Shooters and Fishers MP Daniel Young has lashed out at the Victorian Government, after duck hunters learnt they would be shut out of another reserve this week. The Minister of Agriculture and Minister for Environment on Wednesday announced that Johnson Swamp State Game Reserve near Kerang would close on Sunday, April 17.
The decision to close the reserve was made without consultation or appropriate consideration.
“Enough is enough,” Mr Young said. “The Government has abused the regulations that provide for a legal duck hunting season by constantly moving the goal posts.
“Publicly the Government will say it supports the legal activities of law-abiding duck hunters, but privately work behind our backs to issue bans and closures of wetlands without considerate discussion.”
Mr Young said the closure would be a blow to the Kerang community, which has already suffered from previous closures based on questionable advice.
“We will hear that hunters pose a threat to endangered species prohibited from being hunted,” he said.
“The reality is the greatest threat to endangered species is the Andrews Labor Government’s failure to manage our wetlands to provide sustainable habitats for all waterfowl. I believe the water catchment authorities have a lot to answer for.”