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The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) was incorporated as a public company on October 1, 1973. We exist to promote the shooting sports and protect firearm owners' interests.

With more than 40,000 members, SSAA Victoria is a leading body representing licensed firearm owners in Victoria. SSAA Victoria has more than a dozen branches and more than 30 sub-clubs and disciplines within the organisation.

SSAA Victoria News

Stronger together: SSAA’s federation delivers for shooters

A unified SSAA is stronger for members, stronger for Victoria, and stronger for Australia. SSAA National President Andrew Judd has addressed the regrettable decision by SSAA Queensland to break with the longstanding federated model that has made the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia the most influential and effective voice for Australian shooters. For nearly 80 years, SSAA’s unique federation has brought together members in every state and territory (now numbering over 200,000), delivering real advocacy, real services, and real results. Over the past year, shooters across the country have seen a revitalised SSAA Inc. - more strategic advocacy, sharper communications, and a renewed focus on national coordination to counter the threats we all face. In Victoria, the benefits of federation are clear. Being part of a national body means members enjoy class-leading insurance, national publications like Australian Shooter, coordinated campaigns, and influence where it matters, whether that’s in Spring Street, Canberra, or in fighting bad policy in other states before it spreads. When Victoria and NSW partnered to bring SHOT Expo back to life in 2024, that was federation in action, two states working together, backed by national resources, to deliver for the shooting community. SSAA Victoria remains proudly independent in our operations and advocacy, but we are stronger for being part of something bigger. We grow together, fight together, and win together.

Statement from Andrew Judd – SSAA National President

From July 2025 Queensland members will no longer receive Australian Shooter magazine (the journal of the SSAA). Instead, they will receive a copy of “The Report”, a SSAA Queensland publication. This is a decision of the SSAA QLD executive. SSAA Inc (national office) requires SSAA Queensland to send through names and addresses of its members to the mailing house to facilitate the mailing of the magazine and they will no longer be doing so.

SSAA Inc is extremely disappointed by this decision and is working to develop ways for Queensland members to continue to receive Australian Shooter magazine.

Queensland members who wish to continue to receive Australian Shooter should contact the national membership office on (02) 8805 3900.

Over the weekend of the 5th and 6th of July, the SSAA National Board noted that SSAA QLD were now 6 months behind in their payment of membership subscriptions to SSAA Inc. This puts them well outside constitutional timeframes to remain a member of the national association. SSAA QLD will be given a short period of time to bring its payments up to date or it will cease to be a member of the national association. The board cannot allow this situation to continue.

In the event that SSAA QLD do not make good on their obligations, the SSAA Inc board decided on a path to allow Queensland members to remain members of the Australian SSAA family and to retain all of the benefits of SSAA membership should they choose to do so. Details of this arrangement will be released when it is appropriate to do so. In the meantime, Queensland members should contact the SSAA national membership office on (02) 8805 3900 to indicate their interest in this option.

Andrew Judd - President - SSAA Inc.

Let’s be clear: this isn’t about politics. It’s about accountability, fairness, and ensuring that all members across Australia receive the services and representation they pay for and deserve. SSAA Victoria supports the National Board under the leadership of Andrew Judd and stands firmly behind the federation model. We know what works, and we know who delivers. Strong. United. Effective. That’s the SSAA difference.

Stalking for the Snowy and Errinundra – Dimopoulos delivers for Victoria’s deer hunters

Victoria’s deer hunters have received a major boost with today’s announcement by Environment and Outdoor Recreation Minister Steve Dimopoulos that the National Parks Act will be amended to allow seasonal deer stalking in the Snowy and Errinundra National Parks. The change is being welcomed as a historic breakthrough by SSAA Victoria, the state’s leading shooting and hunting organisation. “This is an announcement that is nearly forty years in the making,” said SSAA Victoria Hunting Development Manager David Laird. “For hunting, we focus on three things – something to hunt, somewhere to hunt, and something to hunt with. Today’s announcement provides Victoria’s deer hunters with a whole lot more of somewhere and something.” Deer hunting continues to rise in popularity, with over 45,000 licensed deer hunters in Victoria, marking a significant increase over the past decade. Access to public land has been a major factor in that growth. SSAA Victoria has long championed expanded access for deer hunters and made detailed proposals regarding the Snowy and Errinundra National Parks. "Minister Dimopoulos has listened, and he’s delivered real gains for hunters, regional communities, and public land users," Mr Laird said. The association also acknowledged others in the hunting community who have supported the push over many years. “There have been many voices in this space over time, and we thank all those who have contributed. This is a win that everyone can claim; what really matters is that it’s a win for hunters.”

