SSAA Victoria makes its financial reports available to members prior to the Annual General Meeting. The financial year runs from May to April. The below reports include a statement of comprehensive income, a statement of financial position, a statement of cash flows and the auditor’s report.

• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2018
• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2017
• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2016
• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2015
• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2014
• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2013
• Annual Financial Report – year ending April 2012

• Policy 1: Confidentiality of Association Records, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 2: Range Officer Core Training and Qualification, adopted September, 2015
• Policy 3: No-Smoking, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 4: Visitors, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 5: Occupational Health & Safety, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 6: Equal Opportunity, Anti-Discrimination, Harassment & Bullying, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 7: Alcohol, adopted November 27, 2014
• Policy 8: Drugs, adopted November 27, 2014
• Policy 9: Funding, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 10: Complaints / Whistleblower, adopted November 27, 2014
• Policy 11: Reimbursement for Out of Pocket Expenses, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 12: SSAA Volunteer Awards, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 13: Animals on SSAA Property, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 14: Risk Management, adopted March 17, 2015
• Policy 15: Firearms Procedure for SSAA (Vic) Owned Longarms, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 16: Prohibited and Other Persons, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 17: Asset Loans, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 18: Investment of Member’s Funds, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 19: State Medals, adopted October 23, 2014
• Policy 20: Superseded
• Policy 21: Ear and Eye Protection on SSAA (Vic) Ranges, adopted September 2015
• Policy 22: SubClub/Branch Membership Refusal/Cancellation Policy, adopted August 2015
• Policy 23: Member Code of Conduct, adopted February 8, 2016
• Policy 24: Organisational Submissions, Representations, Delegations and Consultations, adopted January 2018

The current constitution was written at the inception of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria) in 1973 and since then it has seen many additions and amendments.

The constitution is the cornerstone of the SSAA Victoria and it is the responsibility of the State Office to ensure it represents our values.

Proposed constitution changes

Bringing SSAA Victoria’s constitution into the 21^st century is nearly complete and we’re inviting final comments on the attached draft. Next year the Association will vote on whether or not to adopt the changes, so we want to make sure everyone has had the chance to have input.

The main reason behind the update is to make it compliant with the current Corporations Act 2001. The existing constitution was written in 1973 when SSAA Victoria became a company and since then, times and regulations have changed.

Updating the constitution also provides the opportunity to make it fairer for our members and to better protect their rights.

Proxy voting, for instance, is not permitted under the existing constitution, and there is no provision to use new technology to assist with voting. The draft constitution allows for these provisions and further allows for a process for member motions to be put.

Another proposed change is to define “other business” and remove the 180-day notice period for tabling such business at an annual general meeting.

Company secretary Ross Farmer has been working on the draft constitution with a member sub-committee whose input has been included.

Not only is the proposed constitution conducive to better corporate compliance, it acts to better protect member rights by allowing more options into the decision-making process, and by better defining the processes by which members may have input.

The proposed changes are of four types:

1. Mandatory changes, where the requirements of the current constitution are in conflict with or don’t address the requirements of the Corporations Act.
2. Changes that provide greater flexibility for member input, eg. where the current Constitution precludes the use of electronic voting at general meetings.
3. Expansion of the constitution to cover gaps in procedures and to put details about those procedures into By Laws. For example, direct and proxy voting conventions are better covered under the changes, while the procedural detail about those voting conventions are better put into the By Laws.
4. Terminology changes, such as modernisation of wording, and consistent use of Board to replace State Executive Council, Executive Council and Executive.

Summary of Changes

Decisions of General Meetings

Direct voting

Changes have been made to incorporate direct electronic voting to encourage more participation in the voting process.

Proxy voting

The right to vote via proxy is a fixed Corporations Act 2011 rule that cannot be removed by a public company. The existing constitution improperly removes this right.

The changes bring in requirements for the conduct of meetings, including voting procedures. A limit to the number of proxy votes held by one person is also introduced to stop rorting of the process.

Member Motions

The member motion section has also been overhauled to set out clear guidelines for members to put motions before a general meeting.

The existing allowances in the constitution for member motions are in breach of the Corporations Act 2001, so these changes also satisfy legal requirements.

The proposed changes introduce the thresholds required by the Corporations Act that filter out motions by small minorities and minimise conflicting motions.

The changes do not stop members from having input into matters to be decided at a general meeting through other means, such as decisions of a state conference.

Matters to be considered by a General Meeting

Notice

The requirement for 180-days’ notice for other business at an annual general meeting has been removed. “Other business” has also been defined.

Conduct of General Meetings

Use of Technology in General Meetings

Provision has been made to allow (though not require) the use of electronic voting for the purposes of attending general meetings.

Adjournments and Postponements

Provisions better covering these contingencies have been added.

The proposed modernised constitution may be found here.

SSAA Victoria has a set of by-laws, which were established in 1999 to regulate the running of the body. Since being established, the current by-laws have been amended several times – in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2015 and 2017.

To view the current by-laws click here.

Your SSAA membership provides you with $20 million public liability and personal accident insurance. Public liability insurance covers bodily injury and/or property damage caused by a firearm, while the personal accident insurance protects members participating in sub-club or branch-arranged activities, volunteer work or recreational hunting.

