Duck hunting
Mr BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:08): My question is going to go to the minister representing the agriculture minister—this should be no surprise—about the duck season. The duck season starts on the third Saturday of March, which is 19 March, which is 25 days away, and we still have not got an announcement. In 2016 the government, as part of its Sustainable Hunting Action Plan 2021–2024, said that it would improve seasonal announcements. Is 25 days before the season what one would call an improvement?
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:09): I thank the member for his question. It is a question by and large in substance very similar to the one that he asked last week, and I am sure that the Minister for Agriculture will respond consistent with the standing orders.
Mr BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:09): Well, let us hope we do not get a 15-day one. Minister, why has it taken so long, or why are we at the point where it is 25 days before the beginning of the season, when the data was given to the government at large in late December? Why has it taken so long to have not reached a decision by now?
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:10): Again I thank the member for his supplementary and his ongoing issue in respect of the announcement of the duck-hunting season. This matter again will be referred to the Minister for Agriculture for a response.