He was well regarded as an enforcer by the authorities at the outpost of Sydney and was employed in shooting expeditions to gather food and game for the colony.
In September 1789, near Middle Harbour, a group of Cammeraygal men threw a stone at Hacking, who responded by shooting at them, resulting in two being killed or seriously wounded.
Hacking encountered a group of Awabakal people on the south side of the river, who informed him that the sailors had left earlier on foot, endeavouring to walk back to Sydney.
Also in 1803, he was found guilty of stealing naval stores from Investigator and again sentenced to death, then reprieved on condition that he was transported to Van Diemen's Land.
[2] Port Hacking, south of Botany Bay, known as Deeban by traditional owners, was named in his honour by Matthew Flinders in 1796.