Today’s Victorian Ministerial reshuffle marks a significant transition across portfolios that are important to our members and the broader outdoor recreation community.
At the centre of that change is the promotion of Steve Dimopoulos, who moves on from the Environment and Outdoor Recreation portfolios after a highly effective period of engagement with the sector.
Since taking on Outdoor Recreation in 2024, Minister Dimopoulos has been accessible, responsive and genuinely invested in understanding the complexities of hunting and shooting in Victoria. Importantly, he played a key role in rebuilding trust between the government and the hunting community after a challenging period.
That approach reflects the tone set by Premier Jacinta Allan, who has consistently recognised the importance of outdoor recreation, including hunting, to regional communities, conservation outcomes and the Victorian economy.
Under Minister Dimopoulos’s tenure, the sector has seen meaningful progress. This includes introducing new Game Regulations, expanding hunting access, implementing Adaptive Harvest Management for duck hunting, and establishing Outdoor Recreation Victoria. Just as importantly, he empowered his department to deliver, supporting initiatives like Game Changing Huts to develop and gain momentum from within government. That kind of internal confidence in the sector has not always been present and should not be taken for granted.
Minister Dimopoulos also built strong working relationships across a diverse stakeholder base, including within the environmental portfolio. His ability to bring different perspectives together in a constructive way is a credit to him and has left the Outdoor Recreation portfolio in a far stronger position than it has been for many years.
While we are disappointed to lose him from Outdoor Recreation, his promotion is well deserved. We look forward to continuing to engage with him in his role as Minister for Sport and Major Events.
We also acknowledge Luba Grigorovitch, who has been promoted to Minister for Youth and Minister for Carers and Volunteers. As Parliamentary Secretary for Outdoor Recreation, Luba approached the portfolio with energy and a willingness to engage. In her role as Chair of the Victorian Firearm Consultative Committee, she has been thoughtful, committed and constructive. The decision to appoint a Parliamentary Secretary to support Outdoor Recreation speaks to the complexity and importance of the portfolio, and Luba has made a strong contribution in that role.
We thank both Minister Dimopoulos and Minister Grigorovitch for their engagement and wish them well in their new responsibilities.
Looking ahead, we welcome the appointment of Enver Erdogan as Minister for Environment and Outdoor Recreation. Enver is well known to SSAA Victoria and has a longstanding understanding of, and support for, ethical and responsible hunting and shooting. We are confident that the tone set by the Premier and strengthened under Minister Dimopoulos will continue, and we look forward to working closely with him in the months ahead.
There are also changes in Agriculture and Regional Development. Ros Spence moves on from the Agriculture portfolio, and we will continue to engage with her in Community Sport. We thank her for her work and engagement during her time as Minister.
We welcome Michaela Settle as Minister for Agriculture and Regional Development. With direct experience in farming, Minister Settle brings a practical understanding of primary production and the role that recreational hunting plays in supporting regional communities. We look forward to working with her, particularly as we continue to progress initiatives such as Hunters for the Hungry.
As always, SSAA Victoria remains closely engaged with government and well positioned to represent the interests of our members. We look forward to building strong relationships with the incoming Ministers and continuing to advocate for a balanced, evidence-based approach to hunting and shooting in Victoria.
