The introduction of the Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026 marks a defining moment for hunters in Victoria, and indeed for the broader outdoor recreation community across Australia. For decades, hunters have advocated for greater recognition, better access to public land, and a more coordinated approach to managing outdoor activities. This bill represents a significant step toward achieving those goals. It brings structural reform, embeds hunting within a broader recreation framework, and creates new opportunities for influence, participation and long-term sustainability.
From a hunter’s perspective, the legislation is not just an administrative change. It represents a foundational shift in how hunting is recognised, supported and managed by government.
One of the most important features of the bill is its clear and explicit recognition of hunting as a core component of outdoor recreation. Within the legislation, hunting is defined alongside activities such as fishing, camping and four-wheel driving. This is more significant than it might first appear. For many years, hunting has often been treated as a separate or niche activity within government structures. By formally placing hunting within the broader outdoor recreation category, the bill acknowledges that hunters are part of a large and diverse community of public land users who contribute to regional economies, conservation outcomes and community wellbeing.
This recognition is reinforced by Outdoor Recreation Victoria's (ORV) stated objectives, which include promoting sustainability and responsibility in game hunting, supporting participation in outdoor recreation, and improving access to public land. These are not peripheral considerations—they sit at the heart of the new entity’s purpose. For hunters, this represents a clear legislative signal that their activity is both legitimate and valued.
A central feature of the bill is the creation of Outdoor Recreation Victoria as a single, unified authority that will take on the responsibilities currently held by the Game Management Authority and the Victorian Fisheries Authority. This consolidation is intended to create a more streamlined and effective system for managing outdoor recreation across the state. For hunters, this presents both opportunity and responsibility.
On the positive side, bringing multiple activities under one umbrella creates the potential for better coordination across government, stronger advocacy within a larger, better-resourced organisation, and greater alignment with other recreational users who share common interests, such as access to land and infrastructure. At the same time, it means that hunting will sit alongside other activities within a broader framework, making it essential that the hunting community remains engaged and well represented.
Importantly, the bill ensures that core hunting functions are preserved within the new structure. Outdoor Recreation Victoria will continue to administer game licensing, enforce compliance with the Wildlife Act, and develop policies and procedures relating to sustainable hunting. This continuity is critical. It means that while the organisational structure is changing, the systems that underpin hunting in Victoria remain intact and continue to be supported.
The legislation also places a strong emphasis on sustainability, responsibility and evidence-based management. Outdoor Recreation Victoria is tasked with developing operational plans for the sustainable hunting of game animals, promoting humane treatment, and minimising impacts on non-game species. It is also required to support research into the environmental, social and economic impacts of hunting. This reflects a modern approach to wildlife management and aligns closely with the principles that responsible hunters have long advocated for.
For the hunting community, this is an opportunity to further demonstrate the role hunters play in conservation and land management. By embedding sustainability and evidence-based decision-making into legislation, the bill strengthens hunting's position as a legitimate and valuable tool for managing wildlife populations and maintaining ecological balance.
Access to public land remains one of the most important issues for hunters, and the bill keeps it firmly in focus. Outdoor Recreation Victoria is given a clear mandate to facilitate access to public land for outdoor recreation and to work with land managers to improve both access and infrastructure. This is supported by the establishment of a Land Access Panel, which will provide advice to the government on how to improve access and where restrictions may need to be reviewed.
From a hunter’s perspective, this is a significant development. It establishes a formal mechanism to address one of the most persistent challenges facing the community. While the effectiveness of the panel will depend on its implementation, its inclusion in the legislation provides a clear pathway for ongoing advocacy and reform.
Another important feature of the bill is the provision for advisory committees. The Outdoor Recreation Victoria Board can establish committees to provide advice and information across its various areas of work. This is a critical safeguard within the new structure. It creates the opportunity for hunting-specific representation and ensures that experienced community members can contribute to decision-making.
Combined with the bill’s emphasis on stakeholder engagement and community participation, these provisions help ensure that hunting does not become marginalised within a broader recreation framework. However, the strength of this representation will ultimately depend on how these mechanisms are used. It will require continued effort from organisations like the Australian Deer Association to ensure that hunters have a meaningful and informed voice at the table.
The governance structure established by the bill also plays an important role. Outdoor Recreation Victoria will be overseen by a Board responsible for strategy, financial management and organisational direction. The legislation requires that Board members collectively have experience and knowledge relevant to outdoor recreation. While this does not guarantee specific representation for hunting, it does recognise the importance of having decision-makers who understand the sector. This creates an opportunity for individuals with hunting experience or insight to contribute at the highest level of governance.
The bill also acknowledges the importance of collaboration beyond Victoria. It includes provisions for Outdoor Recreation Victoria to work with agencies in other states, territories and at the Commonwealth level. This reflects the reality that outdoor recreation, and hunting in particular, operates across jurisdictional boundaries. For a national organisation like the Australian Deer Association, this is an important development. It positions Victoria as a leader in this space and establishes a model for other jurisdictions to consider when pursuing their own reforms.
Equally important is the way the bill manages the transition from existing structures. The repeal of the Game Management Authority Act and the transfer of its functions to Outdoor Recreation Victoria are accompanied by provisions that ensure continuity. Staff, expertise and ongoing operations are carried over into the new entity. This helps to preserve the knowledge and capability built over many years and provides stability during the transition.
Taken together, these elements paint a picture of a system that is evolving rather than being dismantled. The foundations of hunting management in Victoria remain in place, but they are being integrated into a broader and potentially more influential framework.
The Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill represents a significant opportunity for hunters. It provides formal recognition, strengthens the focus on access, creates new avenues for representation, and places hunting within a larger conversation about outdoor recreation and public land use. At the same time, it introduces a new dynamic in which hunting must operate alongside other activities within a shared structure.
Success under this model will depend on active participation and ongoing engagement. It will require the hunting community to continue advocating for its interests, contributing to policy development, and working constructively with other stakeholders. The framework created by the bill makes this possible, but it does not guarantee outcomes on its own.
For the Australian Deer Association, this moment reflects years of sustained advocacy. The progress represented by this legislation has not happened by chance. It is the result of consistent effort to ensure that hunting is recognised as a legitimate, responsible and valuable part of Australia’s outdoor recreation landscape.
Looking ahead, the focus must shift from advocacy to implementation. The structures are being put in place, but their effectiveness will depend on how they are used. Ensuring strong representation, maintaining a clear voice for hunting, and continuing to promote the benefits of sustainable hunting will be critical in shaping the future of Outdoor Recreation Victoria.
This is a moment of progress, but also one of responsibility. The opportunity exists to build a stronger, more inclusive, and more effective system for managing outdoor recreation. If that opportunity is embraced, this legislation has the potential to be a true game-changer—not just for Victoria, but as a model for the rest of the country.
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