Please have your say on proposed Hunting Regulations!
RVOTDS is calling on all supporters and lovers of Australian wildlife and environments, to comment on hunting regulations which are proposed to be in place for at least the next ten years.
The regulations cover everything from hunting season duration, dates and times, which species can be hunted, fines for non-hunters who enter public areas, cost of hunting licenses (aka taxpayer subsidies), use of toxic shot in public areas and more. The draft regulations can be viewed here.
Please see our simple guide below to some key points, then make your voice heard!
There are two ways to have your say:
Submit a written response to gamepolicy@djpr.vic.gov.au
or
Complete a short survey re some of the proposed regulations. This is a quick and easy way to have your say but it misses several key points so we recommend you also make a short submission.
Submissions close at 11:59pm on Monday 29th July 2024.
Our guide to some key points:
Ban on lead shot. Given the extreme dangers to wildlife and people, this ban must be immediate with no exceptions. Lead does not break down, remaining in the environment a significant risk to people and wildlife such as eagles, swans and diving ducks. It is estimated five tonnes of lead is pumped into our environment each year by quail shooters alone. Deer shooters use lead ammunition legally and duck shooters still use it illegally. Lead can mobilise in wet environments and enter adjoining properties and the food chain. There is no safe limit of lead in a person’s blood. Taxpayers have funded millions of dollars already to clean up lead contamination around Victorian shooting ranges. Who will fund more clean-ups around the state due to hunting, and what irreversible damage will be done by lead ammunition deposited into our environments in the meantime?
Later start time of 8.00am on the first five days of duck season for hunters and 11:00 am for non-hunters. The later start time for hunters should be in place every day to 1/ ensure better light conditions for species identification, and 2/ out of respect for nearby residents. Conversely, banning the non-hunting public from public areas until 11am is unacceptable. There should be no exclusion for the non-hunting public (99% of the population) from public areas. If this is a safety matter, why is duck shooting allowed in any public place?
Increased cost of hunting licences. The small increase in fee to $88 for a native bird hunter is offensive to the vast majority of Victorians who value our native wildlife. It is also insufficient to cover the costs of the regulator’s operations, hunter compliance monitoring, hunter education programs, bird “counts”, wounding research etc. Taxpayers have been subsidizing hunting for decades. Most would agree it is unacceptable that this minority choice of recreation continues to attract such generous taxpayer support, especially when most taxpayers oppose the pastime. Hunters should pay a much higher fee. For comparisson, we note a ski season pass (for one adult at just one area of Victoria) is $1900.
Hunter training. As shown in GMA’s hunter knowledge tests, hunters do not portray a high level of hunting knowledge. This is an unacceptable risk to protected species and to public safety. We submit all hunters should have to sit annual species ID tests, and undergo practical proficiency training (e.g. to reduce wounding) at least once. Would we allow drivers to simply do a basic online test, no practical test, before they got in their cars and drove on public roads?
Electronic callers. We submit there should be no callers of any kind, nor decoys in native bird hunting as it is not in keeping with "fair chase".
***OTHER: Curiously, what the survey doesn't ask about, are the extremely important points below. Please discuss in your submission:
Length of native duck shooting season. In complete contradiction to the key recommendation of the recent Parliamentary Inquiry (which was to ban native bird hunting!), the native duck shooting season is proposed to be extended, so this minority group who like to shoot ducks for "recreation", can do so at thousands of public areas for a quarter of the year. This is disrespectful to regional communities and to the vast majority of Victorians wanting to enjoy their public natural assets in peace. We propose the shooting season should be wound back to a maximum 30 days, which would have an added benefit in reducing the amount of compliance monitoring funded by taxpayers.
Length of native quail shooting season. Similarly, It is proposed that quail shooters can shoot native quail April-June including during the little birds' breeding cycle. We propose this be wound back to maximum 30 days for the month of June only.
Areas where hunting can occur. Currently hunting is permitted at so many thousands of public areas, the authorities can’t estimate the number of them, let alone monitor them. This is an unacceptable risk to wildlife and people. We propose there should be transparency of the number and location of hunting areas. We also propose the number of public hunting areas be wound back to correlate with the fact less than one percent of the population hunt. This will ensure better compliance monitoring and respect for regional residents and other recreational users. There should be no hunting within 3 kilometers of residents (the distance shotgun noise is audible) or other recreational facilities such as walking tracks. Only areas which have had a safety risk assessment conducted, should be open to hunting.
*See the first 3 findings of the recent Parliamentary Inquiry Report which the authors of the draft regulations appear to have missed.
Safety measures. As occurs in NSW, we believe hunters should register in advance, where they will be hunting and when. This will make compliance monitoring easier and help ensure public safety. No hunting should occur without signage erected in the area to alert the public.
Wetland closures. The regulator should recommend wetlands be closed to hunters for social/economic reasons (e.g. where community have requested it), as well as the presence of threatened species. The regulator has continually refused to do this. despite it appearing to be its role according to The GMA Act.
Plastic pollution. Like lead, plastic does not break down in the environment, posing a serious and long-term risk to wildlife and ourselves as it ends up as microplastics. A government board paper obtained through Freedom of Information, shows the government is aware of over 2 million plastic components from shotguns entering the environment each year from duck shooters alone. Shotguns which eject plastic components into the environment must be immediately banned - particularly on public land.
Minimum age of hunters. In a climate or rising violence, it is perplexing why the Victorian government encourages children as young as 12yo (too young to watch an M-rated movie or drive a car) to kill wildlife with guns. There is a known link between animal cruelty (which native bird shooting is infamous for) and violence later in life. We submit the age of hunters should be lifted to a minimum 18yo which incidentally is in line with the National Firearms Agreement.
Compensation for non-hunters. We submit that the 99% of Victorians who do not hunt, should be compensated for being effectively locked out of public areas. Similarly that landowners should be compensated for hunter disruption. Residents have a right to peaceful enjoyment of their properties, yet this right is being thwarted by the recreational whims of a relative few. Due to hunting occurring nearby, residents can't work from home, and businesses such as ecotourism businesses, cannot operate. It is only fair they are compensated for their loss.
Other tips and guide for creating a submission:
Make it structured:
Point-by-point response: Address each regulation or issue separately.
Evidence and examples: Support your arguments with evidence, examples, and data where possible.
Conclusion: Summarize your key points and restate your position.
Appendices: Include any additional supporting documents or data.
Be clear and concise: Use clear and simple, non-emotive language to ensure your points are easily understood.
Address potential counter-arguments: Anticipate and address potential counter arguments.
Deadline: Ensure your response is submitted by the stated deadline of 29 July 2024.
Our team is available to help! Email us at info@regionalvictoriansOTDS.com
Your voice matters!
Together, we can protect our wildlife and ensure the regulations reflect the current expectations of Victorians for the next decade and onwards. Let’s make sure our voices are heard!
Comments