General News
1 July, 2026
Duck ban bid report with minister soon
A DRAFT report on whether duck shooting is banned at Lake Boort is under review by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
A DRAFT report on whether duck shooting is banned at Lake Boort is under review by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
“Once the internal review has been completed it will be issued to the minister for his review,” director-archaeologist at Compass Heritage Service, Edward East, said on Monday.
Aboriginal leader and activist Gary Murray in January lodged an application under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act used to stop shooters.
He claimed duck shooting would “cause injury and desecration of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage” of the lake.
Mr Murray said the 2024 annual meeting of Dja Dja Wurrung Aboriginal Corporation had supported a motion to protect significant heritage sites.
“We have a mandate to do what we are doing,” he said.
Mr Murray said Lake Boort and its scar trees, middens and burial grounds could not be preserved if duck shooting continued.
Victoria’s 2026 hunt season closed early this month. Low water levels at the lake saw little hunting there this season.
Read More: Berrimal, Boort, Loddon Shire