Indigenous hunters in the Northern Territory who use lead bullets to shoot waterfowl could be affecting their health.
Doctor Steven Skov, from the Centre for Disease Control of the Northern Territory Department of Health, told NT News he was concerned about the risks of consuming game killed by lead bullets.
“There’s a known risk there, particularly for traditionally orientated native people,” Dr Skov said.
Commonwealth Law permits Indigenous hunters in the Northern Territory to take game in accordance with their own law.
Lead-pellet shotguns are illegal throughout Australia except for Indigenous people in the Northern Territory.
Section 71 of the Aboriginal Land Rights (Northern Territory) Act 1976 states that Aboriginal people are entitled to enter, use and occupy Aboriginal land, “to the extent that that entry, occupation or use is in accordance with Aboriginal tradition governing the rights of that Aboriginal or group of Aboriginals with respect to that land, whether or not those rights are qualified as to place, time, circumstances, purpose, permission or any other factor.”
