South Australian election result signals huge challenge for game hunting

The decisive victory of the Labor Party at the South Australian State Election in late March brought Animal Welfare reforms into even sharper focus.

New Premier Peter Malinauskas led his team to office after just one term in opposition with a whopping 7 per cent swing.

The new Government’s Animal Welfare policy should give hunters cause to be alert, if not alarmed. Amongst the stated commitments are:

“Update the Animal Welfare Act to ensure it reflects community expectations to protect animals.”

This continues a nationwide trend. In New South Wales and Victoria, the State Governments are both conducting similar reviews using similar rationales. The New South Wales and Victorian Governments both cite “community expectations”.

“Review the practice of hunting for native birds which are not overabundant pests.”

“Labor recognises the concerns of many people about recreational hunting of native birds which are not overabundant and will hold an inquiry into this practice.”

It is difficult to view the wording of that policy any way other than as a desire to dog whistle to anti-hunting activists without upsetting farming interests.

Two issues here. The most obvious is that in the context of ‘animal welfare', both duck and quail hunting will come under review. The second is the eschewing of any reference or consideration of game management principles and, by extension, the legitimate role and priorities of game hunters.

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

Whilst 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 SA’s unabashed activism against hunting in South Australia.

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.