Duck hunting
Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:34): (62) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Minister Shing. I had hoped that I would be able to move on from duck-hunting questions once the seasonal changes were announced. Unfortunately the seasonal changes that were announced were not what the expert scientists recommended but something else. The reasons given for these changes have previously been debunked, so the reasons must be other than those given. My question is: will the minister immediately release all the documentation and advice she received regarding the changes to the duck-hunting season that went against the government science?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:35): It will come as no surprise to Mr Bourman that in accordance with the standing orders I am very happy to refer this to the minister in the other place and obtain an answer on that basis.
David Davis interjected.
Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:35): I thank the minister for her answer and Mr Davis for his commentary. This is the first duck season after the election – the election that the government went into supporting duck hunting. Yet the very same government immediately ignored the science that their own scientists have presented to them. This is clearly a concern that goes beyond just duck-hunting issues, so my supplementary question is: given the deviation from following the science, is there any other form of hunting we should be worried about?
Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:35): That is a slight broadening of the substantive question into the supplementary, but to my mind I am very happy, in accordance with the standing orders, Mr Bourman, to refer that to the minister and to seek an answer on that basis.