Playing the Long game... and losing - A clear message to would-be poachers

For nearly two decades, Neil Page and Corrie De Visser have invested extraordinary time, energy and money into transforming their 3,000-acre property in East Gippsland into what is arguably the world’s premier free-range hog deer property. Their efforts, completely destocking the land, restoring vegetation, creating clean water points, and building hides, have had remarkable biodiversity benefits. Kangaroos, emus, other birds and a wide range of native wildlife now thrive alongside the carefully managed hog deer population. But with success has come unwanted attention from illegal hunters. On two separate occasions, in 2019 and again in 2020, Christopher Long trespassed onto the property to participate in illegal hunts that resulted in the unlawful killing and removal of several prized hog deer. Last week, the County Court of Victoria awarded Neil and Corrie a civil judgment against Long totalling $120,000. If costs are awarded (highly likely), the final bill may balloon to several hundred thousand dollars, an expensive reminder that poaching doesn’t pay. The trespasses In December 2019, Long joined an unauthorised hunting party that illegally shot at least two hog deer on the property. He proudly posed for photos with the animals, including one image showing a rifle fitted with a suppressor. Later, he circulated the photos to boost his ego and promote his guiding services, which the court saw as an attempt to profit from his own unlawful conduct. A year later, Long returned. More hog deer were illegally killed. The court found that Long either fired the rifle himself (despite not holding a firearms licence) or was again involved in a group’s illegal activities. He repeated the same self-promotional routine with trophy photos, again apparently hoping to turn poaching into profit. The damage done Long’s actions were more than a violation of property rights; they undermined confidence in lawful firearm ownership, the credibility of the regulatory system, and the integrity of Victoria’s hog deer management framework. The court found that Long’s trespass violated Neil and Corrie’s rights, jeopardised their safety and that of their family, and directly interfered with their long-standing conservation efforts. But the damage extends further still, casting a shadow over the broader hunting community and public perceptions of ethical deer hunting in Victoria. Why civil, not criminal? Neil and Corrie reported the 2020 trespass to Victoria Police in January 2021. Mobile phone location data obtained during that investigation was used in court. However, enforcement authorities (Victoria Police and the Game Management Authority) were unable to pursue criminal charges. Faced with an apparent dead end, Neil and Corrie took the extraordinary step of pursuing civil action - a costly, stressful and time-consuming process. While the standard of proof in civil proceedings is lower than in criminal cases, serious allegations like these still demand robust evidence and judicial scrutiny. Long’s unlawful possession of a firearm, use of a suppressor, and trespass could have led to criminal charges. Instead, it was a civil court that finally held him accountable. A fool for a client The old saying goes: a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client. Long lived up to that adage, choosing to represent himself, apparently relying on generative AI rather than professional legal advice. The court was unimpressed. In the written judgment, the judge noted: “Mr Long also relied upon 13 cases said to support the proposition that, in civil trespass proceedings, courts require convincing circumstantial evidence... Of these, 11 did not exist.” The court concluded: “It is likely these cases are another example of a litigant’s misplaced reliance upon generative AI to assist them in preparing submissions.” A cautionary tale followed: “Generative AI can be beguiling, particularly when the task of representing yourself seems overwhelming. However, a litigant runs the risk that their case will be damaged, rather than helped, if they choose to use AI without taking the time to understand what it produces, and to confirm that it is both legally and factually accurate.” In other words: don’t let ChatGPT write your submissions to the court - especially when you’re in the wrong. Why hog deer matter Hog deer are listed as endangered in their native range by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Victoria is home to the most secure free-ranging population of these deer in the world, a population that commands global attention from hunters and conservationists alike. SSAA Victoria, particularly through its Deerstalkers Club, has played a central role in their management for over 60 years. From the Para Park Co-Operative to the Blond Bay Project, we have consistently backed ethical hunting and species stewardship. What must happen now? Sadly, the allure of illegal hunting is real and growing. So too is the potential damage to landholders, deer lovers, and the reputation of lawful hunters. Victoria must maintain strong regulatory protections for wild hog deer. The Game Management Authority must be adequately resourced and empowered to take meaningful action against poaching. Hunters must remain vigilant. Suspicious or illegal activity should be reported to the GMA and, where appropriate, to affected landholders. SSAA Victoria will continue to champion the ethical management of Victoria’s unique hog deer population and to push for those who put holes in the bottom of our collective boat to be held to account. In the meantime, we commend Neil and Corrie both for their efforts to conserve and promote hog deer and their dogged determination in bringing Long to justice.

