Agriculture
10 September, 2023
Mayor has hopes duck season will not get canned
THE final shots may have been fired after a State Parliament inquiry last week recommended duck hunting in Victoria be banned from 2024. But Loddon Mayor Dan Straub has not given up hope that the annual duck season the shire says boosts the local...
THE final shots may have been fired after a State Parliament inquiry last week recommended duck hunting in Victoria be banned from 2024.
But Loddon Mayor Dan Straub has not given up hope that the annual duck season the shire says boosts the local economy and helps with mental health and wellbeing will survive.
“Let’s hope the Parliamentary processes see things differently and recognises the economic benefits for regions like ours,” said Cr Straub who holds hope that the official Government response may be different to inquiry recommendations.
The Legislative Council inquiry received more than 9000 submissions, the most ever for a State Parliament probe. Among them was Loddon Shire putting the case to retain duck hunting.
Cr Straub also said it was disappointing the committee’s final report recommended the Aboriginal community be exempt from the duck hunting ban.
“It’s recommendations of this sort again that will only divide the community,” he said.
“I really do hope the Government sees fit to continue the long-standing tradition of duck hunting in Victoria. We all share in the history and traditions of duck hunting.”
Coalition members of the inquiry committee issued a dissenting report, backing the future of duck hunting in Victoria, after “a biased and stacked Inquiry recommended the end of the practice”.
“Labor, the Greens and the Animal Justice Party members involved in the inquiry into Victoria’s Recreational Native Bird Hunting Arrangements have ignored science and based their call to end duck hunting on ideology alone,” they said.
“Instead of backing trained and licenced hunters and recognising the positive effect they have on conserving and restoring wetland habitats, Labor, the Greens and Animal Justice Party used their numbers in bid to vote duck hunting out of existence.
“The sourcing of birds for food now faces being banned for all individuals of non-Aboriginal descent.
“After hearing overwhelming evidence from scientists showing hunters do not adversely impact the population of water birds, the Liberals and Nationals were unable to support the Inquiry committee’s majority report.”
The minority report recommends the continuation of bird harvesting in Victoria in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Emma Kealy said: “Duck hunting is sustainable and safe and has enormous economic benefits. The evidence, ignored by Labor, Greens and Animal Justice Party members involved in this Inquiry, backs that up.
“It helps with land conservation and sustainability and is a source of food.”
Committee member Melina Bath said: “This inquiry was a missed opportunity to showcase the sustainability of hunting based on science and fact.
“This inquiry has wasted many thousands of dollars and countless hours of time to put together a biased and flawed report.
“The Andrews Government together with the cross bench have used selective ideological evidence to justify its end game – banning duck hunting,” Ms Bath said.
The Government is yet to give a formal response to the recommendation. It is expected later this year.