A man from Maldon has been found guilty in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court for offences relating to unlawful protest activity during the closing weekend of the 2024 Victorian duck season at Lake Boort.
The man was ordered to pay $500 to the court fund and was placed on a good behaviour bond until March 2027 after being found guilty of offences including interfering with a person hunting and taking game.
SSAA Victoria said the outcome reinforced an important principle: public safety laws on Victorian wetlands apply equally to everyone.
“People are absolutely entitled to protest and express their views,” SSAA Victoria said.
“But they are not entitled to unlawfully interfere with hunters, enter specified hunting areas, harass members of the public or create dangerous situations around firearms and wetlands.”
The Association said the matter also reflected a noticeable improvement in enforcement action surrounding unlawful protest activity.
Following the recent engagement of a new prosecutor by the Game Management Authority (GMA), there has been a growing trend toward these matters finally being properly pursued through the courts rather than quietly overlooked.
“That is a positive development for public safety, for lawful hunters and for confidence in the rule of law,” SSAA Victoria said.
“For too long there has been frustration within the hunting community that unlawful conduct on wetlands was not being taken seriously enough.”
The Game Management Authority reiterated that while people who oppose duck hunting have a right to protest, they must do so safely and legally.
GMA Director of Compliance and Intelligence Zac Powell stated:
“Those who oppose duck hunting have the right to protest, however, they must do so safely and legally.”
“Public safety laws are in place to protect all members of the community including hunters, Authorised Officers and protestors themselves.”
Under Victorian law, significant penalties apply for unlawfully entering or remaining within a specified hunting area, approaching hunters within 10 metres, or interfering with, hindering or obstructing lawful hunting activity.
SSAA Victoria said the case came at a time when Victoria’s duck hunting framework had become increasingly evidence-based and tightly regulated through adaptive harvest management, scientific oversight and strengthened compliance operations.
“The irony is that the inquiry process designed to end duck hunting ultimately delivered reforms that have strengthened the long-term future of sustainable hunting in Victoria,” the Association said.
“Lawful duck hunters deserve to participate safely and without harassment.”
Read the GMA Media Release HERE
