UNFAIRLY TREATED: Greg McFarland.
SUSPENDED Game Council employee Greg McFarland is taking action in the Industrial Court of New South Wales against his employer.
Solicitor David King-Christopher told the Central Western Daily yesterday he was acting for Mr McFarland, who was stood down in January over allegations he and another Game Council employee illegally hunted a feral goat in western NSW.
“Mr McFarland has been surprised by the absence of fairness and natural justice since he has been stood down from his role,” Mr King-Christopher said.
“Despite the statutory obligations of the Game Council, Mr McFarland has not had a proper opportunity to respond to the allegations levelled against him.”
Mr King-Christopher said his client felt he had no choice other than to take legal action.
“He believes he has been unfairly treated by his employer and the media,” Mr King-Christopher said.
Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson stood down Mr McFarland and his colleague Andy Mallen in January after allegations a Game Council vehicle drove through a national park without permission before allegedly breaking through a fence onto land owned by Karwarn cattle station.
Police Media told the Central Western Daily police officers at the Darling River command are in the final stages of their investigation into the alleged incident.
After earlier in the week offering interviews to the media, Game Council chairman John Mumford declined an interview with the Central Western Daily and asked instead for written questions to be put to him.
He confirmed Mr McFarland was still suspended on full pay. He said while the police investigation was still under way it was inappropriate for him to comment on the Game Council’s dealings with Mr McFarland.
Yesterday’s launch of legal action by Mr McFarland follows a day after Premier Barry O’Farrell announced the state government had decided to delay implementing hunting in national parks, instead ordering a review of the Game Council.
Mr McFarland, from Orange, was acting chief executive of the Game Council when he was stood down in January.