Tuesday, 30 April 2024

Duck hunting

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:23): (496) My question is for the Minister for Outdoor Recreation in the other place. On the opening weekend of the duck-shooting season, numerous protected and threatened species were shot, including blue-winged shovelers, hardheads, grebes, coots and even an ibis. Despite the blatant inaccuracy and carelessness demonstrated by current shooters this season and in every past season, the government’s commitment to proficiency and accuracy testing in 2025 is only for new duck shooters, meaning the people who shot these birds will not have to meet this benchmark. Can the minister explain how he will prevent existing duck shooters from illegally shooting threatened species?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:24): I thank the member for her question, and I obviously will refer that matter to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation for his response to you.

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (12:24): Thank you, Minister, for referring that on. On the day that this government betrayed our native wildlife and ignored the key recommendations from their own parliamentary inquiry, which is becoming a bit of a trend, they announced that $10 million would be allocated for the implementation of 2025 reforms. Since then they have been completely silent about where and what this money is going towards. When will we hear about this so-called multimillion-dollar plan for this government to reform duck shooting?

Gayle TIERNEY (Western Victoria – Minister for Skills and TAFE, Minister for Regional Development) (12:25): I thank the member for her supplementary question. Like with the substantive one, I will refer that to the Minister for Outdoor Recreation for a response to you.