Some members have contacted the State Office with concerns about the legality of hunters using and sharing game meat. This follows a rural Victorian newspaper report about the recent Agriculture Amendment Bill.
The concerns are entirely understandable given the reporting in question. However, we are pleased to confirm that Victorian hunters have nothing to worry about and that the Bill in question made no material changes that would impact recreational hunters.
SSAA Victoria examined the Bill before it was presented to the Legislative Council. The Association met with several Members of Parliament, including the relevant Minister, ahead of the debate in Parliament. The Association also supported a proposed amendment to the Bill.
The level of misinformation about this Bill is so high that Agriculture Victoria has taken the unusual step of publishing a ‘Fact sheet’ to address some of it specifically.
Public safety amendment for duck hunting defeated
Members will recall that the Association strongly supported an amendment to the Bill proposed by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman.
The amendment would have changed the public safety zone between licenced duck hunters and animal rights activists from ten metres to thirty metres. This is consistent with the advice from the Game Management Authority to hunters as recently as yesterday.
Last week, Mr Bourman was away from Parliament with a health issue, and Nationals MP Melina Bath moved the amendment. The Government opposed the amendment (along with the Greens, Animal Justice, Sustainable Australia and Reason), and it was defeated.
In opposing the amendment, the Government sought to reframe the public safety provision as being about avoiding close physical contact between hunters and animal rights activists. This is patently absurd, and no such conditions apply to any other form of protest. The provision is clearly about avoiding people placing themselves in the firing line of firearms and putting themselves in danger, and it is concerning that the Government would seek to distance itself from that.
SSAA Victoria thank Mr Bourman, Ms Bath and all of the MP’s who voted for the amendment for their efforts and their support.
No change to how recreational hunters deal with the spoils of the hunt
The newspaper reporting that has caused some consternation amongst the hunting community is inaccurate. Given the headline ‘Sharing of game meat forbidden’, it is understandable why hunters are concerned.
The article in ‘The Alexandra – Eildon – Marysville Standard’ stated that
“It (the bill) prevents hunters sharing meat harvested from game animals. Mr Quilty said that hunters could be charged for shooting a pest animal and feeding it to the next-door neighbour’s cat”
This is untrue. The changes in question (to the Meat Industry Act 1993) were effectively ‘housekeeping’. New offences were introduced regarding the sale of meat for human consumption; however, these explicitly exclude game meat (an exemption order under section 35 of the Meat Industry Act 1993 applies).
In examining the Bill in the Legislative Council, Mr Quilty directly posed his concerns to the Minister representing the Agriculture Minister, Minister Tierney.
Mr Quilty “Thank you, Minister. That was very comprehensive. Does the bill prevent anyone from slaughtering their own animals or game animals for their own consumption”
Ms Tierney “The answer is no”
Mr Quilty “How about slaughtering their own animals or game animals or feral animals for dog food for their own dogs”
Ms Tierney “They would be able to do that”
In further questioning by Gordon Rich-Phillips MP, Minister Tierney did provide some answers that clarified that hunters sharing game meat with their families and visitors in their homes would not be an offence. The Minister clarified that the provision in question was intended to provide a level of traceability if food poisoning etc were to occur. Unfortunately, the Minister also made some unhelpful and poorly informed comments whilst trying to ‘draw a line’ that the written legislation sensibly avoids drawing. The Minister concluded her exchange with Mr Rich-Phillips with a commitment to “double-check a number of things”. SSAA Victoria has followed the Agriculture Minister’s office up on that commitment and we have been assured that the government will make efforts to publicly clarify the position.
There has always been a ‘grey area’ on the limitations of sharing game meat, and that ‘grey area’ remains. The reality is that, if legislation was to specifically cover off every possible scenario, it would become unreadable and unworkable. Whilst hunters must always take care in safely handling game meat, and there is no excuse for negligence, it has never been seriously suggested that hunters or fishers or farmers would ever be charged for simply sharing well handled meat in social settings it remains inconceivable that any ever will be. In further discussion on the bill in the
There are serious challenges on the horizon for shooting and hunting in Victoria. SSAA Victoria is working diligently every day to stay in front of those challenges, and the Association will keep members informed and involved in addressing these. The Association is pleased to report that the Agriculture Amendment Bill changes do not materially change anything for recreational hunters.
