The Victorian Government has opened public consultation for Victoria’s new animal care and protection laws. The laws would replace Victoria’s current Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986.
The plan sets out 16 policy positions for the new laws. Each policy is explained, along with what would change from how the current laws work and what would not change.
Feedback received will inform the development of an Exposure Draft of the legislation. The Government plans to release the Exposure Draft in 2023 for another round of public feedback.
SSAA Victoria has been working to represent the interests of members and hunters more broadly since these changes were first mooted two years ago.
The Ministers foreword to the plan gives some comfort about the Government’s intent “The main aim of the new laws is to help protect animals from cruelty while enabling Victorians to continue to interact responsibly with animals. Lawful activities such as hunting, fishing, farming, racing and pest control would be able to continue”.
SSAA Victoria is, however, concerned about some of the language in the plan and how that might point to deeper, underlying issues. An example of this is on page 25. “In deciding whether to allow the recreational hunting of game species or the control of wildlife under an authorisation provided under Victoria’s Wildlife Act 1975, decision-makers in the responsible departments and the Game Management Authority would need to consider the impact on the care and protection of the animals being hunted or controlled, including alternative ways to reduce their numbers“. (our emphasis). The final sentence in that passage betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the motivations and values of game hunting. Whilst population control and management go hand in hand with sound game management, the driving principle of game management is the sustainable use of a valued resource, not pest control by some other name. The government would not pose the same proposition about recreational fishing.
The Association also will seek clarity on the ramifications of some statements in the plan, such as “This would mean that authorities across different portfolios relating to other activities, such as fishing, hunting and the management of pest animals, must consider the care and protection of animals when making decisions that impact animals. This may include decisions relating to the review or development of other legislation”.
The draft plan is ninety-five pages long and was only received this morning. SSAA Victoria will work through the plan over the coming weeks and prepare a detailed submission, along with raising any concerns with the relevant Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
Members can read and respond to the plan on the Engage Victoria website.
