Sustainability & Gun Control
- Regional Victorians Opposed to Duck Shooting Inc.
- 17 hours ago
- 5 min read
- Both at Risk in Victoria
Conservation Crashing
Wise Use of Taxpayer Funds?
Vital Gun Reforms - Have your Say by Feb 3rd
Conservation crashing
The latest (43rd) annual East Australian Aerial Waterbird Survey (EAAWS) — the most comprehensive long-term scientific dataset on waterbird abundance, breeding and habitat — again delivers deeply alarming news for conservationists.
Despite significant flood events in 2025, the abundance of most “game” duck species remains well below long-term averages. Five species continue to show significant long-term decline. Of particular concern, several species —Black Duck, Mountain Duck and Australasian Shoveler — recorded significant declines in the number of wetland sites they occupied, suggesting contractions in their geographic range. Breeding activity was limited almost entirely to just five non-duck species.
Sadly the unrivalled science of the EAAWS appears to carry little weight with Victoria’s “independent” regulator, the Game Management Authority (GMA), which has also removed public and stakeholder consultation from its decision-making.
Last year, GMA recommended a full three-month native bird shooting season in Victoria — including species protected in other states — based on a new computer model that it conceded was “in its infancy”. The model’s failings included an inability to differentiate between species or account for birds moving across state borders. This hardly constitutes use of the “best available evidence”.
To justify the 2025 season, GMA’s core message to the Minister spruiked an estimated four million ducks, failing to disclose this represented a staggering 44% drop from the previous year, or that only around 135,000 birds were actually counted in the (publicly funded) survey. The remaining 4 million-odd ducks were generated through questionable modelling assumptions.
In February last year, Environment Minister Steve Dimopoulos promised full-length duck shooting seasons for the next three years. Aside from totally dismissing the negative impacts to regional communities having to live with it, this raises obvious questions - were drought and fire risks considered? Both have since occurred, with devastating consequences.
Waterbirds that survived smoke and flames now face a three-month “recreational” shooting season. Regional communities, already traumatised by bushfires and the sounds of animals being euthanised, will soon endure the crack of gunfire again, knowing the shots represent horrific suffering. The government’s promised “wounding reduction” program remains conspicuously absent.
With declining abundance and breeding, ongoing drought and recent fires, most would agree that a truly independent regulator committed to sustainability would apply the precautionary principle and call off impending recreational native bird shooting. Such is required under the GMA Act. Currently there is no indication this will happen.
With declining abundance and breeding, ongoing drought and recent fires, most would agree that a truly independent regulator committed to sustainability would apply the precautionary principle and call off impending recreational native bird shooting. Such is required under the GMA Act. Currently there is no indication this will happen.
More taxpayer money in the swamp
At a time when Victorians are struggling with the cost of living, bushfires, deteriorating roads and overstretched health services, it is galling to learn that millions in taxpayer funds continue to support a minority hunting fraternity and its “independent” regulator.
Some of this spending is obscured by embedding hunting-related bureaucracy within the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. A 2024 government report acknowledged that at least a dozen taxpayer-funded bodies are involved in facilitating the duck shooting season.
Two years ago, we estimated that the Andrews/Allan government had spent more than $85m of taxpayer money to support hunting and gun clubs. Perusal of the most recent reports from the GMA shows that taxpayers have dug deeper to pay for a so-called “Hunting Reform Program” – apparently designed to clean up the image of duck hunting, rather than ban it. But out in the regions, we haven’t noticed much change. We conservatively estimate that Labor has now spent around $100m to support hunting and gun clubs – and that’s not even counting the contributions from the dozen organisations mentioned above.
Conversely, claims that duck shooting meaningfully supports regional economies are unproven, disputed by regional communities, and highly misleading. Meanwhile, questions remain unanswered: How much is spent on hunting compliance officers, particularly when 99.7% of Victorians don’t shoot ducks, and compliance is rarely enforced? Numerous complaints lodged with the GMA as far back as March last year remain unresolved.
Hunters, loopholes and gun reform
In the wake of the Bondi tragedy, and possibly under interstate pressure, the Victorian government has released a consultation on gun laws but there are just 16 days for the public to respond.
Please have your say! Points you may like to consider are as follows:
Only around 3% of Victorians own a gun. Some are primary producers who need firearms for their work. “Recreational” shooters however, appear a very weak link in gun control.
Children as young as twelve (too young to drive a car, drink alcohol or watch M-rated movies) are encouraged to pick up a gun for sport – in direct conflict with John Howard’s National Firearms Agreement.
To obtain a firearms licence relatively seamlessly, one is encouraged to cite “pest hunting on crown land” as their genuine reason for requiring a firearm. The reason is usually not verified. (The Bondi killers described themselves as pest hunters.)
Recent Game Management Authority reports show that half the state’s licenced deer hunters don’t actually hunt, along with 40% of duck shooters and 80% of quail shooters, posing the question of why they have guns.
If recreational shooters’ guns were required to be stored securely at a gun club, this would ensure less crime, and offenders would be easier to trace. There would be gains for police safety, community safety, and budgetary savings.
Hunters with their firearms are permitted at over half the state’s public areas. These areas are usually neither monitored nor signposted as shooting areas. Deer hunting (with high powered rifles) is now permitted in some Victorian national parks.
If there were tracking devices on hunters’ firearms, prosecuting non-compliance to hunting laws would be more efficient, community would feel safer, and farmers could rest easier.
The government has requested former Chief Police Commissioner Ken Lay to report on gun controls by March. With a rushed “consultation” and a rushed report, we fear that decisions may already have been made.”
This scepticism is reinforced by history. The number-one recommendation of the parliamentary inquiry into duck shooting — to ban it — was ignored, as were recommendations from Ken Lay’s earlier report (on another matter), and the Wildlife Act Review which advised against allowing duck shooting by default each year.
Many believe the Allan government is wedded to the shooting fraternity.
At a major industry gathering last year, amid discussions of labour rights and industrial power, delegates handled precision long-range rifles, military-style firearms and weapons capable of piercing lightly armoured vehicles.
"It was in this setting that the Victorian Minister for Outdoor Recreation and Environment Steve Dimopoulos addressed the room. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding recreational shooting access, including on public land and in national parks, and declared that the Great Forest National Park proposed for the state’s Central Highlands “is not, and never has been, a Victorian Labor government initiative”. Victorian Fisheries Authority branding sat alongside handgun manufacturer Beretta. The number of women in the audience could be counted on one hand.” - (The Saturday Paper, August 2025)
We note the President of the Firearm Traders Association has publicly claimed to be an advisor to Minister Dimopoulos. No rebuttal has been issued by the Minister’s office.
Stay tuned
In an election year, it’s more important than ever, that Victorians feel listened to, and safe, in the hands of a government that spends their hard-earned money wisely.
Watch this space. The sizzle is yet to come, with shocking outcomes of parliamentary "questions on notice", government non-responses and freedom of information requests.
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