“[Duck shooting] will always be an undoubtedly barbaric pastime with no commensurate benefits,” Hawthorn MP John Kennedy said. “The decline in waterbirds is a real concern, and I note the enlightened practices of some Labor states in this respect.”
A Victorian government spokeswoman said duck hunting was managed sustainably by the imposition of bag limits and a restricted hunting season. She said authorities worked to stamp out unlawful and dangerous practices, and Victorians who wanted to take part should be able to do it in a safe and responsible manner.
“We know many Victorians have deeply held and diverse views about duck hunting,” the spokeswoman said. “The government has been clear that it takes the advice of the Game Management Authority in determining each season.”
The Labor MPs confirmed their opinions to the Animal Justice Party, which is making a list to show which parliamentarians support a ban on duck hunting.
Other MPs who support a ban include Brighton Liberal MP James Newbury, who used his 2018 maiden speech to call for duck hunting to end, and retiring upper house Liberal MP Bruce Atkinson. Independent Mildura MP Ali Cupper, Western Metropolitan Region MP Catherine Cumming and Transport Matters Party MP Rod Barton are among 11 crossbench MPs also endorsing a ban.
Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick, has started a list that shows where Victorian MPs stand in relation to a ban on duck hunting. Credit:Eddie Jim
Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick urged the premier “to end this cruelty” and commit to a prohibition before the state election.
“The issue of duck shooting is not an inner-city issue,” he said. “Victorians everywhere are sick of seeing our native wildlife blasted from the sky in the name of sport.
“This government prides itself on being progressive, but it will never truly be until duck shooting is banned.”
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Inside Labor ranks, members have repeatedly called for a rethink on duck hunting by passing a series of motions at the party’s state conferences. The first motion was passed in the lead-up to the 2014 state election, urging the party to “prohibit the recreational destruction of native wildlife on public or private land”.
Blandthorn and McGhie led a push at the 2019 state conference for the caucus to review wildlife hunting, but that is yet to occur.
Earlier this year, Andrews said he understood recreational shooting “wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea”, but urged those who take part to follow the rules.
“Some of us play golf. Some people go shooting. That’s a choice they are free to make, but there are rules and I do see some reports the rules seem to have been broken,” he said.
“It’s not something that I do myself, but as the leader of the government, it’s allowed, so the answer to the question [do you support duck hunting?] is, obviously, yes.”
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