Shooters, Fishers and Farmers (SFF) Victoria Treasurer Ethan Constantinou says his state is the best place in the country for duck hunting—and he’s delighted the recreational activity is still allowed.
In January, duck hunting came close to being banned when a parliamentary committee recommended ending the activity. But the Allan government rejected those findings.
The push to outlaw the practice was led by the Greens and Animal Justice Party (AJP).
Constantinou warned that if the ban had gone ahead, left-wing parties would likely target other activities next—including fishing and greyhound racing, which The Epoch Times has covered.
“If we were to lose duck hunting, it would’ve sent a message to the Greens and animal liberation types that they just keep going and going because we’re going to lose and lose,” Constantinou told The Epoch Times.
“We’ve had a good win, and we’ll continue having good wins.”
Victoria’s duck-hunting season began on March 19 and ends on June 9.
The daily bag limit is nine game ducks per day, and seven game duck species can be hunted.
Select Committee Recommendations
The Allan government accepted seven of the Select Committee’s eight recommendations, rejecting the call to end annual bird hunting on all public and private land from 2024.- Retaining traditional owner hunting rights
- Converting game reserves into outdoor recreation areas
- Phasing out lead shots and addressing hunting-related pollution
- Requiring hunters to complete an Aboriginal cultural heritage awareness training program
Victoria, the ‘Hunting State’
Duck hunting is banned in Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).SFF MP Jeff Bourman, Nationals MP Melina Bath, and Liberal MPs Bev McArthur and Evan Mulholland all voiced strong opposition to the proposed ban in Victoria.
Animal Justice MP Georgia Purcell, Greens MP Katherine Copsey, Labor MPs Michael Galea and Sheena Watt all supported the ban.
McArthur said rejecting the ban was a win for common sense.
“For once the voice of the noisy activist minority has not drowned out scientific evidence, environmental reality, economic interest and the views of ordinary Victorians,” she said.
Constantinou said if duck hunting was to be banned, other forms of hunting would have come up in the sights of animal activists.
“Duck hunting was the tip of the spear for hunting across the state,” he said.
“Had we lost duck hunting, we would have been on the back foot in terms of many other avenues of hunting here in Victoria.
“To be fair, when it comes to the whole nation, Victoria is the hunting state.”
Animal Justice Party MP ‘Furious’ at Decision
When the Allan government made its decision to not outlaw duck hunting, albeit with restrictions in January last year, Purcell was upset.“We’ve just gone through a parliamentary inquiry instigated by the government themselves. It cost taxpayer money, time and resources,” she told 3AW Melbourne.
“Only for them to turn around and ignore it—it is completely gutless.
“We know there’s been a lot of internal dissent within the Labor Party for quite some time now about duck shooting.
“But there are a handful of senior people at the top who are making captain’s calls and going against parliamentary inquiries of their own members and even their own ministers.”
Dogs Approved for Deer Hunting
For the first time in 50 years, new dog breeds have been approved for deer hunting in Victoria.From April 1, Bluetick and Black and Tan Coonhounds can be used, provided they are registered with the Game Management Authority (GMA) and the hunter has written permission.
Constantinou saw this as another victory for the SFF Party.
“Back in 2000, they dropped foxhounds as an acceptable breed. And only recently the government accepted our recommendation to accept a couple of new breeds, namely the Bluetick Coonhound, and the Black and Tan Coonhound,” he said.
“Those are the first hound-hunting breeds for 20 years.”
