Tuesday, 17 February 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (14:09): My question is for the Minister for Outdoor Recreation. The annual state-sanctioned recreational duck slaughter will begin on 18 March and run for a full-length season, despite this government’s own parliamentary inquiry calling for an end to this cruel practice. Sadly, my electorate of Northern Victoria will be impacted by this blood sport, with our native wildlife in the firing line and my constituents forced to endure the sounds of gunfire. Advocacy group Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting has written to the minister’s office requesting that 25 wetlands, many of which are in Northern Victoria, be closed due to their proximity to residential areas and recreational walking tracks. These wetlands include Lake Boort, Lake Yando, Richardsons Lagoon and many of the internationally important Ramsar wetlands such as the Barmah forest, Gunbower forest and Kerang Wetlands. Will the government listen to the concerns of my constituents, who feel unsafe, and close these wetlands for the duck-shooting season?