Duck hunting
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:15): (19) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, and of course I will be taking the first opportunity to ask a question about recreational duck shooting. The public campaign to end duck shooting has been running for almost 40 years in Victoria. Polling has consistently shown an estimated 85 per cent of Victorians support a ban on duck shooting, with the strongest support in regional areas. Six out of eight game species of native waterbird show long-term population decline, and researchers now believe eastern Australia has had a population collapse of 90 per cent over the past four decades. It is clear that there is no other option but to cancel this year’s duck-shooting season. When will the government make an announcement on whether the season will proceed?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:16): I thank the member for the question now that she has the opportunity to speak and to ask questions following her inaugural speech yesterday. This is a matter which Mr Bourman has also asked about, and this reflects the very passionately held views about this subject that exist not just here in this chamber but across the Parliament and within the community more broadly. I am very happy to refer this matter to Minister Kilkenny in the other place and to seek an answer in accordance with the standing orders.
Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:16): Last week the Premier acknowledged that duck shooters break the rules and said that the government was awaiting a report to inform the decision on the future of Victoria’s waterbirds. The Game Management Authority has a long history of failing to prosecute, and in 2017 an independent review by Pegasus Economics confirmed complaints were being frequently dismissed. Will the government consider all of the evidence, including reports that were not followed up by the GMA, in reaching its decision on the 2023 duck-shooting season?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:17): Thank you, Ms Purcell, for that supplementary question. In accordance with the standing orders, again I will seek that a response be provided by Minister Kilkenny to you through me.