As well as this, members have the option to pay an additional fee and secure $25,000 worth of insurance for their firearms and fixed accessories, through SSAA Insurance Brokers. This is all arranged simply by ticking a box on your membership form, renewal, or by calling the State Office on 03 8892 2777.

Click below to read more on the insurance offered to SSAA members:

• Public liability insurance
• Personal accident insurance
• SSAA Members Firearms Insurance

Public liability insurance

What is covered?

Covering the insured’s legal liability to third parties for bodily injury and/or property damage caused by an occurrence in connection with the insured’s activities. SSAA members are covered for all lawful recreational shooting, including bow hunting or target archery (except where such activities require membership of another shooting association).

Limit of indemnity

Public liability: Limit of liability $20,000,000
Products liability: Limit of liability $20,000,000

Excess

$1000 for each and every occurrence

Additional special condition

Archery and bow hunting activities approved by SSAA are as follows:

1. Recreational bow hunting by individual SSAA members in jurisdictions where this is permitted by law;
2. Target archery competition and practice by SSAA members at SSAA and affiliated shooting ranges where approved by the SSAA or affiliated shooting club operating that range and permitted in that jurisdiction.

Exclusions

We shall not provide compensation against liability in respect of personal injury or property damage arising directly or indirectly out of or caused by:

1. Any person (including a member of the insured) whilst participating in combat and/or skirmishing.
2. Riding or handling of any horse owned by or in the insured’s physical or legal control.
3. Activities in relation to Working Dog Club’s breeding and training activities as well as those of individual members.
4. Excludes liability for persons who are not licensed.

Personal accident insurance

Insured activities

Cover under this policy shall apply whilst:

1. For all members and voluntary workers whilst engaged in officially sanctioned activities involving:
   1. participating in club, representative, State or National events (including shooting, hunting, conservation and other activities authorised by the insured)
   2. training arranged by the insured
   3. in an administrative capacity as an official or trainer or fund-raiser
   4. other activities authorised by the Association
2. For all members whilst involved in recreational shooting or hunting

Recreational Shooting includes Bow Hunting or Target Archery (except where such activity requires membership of another Shooting Association).

Archery and bow hunting activities approved by SSAA are as follows:

1. Recreational bow hunting by individual SSAA members in jurisdictions where this is permitted by law
2. Target archery competition and practice by SSAA members at SSAA and affiliated shooting ranges where approved by the SSAA or affiliated shooting club operating that range and permitted in that jurisdiction

Geographical limit

Worldwide

Age limit

Between the ages of 12 and 80

SSAA Members firearms insurance

NAME OF INSURED: The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia Inc Financial Gold Members

UNDERWRITER: QBE Insurance (Australia) Limited

INTEREST INSURED: Privately owned firearms plus fixed accessories

INSURED PERILS: Accidental damage and accidental loss of the equipment (including whilst in use), collision or overturning of the vehicle, theft, fire, flood, malicious damage and
extraneous perils.

ENDORSEMENTS: Cover will not be available for theft where the equipment was not stored in an approved gun safe as required by State or Territory authority, other than when the equipment is in use or away from the Insured’s premises or where the Insured or any person or entity to whom the equipment has been entrusted to fails to comply with any law relating to either storage, use or handling of the equipment.

GEOGRAPHICAL LIMITS: Within Australia and New Zealand, includes overseas cover for 28 days any one trip

SUMS INSURED: Limit of Indemnity $25,000

EXCESS: $100

POLICY WORDING: QBE General Property QM286 (exclusion 7 deleted)

For further information on SSAA Insurance Brokers visit ssaaib.com.au.

Lawyer Peter Cooper has been SSAA Victoria’s counsel when it comes to legal matters concerning firearms. His services are now available at State Office in Box Hill.

Under an arrangement with SSAA Victoria, Peter will attend the office three days a week and provide legal advice to Association members at a third of his normal rate.

He can either act on behalf of a member on firearms matters or refer the case where appropriate.

Areas of service offered under our arrangement include:

• Offences involving alleged breaches of the Wildlife Act 1975 and regulations, and where the Game Management and/or police are involved.
• Matters involving representation of a member before the Firearms Appeal committee and/or VCAT on rights-based issues.
• Matters involving the Licensing & Regulation Division, including applications, submissions and re-applications after a period of prohibition including being a member of a proscribed organisation.
• Advice on and preparation of wills and estates, especially where the estate contains firearms and collectibles.
• Matters involving prohibited person status and applications to become a non-prohibited person.

Areas of service where Peter Cooper Lawyer will not act for members, but will refer:

• Family Law matters
• Domestic disputes and Intervention Orders, where both parties are members
• Property law matters including conveyancing, where both parties to the transaction are members
• Planning Law and Subdivisions
• Trusts, Self-managed Superannuation
• Defamation
• Personal Injury

“Becoming a prohibited person is a concern for many firearms users, particularly given the broad arbitrary nature in which it can be imposed,” Peter says.

“It’s possible to make application to be deemed a non-prohibited person with a high probability of success.”

However, it comes at a cost with the estimate for the process at $1320. As a member benefit, an annual $50 subscription is offered where the subscriber would have the process cost covered.

To make an appointment, call Peter Cooper Lawyer on 0430 468 127.