Politics is constantly changing but we remain consistent

For deer hunters, politics does matter, because there are those who would treat the species we hunt as pests or restrict hunting and the tools we need.

As we noted in March, the decisive victory of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) at the South Australian State Election presents a challenge for game hunting with Animal Welfare reforms brought into even sharper focus.

New Premier Peter Malinauskas leads a government with a stated aim to update the Animal Welfare Act ‘ …to ensure it reflects community expectations to protect animals.’

Premier Malinauskas led the firearm review, as the then Police Minister, carefully and effectively through a process of consultation to what could only be viewed as a predetermined set of conclusions. We’re observing the West Australian review follows an eerily familiar path.

This continues a nationwide trend.

In NSW and Victoria, the state governments are conducting similar animal welfare reviews using similar rationales.

The NSW and Victorian governments cite “community expectations”.

South Australia also has a commitment to hold an inquiry to review the practice of hunting for native birds that are not overabundant pests.

The ADA views this as an attempt to embrace anti-hunting activists without upsetting farming interests.

“Increase the funding to the RSPCA by $1 million over four years to enforce animal welfare laws: it is unacceptable to ask a charity to enforce laws without sufficient resources.”

While acknowledging the challenges of having the RSPCA enforcing laws is interesting, the solution to make the RSPCA stronger and more prosperous rings alarm bells, particularly when you consider RSPCA South Australia’s unabashed activism against hunting in South Australia.

That has included publishing references to duck hunting aligning it to mental health issues.

The formal protest by hunting interests was effectively ignored by the government in an extraordinary act that wilfully endorsed the voice of the RSPCA.

The Malinauskas government’s animal welfare agenda poses an existential threat to game hunting in South Australia.

The challenge for ADA and other hunting interests in South Australia is to find a way to demonstrate that well-regulated game hunting is in line with the expectations and values of today’s South Australians.

The federal election result means the ALP view of firearm ownership and hunting gains importance.

In a statement released during the campaign the party recognised the vast majority of firearm owners complied with relevant laws.

Labor said it understood the importance of recreational shooters, farmers and hunters having a voice on firearm issues, and acknowledged the work of organisations in promoting the safe use and storage of firearms.

The ALP announced strong support for Australia’s existing gun laws and remained opposed to anything that might weaken or circumvent those laws.

“We believe it is appropriate that gun laws be reviewed as gun technology is updated, to ensure they don’t become outdated,” the statement said.

In much of the advocacy work the ADA does, maintaining the status quo is the first goal, given there are many that want to slide the rule in the opposite direction.

From now to November the focus will clearly be on the Victorian election.

We are a long way out, but the campaign could also be a long one.

Already, the federal campaign has sent an interesting signal, with Fiona Patten’s Reason Party and Andy Meddick’s Animal Justice Party ranked below the Greens, Liberal Democrats and Derryn Hinch’s Justice Party.

That is despite the Andrew’s government in Victoria often relying on Reason and AJP to pass laws.

Keen observers should be wary of forecasting the demise of Mr Meddick if the same were repeated at the Victorian election.

Besides, the Greens and Justice Party replacements in the Upper House may be worse than the devil we know.

A normalised, and closer, vote between the majors could see fewer minor parties in the Upper House in the next parliament, but as we all know, preferences can make it harder to pick than the winner of the Melbourne Cup.

The political sands shift constantly, and the ADA has to adapt on advocacy and engagement, but our goals remain consistent.