The NSW Game Council will get a funding boost of $1.7 million to $4.35 million in the 2013/14 state budget.
The increase represents just half a percent of forecast deficit of $329 million.
The announcement has been welcomed by hunters but criticised by Greens MP David Shoebridge, who has labelled it a “reward” for what he continues to call the “Shooters Party”.
Shoebridge, who has been actively campaigning to have the Game Council shut down, said the increase was “outrageous considering the organisation was supposed to be self-funding”.
The Game Council’s most recent annual report shows it was $200,000 short of breaking even in 2011/12, spending $3.9 million after earning revenue of $3.7 million; the income included just over $2.5 million from the government.
Income from licence fees increased to $974,000 after reaching $920,000 the previous year.
The council’s public benefit assessment showed it was operating at a benefits-to-cost ratio of better than 2:1, while it also boosted NSW regional income by $27 million and contributed to the creation of more than 1000 jobs.
“The Game Council therefore contributes centrally to the NSW 2021 Plan’s goals regarding growing prosperity in regional areas,” the report’s authors said.
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