Victoria state elections 2018
Election Day: November 24, 2018
Early polling: November 12-23
SSAA Victoria members will be helping shape the next State Parliament when we go to the polls on November 24.
We respect that all our members have different political beliefs, so we will not tell you who to vote for, but we can explain some key points about the election and how to get the most from your vote.
For shooters, the worst potential outcome of this election is a minority government with The Greens holding the balance of power.
The Greens have well-documented anti-gun and anti-hunting policies and are running on the platform of locking up hunting land in the Great Forest National Park proposal. If they get the balance of power, it would give them the ability to hurt shooters through these policies.
On the other side of the coin parties such as the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers, Liberal Democrats, Democratic Labour Party and Australian Country Party have pro-firearms policies. Having them in the Upper House helps balance the debate on firearms issues (the SFFP has two MPs currently sitting in the Upper House).
Meanwhile, the major parties (Labor and the Liberal/Nationals) respond to political pressure when making decisions on firearms. Each party uses firearms issues to score political points so it’s difficult to predict what sort of deal firearms users would get from either of them, especially if The Greens have the balance of power.
Voting below the line
On Election Day you get two ballot papers. One for the Lower House, which is a short list of the candidates running for the seat in your electorate, and one large ballot paper for the Upper House.
The Upper House ballot paper has a range of parties to choose from above the thick line that divides the paper and their candidates listed below the line.
Voting for the Lower House (Legislative Assembly) is a simple numbering system where you start at 1 for your most favoured candidate and keep numbering (2, 3, 4, etc) to your least favoured candidate.
It gets a lot more complex when voting for the Legislative Council (Upper House) because there are many more parties and candidates in the eight large electoral regions. But it is here that you can make an impact on how firearms issues are decided upon.
The Upper House reviews Bills sent up from the Lower House and without the Upper House’s endorsement those Bills will not get through. This is where members who are supportive of firearms use can impact on proposed Bills which may affect us.
Through manipulation of the preferences system (where votes from unsuccessful candidates flow to other candidates and parties), The Greens have five seats in the Upper House.
Therefore, it is important to consider voting BELOW the line.
Voting below the line is the best way to ensure we get the best representation. It works by numbering individual candidates from 1 (most favoured) to at least 5, but you can number them all if you really want to make sure your least preferred candidate is last.
Pro-shooting representation
To help understand who the pro-firearms candidates and parties are, we agreed to provide space for them to explain their policies and introduce their candidates.
We do not necessarily endorse any party or candidate, but we are most concerned about the influence of The Greens on the future of firearms in our state and urge our members to vote carefully.
We encourage you to check out the websites of the candidates in your electorate or contact their offices directly to see where they stand on issues important to you to help you decide.
How-to-vote card volunteers
All parties appreciate the help of volunteers who hand out how-to-vote cards at the many polling booths in each electorate. How-to-vote cards instruct voters on how to number the ballot papers to ensure the party or candidate of their choosing has the best chance of success.
Those wanting to help should visit the party website where they will have instructions on how to volunteer.
POLITICAL PARTY STATEMENTS
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party
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Australian Country Party
The Australian Country Party retains core policies and principles that support legitimate hunting, shooting and recreational pursuits, so it is unlikely we would disagree with any issues that assist and protect our rights to own and use firearms and hunt game species and feral animals.
Public Land Access
Our party does not support the creation of more National Parks or any changes to State Forrests or Crown Lands that would impact access for hunting, fishing and other recreational pursuits such as prospecting. We are also looking to review international treaties such as RAMSAR which if left unchallenged would certainly impact hunting and shooting.
Victorian Game Management Authority
We understand that several government departments have lost focus or have been manipulated by ideologies away from the tasks and services they were originally charged with. We will support a review or restructure of the GMA.
Victorian Firearms Consultative Committee
We support the reestablishment of the Firearms Consultative Committee which has the following charter:
“To support licenced law abiding, firearm owners by having a seat at the table when the Government wants to discuss firearms legislation and reinforcing at all times that Governments must focus on criminals with illegal guns; and the criminal use of guns – not on law-abiding licensed shooters.”
Waterfowl Harvest
We strongly support maintaining sustainable and sensible duck hunting seasons and the camping and boating practices associated with this activity.
Sports Grant Funding
We support the continuation of sufficient government funding to maintain facilities and grow participation in shooting sports.
Our current firearms policy which can be found on our website, www.countryparty.org.au
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Democratic Labour Party
The Andrews Government leaves much to be desired. However, the good news is that apart from the Shooters, Farmers and Fishers party in Victoria, there are four candidates from the Labour DLP Party, who are pro-shooting and hunting, standing against ALP sitting members. Some may be in your electorate.
Labour DLP is a pro-farming and agriculture, pro-family party and among their solid policies they will campaign for reliable and more affordable power for Victorians.
