Question Time delivers two important messages for Victoria’s shooting and hunting community
Yesterday’s Question Time delivered two significant moments for Victoria’s hunting and shooting community.
The first saw the Premier strongly defend the principle that responsible firearm ownership should not be conflated with criminal misuse. The second was an early indication that the new Minister for Outdoor Recreation intends to actively recognise the value of hunting as both a recreational and regional economic activity.
Together, they provide an important insight into where the Government’s thinking currently sits.
Premier draws a clear distinction between criminals and licensed firearm owners
Question Time in the Legislative Assembly turned to firearms regulation following last week’s Government response to the Ken Lay firearms review, including the decision not to proceed with recommendations to impose firearm ownership caps.
Asked by the Greens why the Government had rejected those recommendations, Premier Jacinta Allan strongly rejected the suggestion that declining to impose caps meant putting politics ahead of public safety.
The Premier reaffirmed that Victoria will move ahead with stronger firearm laws but made clear that the Government’s focus remains on keeping firearms out of the hands of criminals and prohibited people — not imposing arbitrary restrictions on licensed firearm owners who already comply with the law.
The Premier stated:
“I am of the view that the overwhelming majority of gun owners do the right thing.”
She continued:
“They are careful with their handling of their firearms. They take their responsibilities very, very seriously.”
Importantly, the Premier identified where the Government believes reform effort should be directed:
“Where our effort and focus need to be is on the criminals getting their hands on just one gun.”
That framing reflects the broader position announced last week – stronger penalties, stronger licensing arrangements and stronger police powers targeted at preventing criminal access to firearms.
The Premier also rejected attempts to draw comparisons between Victorian licensed firearm owners and overseas mass casualty events, describing those arguments as failing to recognise the reality that most firearm owners are law-abiding people who take their obligations seriously.
The exchange was a notable public statement from the Premier that responsible firearm ownership and criminal offending are not the same thing and that policy responses should reflect that distinction.
New Outdoor Recreation Minister hits the ground running on hunting
Earlier in Question Time in the Legislative Council, Minister for Outdoor Recreation Enver Erdogan was asked by Jeff Bourman MP what the Government is doing to better leverage Victoria’s internationally unique hog deer population to grow tourism and deliver benefits to regional communities.
The Minister’s response was notable for its clear recognition of hunting’s place within Victoria’s outdoor recreation landscape.
He described recreational hunting as:
“an important recreation that thousands of Victorians take part in”
and highlighted Victoria’s free-ranging hog deer population as an internationally unique resource, noting that Victoria is one of the few places globally where wild hog deer can legally be hunted.
Importantly, the Minister linked hunting directly to economic outcomes.
He noted the role hunting plays through:
- visitor spending in regional communities;
- accommodation and hospitality;
- transport and fuel;
- equipment purchases; and
- broader regional employment.
The Minister stated:
“Our government recognises that well-managed hunting can deliver multiple benefits… It also generates significant economic activity for regional communities.”
He also confirmed that DJSIR is currently finalising updated economic reporting into game hunting’s contribution to Victoria, including:
- contribution to Gross State Product; and
- the number of jobs supported across the state.
That work will provide an updated evidence base to help quantify the contribution hunting already makes to regional Victoria.
The previous statewide economic work found that around 69 per cent of recreational hunting expenditure occurred in regional Victoria.
A notable day in Parliament
Question Time rarely changes policy overnight.
But it does provide a useful insight into priorities and direction.
Yesterday, the Premier publicly reinforced that Government reforms are aimed at criminals and prohibited persons – not responsible licensed firearm owners.
At the same time, the new Outdoor Recreation Minister openly recognised hunting as a legitimate recreation activity that supports regional jobs, tourism and economic activity.
For Victoria’s hunting and shooting community, those are both significant signals.
