Wednesday, 18 March 2026

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:15): (1271) My question is for the minister representing the Minister for Outdoor Recreation. Victoria’s recreational duck-shooting season commenced this morning. At Lake Leaghur shooters not only illegally shot early, they failed to retrieve wounded birds that plunged into dense vegetation before shooting more. This is also an offence. For wounded birds death is guaranteed, but wounded birds are also often still highly mobile and a net is required to capture them. When Manfred, a licensed rescuer and wildlife carer, reported this illegal activity by shooters to the Game Management Authority, they instead confiscated his net and suspended his licence. These birds are bleeding out from their injuries right now as I speak these words. Now that volunteer rescue efforts have been obstructed, will the minister urgently instruct Game Management Authority officers to search the reeds, or will these birds be condemned to a slow and painful death?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:16): I thank Ms Purcell for her substantive question and her ongoing advocacy in this area. This question will be directed to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, who will provide a response as per the standing orders.

 Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:17): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. Rescuers with a game licence can be on the wetlands at any time, unlike unlicensed rescuers, who must wait until 11 am to enter the water. The Game Management Authority is now using a technicality under the Wildlife (Game) Regulations to remove licensed rescuers because they carry a net instead of a gun and a net is not an approved hunting weapon. Let that sink in: legal rescuers are being targeted because they are carrying something to help, not harm, wildlife. So my question for the minister is this: is the Game Management Authority being instructed to do anything they possibly can to keep rescuers off the wetlands so the Premier’s state-sanctioned wildlife slaughter is hidden from public view?

 Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Water) (12:17): I thank Ms Purcell for her supplementary. That will also be referred to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation for a response.