Labour DLP will preference the Liberal candidate Amanda Miller in Macedon and in the Upper House Northern Region will run Chris McCormack as the Labour DLP candidate with preferences to Daniel Young of the Shooters and Fishers Party Victoria.
Well-known shooter, long-time SSAA member and former board member, Tony O’Brien, is standing in the (Legislative Assembly) Macedon electorate against the incumbent ALP member on November 24.
Tony is a Macedon Ranges local and his continuous family’s farming connections in the area date back to the 1890s, when his forebears first settled and farmed in the locality.
From the time he first fired a rifle at the age of nine years Tony was a keen shooter. As a boy, he caught rabbits with ferrets and by 14 years he was skilled in shooting rats and mice around wheat sacks during plagues. He served in the Australian Army, holds a Master of Arts (History) and is active in his local RSL. He is also a long-time member of the Antique Historical and Arms Collectors Guild of Victoria.
Tony has been active over many years pushing for fair and workable Firearms legislation, hunting issues, and ensuring that we all have hunting and camping access to state forests. He opposes the greenie enclosure movement for a National Park in the Macedon, Wellsford and Pyrenees regions.
Tony is a champion of free speech, individual liberties and freedoms, smaller less intrusive government, expanded rural rail freight and passenger services, plus a ‘fair go’ for farmers. He advocates a heavy crack down on carjackers and home invaders. If elected, he would bring many skills to parliament as well as that rare gift of common sense.
Chris McCormack is standing as the Labour DLP candidate for the Legislative Council, Northern Victoria Region at the state election on 24 November.
Chris was raised on a small sheep and cattle farm in central Victoria and spent much time on a relative’s farm in the Mallee, where guns proved an invaluable asset in keeping vermin such as rabbits and foxes at bay.
Chris believes that registered firearms owners have been unjustifiably maligned in the media and targeted by virtue signalling politicians who misunderstand that gun crime is predominantly perpetrated by illegal firearm owners, not licenced gun owners.
The conditions of gun ownership are particularly onerous, notwithstanding the necessity of checking the criminal and psychological history of gun licence applicants. Similarly, carriage and storage conditions are draconian and need improvement.
“It seems the only ones carrying guns freely (and seemingly with impunity) in Victoria are armed robbers, home invaders, and carjackers,” said Chris.
Chris believes access to duck shooting and controlled hunting of feral animals in public spaces, such as state and national parks should not be threatened by animal welfare activists. Credence should not be given to disingenuous arguments advocating for more restrictions to hunting. Similarly, the restrictions to recreational fishing are ridiculous and he believes recreational fishers should not require a licence to fish.
Chris believes the policies of Labour DLP can solve many of Victoria’s problems.
“We stand for giving farmers back their water rights by abolishing so called environmental flows, which have no scientific basis and are destroying Victorian (and other states’) farmers’ livelihoods”, Chris said.
Labour DLP believes the commodification of water has resulted in farmers paying exorbitant prices for water. Labour DLP will ensure water is for users and producers, not water barons seeking profit at the expense of farmers.
“We believe in building new dams to increase the agricultural production of the state and drought proof Victoria,” said Chris.
“Effective decentralisation through large public infrastructure projects, tax incentives and encouraging employee-ownership co-operatives in regional/rural Victoria will kick start manufacturing and bring jobs to the regions. New low cost, reliable HELE coal-fired power generation will also enable Victoria to be a manufacturing powerhouse once again,” said Chris.
Helen Leach is a pro-shooter and hunter standing as the Labour DLP candidate against the ALP Minister Jacinta Allan in the (Legislative Assembly) seat of Bendigo East.
Helen’s sons and son-in-law are deer hunters in Victoria. She is a supporter of hunting feral animals, including rabbits and foxes. She is a keen fisher and hunter.
She supports the Bush Users Group United, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia and other users of the State’s bush lands. She is an advocate for the continued public use of forests and parks and, if elected, would stop the state government turning Victoria into one big national park, which locks-out the public out, including beekeepers, shooters, horse riders, prospectors and wood collectors.
Dr. Arthur Bablis is a general practitioner and a SSAA member standing as the DLP candidate in the (Legislative Assembly) seat of Yan Yean.
He enjoys clay target shooting and hunting rabbits and has been in the SSAA for four years.
Click here to visit the Democratic Labour Party website.
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Labor Party
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Liberal Democratic Party
The state election on November 24 gives Victorian firearm owners the chance to vote for representatives who will stand up for shooters, just as Senator David Leyonhjelm has been doing since 2014 in the federal parliament.
The Liberal Democrats strongly support responsible firearms ownership and unashamedly advocate for licensed gun owners to be allowed to undertake legitimate shooting and hunting activities, with minimum interference from government. The Liberal Democrats totally support Victoria’s 225,000-plus licensed firearm owners and oppose onerous restrictions on gun ownership.
