FGA COMMUNIQUE - No. 16, 7th DECEMBER 2003
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"DUCK BAN" MOTION DEFEATED AT VICTORIAN ALP STATE CONFERENCE
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Good News! Yesterday, at the Victorian ALP State Conference, the motion
to permanently "Ban Waterfowl Hunting in Victoria" was soundly defeated, when the 600 conference delegates voted overwhelmingly against the motion.
The defeat of this motion is significant in that anti hunting groups
have been calling on the government to ban duck hunting since 1991, when a similar motion was passed at an ALP country conference in Mildura.
This issue has been divisive for the Victorian Labor Party branches,
particularly as the parliamentary party and Country Caucus MP's have
been united in their support of duck hunting. Now that the "monkey" is
off the parties back and there is a now a clear party position, FGA will
now continue to lobby hard for a 'worlds best practise" Game Management
Strategy for Victoria through the establishment of a statutory Game
Council.
Yesterdays, great win did not come easily. The association has worked
hard, particularly over the last three years, by lobbying and building
relationships with politicians, state and federal, union officials and
other key personnel in the Labor and opposition parties. Special thanks
should go to Joe Helper, Ian Maxfield, Ben Hardman & John McQuiltern and
the other Country Caucus members who worked hard on our behalf to
overturn the motion.
All hunters should note that in the defeat of this motion, and
similarly, when a "ban duck hunting" private members bill was overturned
in South Australia in 1998, the unrivalled commitment to wetland
conservation by hunters played an important part in ensuring the future
of hunting. Governments will only continue to support hunting whilst it
can be demonstrated that there is a net community benefit.
And finally, our sincere appreciation to you and all the other members
who responded to earlier communiqués and contacted, faxed, emailed
politicians with your views on the proposed ban, it certainly helped in
no small way, and proved that we can bring about change by becoming
proactive and united.
Push To Ban Duck Hunting Defeated
Moderator: Moderators
Push To Ban Duck Hunting Defeated
wrc,
I used to do a lot of duck & goose hunting when I lived in the interior. Hunted quite a bit with my sister and my (then) girlfriend (now wife)... And, no, any smart guys out there, that was not a mutually inclusive statement.
It can be boring as hell or nonstop excitement depending on movement of the birds. Best time was when it was snowing- a foreign concept for you lot. Imagine shooting at rugby ball sized objects that bob & weave and move in excess of 70 km/h and can appear out of nowhere.
RC
I used to do a lot of duck & goose hunting when I lived in the interior. Hunted quite a bit with my sister and my (then) girlfriend (now wife)... And, no, any smart guys out there, that was not a mutually inclusive statement.
It can be boring as hell or nonstop excitement depending on movement of the birds. Best time was when it was snowing- a foreign concept for you lot. Imagine shooting at rugby ball sized objects that bob & weave and move in excess of 70 km/h and can appear out of nowhere.
RC
That which doesn't kill me better run for cover...
G'day,
I'm from Kerang. Vic. we were reknowned among duckhuntes for having some of the best wing shooting in Australia. The drought has taken it's toll on rural towns everywhere, and to take duck seasin away would be a kick in the guts. I'm all for game management and I don't mind that we missed last duck season but we cant afford to have a total ban.The amount of money that is brought into the community throughought the season from buying ammo, accomodation, supplies and fuel, we cant go without it. Just a few years ago there used to be nonstop cars with duck-punts on top stopping in town. I just hope that the rivers and lakes fill up again and the numbers of both game and hunters go back to what they used to be.
Thats my 2cents woth anyway.
thanks.
Pete Farrar
I'm from Kerang. Vic. we were reknowned among duckhuntes for having some of the best wing shooting in Australia. The drought has taken it's toll on rural towns everywhere, and to take duck seasin away would be a kick in the guts. I'm all for game management and I don't mind that we missed last duck season but we cant afford to have a total ban.The amount of money that is brought into the community throughought the season from buying ammo, accomodation, supplies and fuel, we cant go without it. Just a few years ago there used to be nonstop cars with duck-punts on top stopping in town. I just hope that the rivers and lakes fill up again and the numbers of both game and hunters go back to what they used to be.
Thats my 2cents woth anyway.
thanks.
Pete Farrar
G'day Erron,
Yeh, thank god is it almost over. we've had more rain in the last few months than we have had in the last few years, but it's not really over yet. Alot of dams and creeks are still dry up here and some of the rivers are still very low. we will need alot more constant rain for the farmers to get back up and recover properly. The numbers of animals locally has exploded recently too. heaps of rabbits and foxes and thankfully I have seen a few pigs with suckers around too. Hopefully in year I can bag one of them so I don't have to head up north.
Happy Hunting.
Pete Farrar.
Yeh, thank god is it almost over. we've had more rain in the last few months than we have had in the last few years, but it's not really over yet. Alot of dams and creeks are still dry up here and some of the rivers are still very low. we will need alot more constant rain for the farmers to get back up and recover properly. The numbers of animals locally has exploded recently too. heaps of rabbits and foxes and thankfully I have seen a few pigs with suckers around too. Hopefully in year I can bag one of them so I don't have to head up north.
Happy Hunting.
Pete Farrar.