Victoria’s Legislative Council formally voted last night to conduct a select committee enquiry into recreational native bird hunting in Victoria.
It is unusual for a Government to move to an enquiry such as this of its own motion. It is even more unusual that a Government motion would be moved by a Minister with no responsibilities for the particular portfolio area in question. Last night’s motion was moved by the Minister for Disability, Ageing and Carers, Child Protection and Family Services, Lizzie Blandthorn MP. Minister Blandthorn is a longstanding, vocal opponent of duck hunting. Her speech was awkward and disjointed and was, as Jeff Bourman MP later described it, “a grab bag of prejudices and misinformation”. If the Government and the Minister responsible for hunting, the Minister for Outdoor Recreation, are not embarrassed by Minister Blandthorn’s contribution last night, they should be.
In reply, Nationals MP Melina Bath said:
“ This is supposed to be an inquiry to look into the Victorian recreational native bird hunting arrangements, but clearly we have heard a speech on the banning, the cessation, of duck hunting in Victoria. Why don’t we just cut to the chase, Minister? Why don’t we just cut to the chase and bring in the legislation? It is an absolute charade. This is a charade, this inquiry. This is a charade, and the Nationals and the Liberals will be opposing this motion before the house.”
Liberal MP Bev McArthur concurred:
“Now we are in this situation where you are going to make sure that this committee of inquiry comes up with a report to ban duck hunting. We will have the Animal Justice Party making sure they vote with the government ad nauseam on every activity in return for this great benefit of making sure this committee of inquiry comes up with this predetermined outcome, which is banning duck hunting, no less. I do not support this motion, and nobody else should either, because it is a ridiculous proposition, and we can see exactly what the intention is and we can see exactly how votes are going to be cast in this way.”
As did SFFP MP Jeff Bourman:
“This whole thing has come about as, I will not say a surprise but how this has rolled in the house has been pretty ordinary. It is extremely inappropriate in my view to have a minister who is so openly opposed to, in this instance, the practice of duck hunting lead and be the only speaker on this issue. Unless it is a conscience issue, what I am hearing is what is possibly – probably – the government’s stance on this, in which case why are we doing this?”
LDP MP David Limbrick made a notable contribution. He had planned to vote in favour of the enquiry but changed his mind after hearing Minister Blandthorn’s contribution.
“I was going to support this committee creation. Rather naively I thought that it was going to be a legitimate and good-faith thing, but after hearing the minister’s speech I am very, very much less convinced of that, because it is clear that there is an agenda here.”
Ultimately the Government and the anti-hunting block of crossbench MPs had the numbers, and the enquiry will proceed. The terms of reference for the enquiry are:
1) a select committee of nine members be established to inquire into, consider and report by 31 August 2023 on Victoria’s recreational native bird hunting arrangements, including but not limited to:
(a) the operation of annual native bird hunting seasons;
(b) arrangements in other Australian jurisdictions;
(c) their environmental sustainability and impact on amenity;
(d) their social and economic impact;
(2) the committee will consist of three members from the government nominated by the Leader of the Government in the Legislative Council, three members from the Liberal–National coalition nominated by the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council and three members from among the remaining members in the Council;
(3) the members will be appointed by lodgement of the names with the President no later than 10 March 2023;
(4) the first meeting of the committee will be held within one week of members names being lodged with the President; and
(5) the committee may proceed to the despatch of business notwithstanding that all members have not been appointed and notwithstanding any vacancy.
The next most important steps for recreational hunters are
- Make an appointment to visit your local Labor MP
- Get prepared for duck and quail seasons
- Stay up to date on submission processes etc.
SSAA Victoria will publish guidance next week to assist you in making an appointment with your MP and making the most of your meeting. Duck and quail hunting is in the fight of its life here. Hunters and shooters should be under no misunderstanding about that. To prevail, we need everyone to play their part over the coming months. Please be mindful of what you say and what you post on social media in particular, don’t argue with the antis and do the best you can to ignore their propaganda – we all need to focus on telling our great story and showing the community that recreational hunters are safe, responsible and ethical, regardless of how some fringe extremists want to portray us.