A vote for the Liberal Democrats is a vote to protect your freedom to enjoy sports shooting and recreational hunting. In short, your elected Liberal Democrat representatives in Victoria will:
- vote against the establishment of any future national parks that lock out hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts;
- oppose the proposed Great Forest National Park, which is a thinly veiled front to further restrict hunting;
- stand up for the interests of law-abiding firearm owners and the proud traditions of shooting and hunting; and
- protect the time-honoured sourcing of free range ducks from the Greens and other fake conservationists.
We have a proven history of standing up for shooters in the federal parliament, where Senator David Leyonhjelm has been one of the few voices criticising the outdated National Firearms Agreement since his election in 2013. Senator Leyonhjelm was solely responsible for the insertion of a sunset clause into legislation in the Senate to allow the importation of the Adler lever action shotgun. The senator responded to calls for help from the NSW Rifle Association who were in danger of being evicted from the historic ANZAC rifle range at Malabar in Sydney’s south east. Taking command of negotiations he secured a 50 year lease for the association from the Commonwealth bringing an end to a 15 year fight for tenure. He has also called out the ridiculous appearance laws, which sees firearms judged and regulated based on how “scary” they look.
Our Western Australian representative Aaron Stonehouse MLC added his voice in support of shooters following his election to state parliament in 2017, where he has been holding the government to account for its archaic firearms laws. An elected Liberal Democrat in Victoria will add another much-needed voice to stand up for shooters and hunters.
Protect your sport and Vote 1 Liberal Democrats on November 24!
Upper House Candidates
Tim Quilty, Northern Region
Tim is the Liberal Democrats lead candidate for Northern Victoria and currently serves as an elected councillor on Wodonga Council.
Tim grew up on a farm in regional New South Wales and now resides in Wodonga with his wife and two sons. He has been a shooter all his life, is a member of the SSAA and a keen hunter. Fighting for the rights of shooters and firearms owners is an issue close to his heart.
If he is successful in his bid to serve in state parliament, Tim will advocate for evidence-based firearms laws, not knee-jerk reactions to anti-gun propaganda. Tim wants to ensure his sons grow up with the same experience of the bush and shooting that he has had.
Robert Kennedy, Southern Metro
SSAA member Robert Kennedy is an importer of firearms and firearm accessories. He supports responsible firearm ownership and the right for licensed firearm holders to pursue sports shooting and recreational hunting without onerous restrictions from government.
Brenton Ford, East Metro
Brenton’s interest in politics began after he inherited his grandfather’s firearms. Finding the process of becoming licensed and obtaining permits to own firearms cumbersome and inefficient, and more importantly a waste of time and resources for law enforcement, Brenton began following the Liberal Democratic Party after Senator David Leyonhjelm was elected in 2014.
Brenton believes that we should be free from unnecessary interference from government, provided our actions do not cause harm to others or the environment. He wants to reduce government regulation and the cost of living.
Lachlan Christie, Western Victoria
Lachlan has been shooting with friends and family since the age of 12, from hunting on farms to target shooting on the range. He is interested in taking up the sport of practical shooting, and although the dream is yet to materialise, it’s still on his bucket list.
Born in Maryborough, Lachlan has always had a connection to the bush and believes in a fair go for all. He has great vision and ambitions to make sure Western Victoria is not forgotten by Melbourne based politicians. His youth and passion will enable Lachlan to be an outspoken advocate for Western Victoria.
Ben Buckley, Eastern Victoria and Sonia Buckley, Legislative Assembly seat of Gippsland East
High country candidate for the Liberal Democrats, Ben Buckley was raised on a dairy farm in Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula, where he spent his youth hunting rabbits to feed the large Buckley family. Surveying work lead him to New Zealand where he became a professional deer hunter and top helicopter pilot, conducting aerial culling and helping establish the country’s vibrant deer industry.
A former Mayor of the Omeo Shire and current serving Councillor in the now amalgamated East Gippsland Shire, Ben has been serving the community for decades. He supports the right to hold firearms and the importance of education around the use of firearms. He will advocate for shooter’s rights if elected to the Legislative Council for Eastern Victoria.
His daughter Sonia Buckley is also running for the Liberal Democrats in the Legislative Assembly seat of Gippsland East. Sonia owns a sambar deer property and, on the basis of lengthy consultation with deer hunters, aims to establish a deer meat industry to help control the ever-increasing deer numbers but also not waste this valuable resource.
Lower House Candidates
Brunswick: Noel Collins
Gippsland East: Sonia Buckley
Melbourne: Ben Rookes
Northcote: Samuel Fink
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Liberal/National Coalition
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Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (Victoria)
SFFP Victoria is relatively new to the political scene in Victoria. We ran our first election in 2014 and that resulted in the election of 2 Members of Parliament, one for the Northern Region and one for the Eastern Region. The two members are Daniel Young and Jeff Bourman.
