Tuesday, 30 August 2022

Duck hunting

Mr BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (11:58): My question today is for the agriculture minister. In 2016 the first Sustainable Hunting Action Plan committed the Victorian government to improving seasonal announcements. Then in November 2018 the government made a written commitment to take the politics out of determining duck numbers. Last year eminent ecologists Marcel Klaassen and Professor Richard Kingsford delivered their recommendations on 20 December 2021. Seventy days later, just 16 days before the season started, the details of the season were finally announced, as per the Klaassen-Kingsford report. My question is: will the minister recommit to taking the politics out of the seasonal announcements and announce the seasonal arrangements in line with the independent science by 1 January 2023?

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (11:59): I thank Mr Bourman for his question. Of course taking the politics out of this is incredibly important. We know how polarised the community is in respect of this issue, so taking the politics out of it is a very positive thing to do. That is why we need to rely on the expert advice and the science that is available at any given time in respect of this matter. That is what previous ministers of agriculture have done, and it will be absolutely the trajectory that I will follow as well, Mr Bourman.

Mr BOURMAN (Eastern Victoria) (11:59): I thank the minister. I do not think I actually got a commitment. My supplementary is: regardless of your view on duck hunting, it is important that decisions are transparent and evidence based, so will the government commit to publishing the independent seasonal recommendations in full within two days of them being received by the government?

Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education, Minister for Agriculture) (12:00): I thank Mr Bourman for his supplementary question. It is a pretty good question, I have got to say, and I will seek advice in relation to this. I think it is a reasonable question, and I will—

Members interjecting.

Ms TIERNEY: Thank you, Mr Bourman, and thank you on the opposite side for being quiet for 2 seconds. This is an important question. It does require due consideration, and I will give it due consideration.