Shh… We Really Need to Talk About Sound Moderators (Silencers, Suppressors)

Overnight, the Government of the United Kingdom released its long-awaited response to public consultation on the use of sound moderators. In a written statement to Parliament, Minister for Policing and Crime Prevention, Dame Diana Johnson MP, announced that the UK Government will move to remove the licensing requirement for sound moderators. This marks a major policy breakthrough, following years of careful and effective advocacy by our friends at the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC). Speaking after the announcement, BASC’s Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs, Christopher Graffius, said: “The announcement comes off the back of years of lobbying work, and we are glad the government has listened to the reasoned arguments put forward.” The UK Government has now formally recognised that: “There are strong arguments in favour of removing sound moderators from firearms licensing controls… these items are a firearms accessory that present no danger in themselves to the public.” Sound moderators are a valuable tool for wildlife management and offer clear health and safety benefits to shooters, especially hearing protection and reduced recoil. So, Why Can’t We Victorians Have Nice Things? In Victoria, a lack of understanding of what sound moderators are (and are not), combined with a cynical scare campaign from prohibitionist groups, has created a public policy deadlock that defies logic. Gun control activists continue to exploit their social licence to make exaggerated and misleading claims, which are too often repeated uncritically by the media and accepted at face value by policymakers. Take this comment from Stephen Bendle of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, published in The Age in 2022: “Silencers make guns more deadly. They make it harder to hear a gun being fired, and that's dangerous for the community and police.” This is pure alarmism, unsupported by evidence and driven by ideology rather than expertise. If policy makers take any notice of it at all, it should be only to reject it with the contempt it deserves. So, What’s the Real Story? As the UK Government has rightly acknowledged, sound moderators are simply accessories, tools that provide real-world benefits in a range of shooting and wildlife control contexts. These tools are standard equipment for recreational hunters and land managers in New Zealand, the UK, much of Europe, the USA, and Africa. The benefits are clear:
  • Hearing protection: Moderators reduce sound pressure by 20–35 dB, significantly lowering the risk of long-term hearing damage.
  • Animal welfare and efficacy: Less disturbance improves opportunities for follow-up shots or harvesting multiple animals.
  • Reduced recoil: Improves shooter comfort, confidence, and target reacquisition—especially with larger centrefire rifles.
  • Noise amenity: Lower sound impact on nearby properties and wildlife.
And crucially, there is no credible peer-reviewed criminology or crime data suggesting that sound moderators pose any meaningful risk to public safety or are misused by criminals. What’s in a name—Does a Sound Moderator by any other name still smell as sweet? In Australian legislation, these devices are still called “silencers,” a term originally coined (somewhat inaccurately) by their inventor, Hiram Maxim. Maxim invented car mufflers at the same time, which is essentially the same tool as a muffler (moderator, silencer, suppressor) on a firearm. But language matters:
  • “Silencer” sounds sinister, evoking Hollywood villains and criminal use. Prohibitionists use it deliberately to stoke fear.
  • “Suppressor” is more accurate and has been adopted widely by firearm users, trainers, and law enforcement in the U.S.
  • “Moderator” is the preferred term in the UK and much of Europe. It fits neatly within the public health and wildlife management narrative.
We’ve used “sound moderator” here because it reflects the UK usage, and because it’s the term most consistent with truth and common sense. As the Bard wrote, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. But if you let it be branded a “toxic weed,” how many people will want to plant it? SSAA Victoria: We’ll keep fighting for common sense SSAA Victoria’s Hunting Development Manager, David Laird, welcomed the UK announcement and congratulated BASC on its success: “This is a massive step forward for common sense. BASC’s work shows what’s possible when facts and reason are allowed to lead policy. The UK Government has recognised that sound moderators are a benefit, not a threat, and it’s time Australia followed suit.” “We’ll keep making the case here in Victoria. Whether you call them suppressors, silencers, or moderators, they’re a public health tool, a wildlife management tool, and a smart choice for responsible shooters.”
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