Getting elected is only part of the story. On December 23, 2014 we were sworn in and early in 2015 we commenced work as members of the 58th Parliament.
While our party name reflects our primary concerns, being a member of parliament means that you have to deal with every issue that a parliament faces. We have voted on conscience issues, bills dealing with punctuation corrections in existing legislation, bills to create and remove bureaucracies, as well as issues directly affecting us such as trying to retain cattle in the high country and the legislation required to enable SSAA Victoria to finally purchase the Springvale shooting range.
Along with the major organisations such as the SSAA, we also have 3 pillars of concern relating to firearms;
- Something to shoot. Over the last four years this has focused on fighting any further restrictions of legal firearms, such as the recent reclassification of lever action shotguns such as the Adler.
- Somewhere to shoot. This includes fighting the creation of National Parks which reduces access to our public land and continuing to push for funding grants for shooting ranges and facilities.
- And for hunters, something to hunt. An example of this has been our success in the introduction of balloted deer hunting on Snake Island.
These subjects have proven to be a full-time job in themselves with the constant subversion of our recreation by elements within both the political ranks as well as the bureaucracy.
There is always debate about the efficiency of firearms laws in Australia with there being two sides to the debate: those with facts and data and then those with ideology.
Continually heralded as the best firearms laws in the word, our laws have nonetheless been subject to numerous reviews with the almost inevitable result being a further tightening of laws that only the law abiding will obey.
Since 1996 we have had indefensible laws such as ‘appearance laws’ introduced which means a firearm can go from one category to another solely based on how scary it looks. These laws are the epitome of the illogical basis of some of the legislation we have.
A recent issue was the Adler lever action shotgun which triggered a furious debate in 2015 resulting in COAG agreeing, via a revised NFA, to change the category of lever-action shotguns. This style of firearm has been available for more than 130 years, yet the law was changed based on a promotional video from the importer. Laws such as these show that there is a need for a serious review based on data and facts rather than emotion and populist politics.
The proposed Great Forest National Park, along with other proposed parks, are an example of the threat we face on the ‘somewhere to hunt’ pillar. The proposal seeks to change the land tenure of a vast area of Victoria to being a National Park.
Ostensibly, this concept is to kill off the native timber industry but the by-product of this park is that it will impact hunting in areas where we have hunted for generations. This is not an acceptable outcome for any of the reasons the greenies want. It will also remove other pastimes such as prospecting and the ability to have dogs in those areas. Virtually no bush user will remain unaffected.
Jobs in regional areas are incredibly tough to replace and despite the fanciful claims of the greenies, ecotourism will not magically replace timber industry and associated jobs. There is no discernible factual basis for any of the claims made. Just saying it is so doesn’t make it so. The jobs that exist in the timber industry, and for that matter, the hunting tourism industry, are real and quantifiable and are the lifeblood of many rural economies.
Rarely do all our concerns com packaged up in one issue but the proposed GFNP is one of them. That is why we do not support this National Park, or the creation of any new National Parks anywhere in Victoria. A study conducted in 2014 measured the fiscal value of hunting to Victoria at $439 million dollars. That is real money, not imaginary money and a large amount of that is a direct result of public land hunting.
Fishers have been relatively well looked after over the years however, it has become clear that not all the income derived from fishing licenses is being spent on infrastructure as you’d expect. There is clearly insufficient parking at most, if not all, boat ramps with three to four-hour waits to launch and recover boats not uncommon during peak seasons. It is clearly time that more expenditure on boating infrastructure was made and the value that fishos bring to the state economy is recognised. There is still much work to be done.
Farmers have long been a political hot potato in Victoria and the recent drought has shown how successive governments have failed to plan adequately for droughts in a country that is prone to droughts. We have and will continue to advocate for drought relief for farmers so they can make their way through the tough times and continue to feed Australia into the future.
This, along with red tape, transport issues, wholesale pricing and other concerns continue to make the life of a farmer tough and the removal of needless red tape should be a priority for any government.
We aren’t all about Shooting, Fishing and Farming though. We have advocated for many groups in need of assistance during our term. Examples would be the domestic animal breeders, the taxi license owners and many other groups who have not got the support they wanted from the major parties.
We don’t win every fight but we certainly have made a great deal of difference to a lot of legislation that has helped many people have their voice heard at the least and some real changes made to legislation as well. We aspire to the champion of the underdog.
The Victoria election is set for Saturday November 24. Take the time to think about your vote and who can best represent your values and interests and cast your vote wisely as a lot rests on it.
Click here to visit the SFFP Victoria website. To volunteer to hand out how-to-vote cards, email: vicinfo@sff.net.au