem.
It is a responsibility of Governments to foster harmony within our community, while
ensuring our survival strategies for the future. Governments have not done this well, and
now they need to act rapidly, determine and correct the causes of a tragic and dangerous
situation before it is all too late.
For further information contact Colin Wood on 8892 2777
NEWS 
