The inquiry, the Facebook post, and the midnight gunfire that followed

A wildlife sanctuary operator says he fears for the safety of his family and rescued animals after receiving online threats and hearing midnight gunfire near his property, just days after giving evidence to a NSW parliamentary inquiry probing kangaroo shooting practices.

Peter Day, president of Badgerys Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, claims he became the target of intimidation after appearing before an upper house inquiry examining licences to harm native animals and the commercial harvesting of kangaroos.

During the inquiry, Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP Robert Borsak challenged Day over his calls for stricter welfare practices, including veterinary supervision during kangaroo harvesting operations.

Borsak later posted a 27-second snippet of the exchange to his public Facebook page, captioned: “The agenda just doesn’t stop. They’re saying kangaroo shooters need vets to supervise them now?”

Within days of the social media post, Day said his family was woken by the sound of high-calibre rifle fire within 150 metres of the sanctuary, which borders South East Forest National Park.

“I’ve been here for 12 years and heard shots maybe twice,” Day said. “Then, suddenly, high-calibre rounds are being let off on our boundary late at night. My wife is terrified.”

The sanctuary rehabilitates injured kangaroos and other native wildlife, including joeys orphaned after their mothers are shot. Many recovering animals are housed in open paddocks which Day said left them vulnerable to attack.

Day had appeared before the inquiry to challenge claims that kangaroo populations were exploding unchecked, telling the committee that kangaroos did not “breed like rabbits” and that population growth was heavily influenced by environmental conditions such as rainfall and drought.

During hearings, Borsak accused Day of disregarding the realities faced by rural landowners.

“Isn’t your evidence really about providing no regard at all for the overall population management … that you want nothing to be killed full stop?” he said.

Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst, who chaired the inquiry, said she was “furious about the lack of regard to witness safety” and described the allegations as “exceptionally serious”.

Day said the sudden security threat has forced him to become “extra vigilant,” regularly checking CCTV cameras at his property.

“To be threatened with your life for giving evidence – that’s something you expect to hear about in places like the Amazon,” he said.

“If people are threatened for speaking up in this way, eventually they just won’t participate and that’s