Thursday, 4 May 2023

Duck hunting

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:33): (128) My question today is for the Minister for Outdoor Recreation in the other place, represented by Minister Shing in this place. The Game Management Authority annually publishes enforcement outcomes regarding the first five days of the annual duck season. The data was up for a short time on 2 May and then it was removed later that day. The GMA reports directly to the outdoor recreation portfolio. My question is: did the minister, her staff or any of the other ministers involved in the annual duck season settings or their staff instruct, infer or act in a manner that would have made the GMA remove that data after it was published?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:34): Thanks, Mr Bourman, for that question. What I will do is refer that to the minister in the other place for an answer in accordance with the standing orders.

Jeff BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (12:34): I thank the minister for her answer. I will head straight to the supplementary: why on a day when a dozen or so anti-duck-hunting protesters were staging their annual media event outside the Premier’s office was that data that was critical of the activist protesters actively suppressed?

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Water, Minister for Regional Development, Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy, Minister for Equality) (12:34): I am not sure whether the minister will agree with your characterisation of the treatment of data, but in accordance with the standing orders I will seek an answer to your supplementary question from her as well.