Every hunter in Victoria (and a lot outside of the state) know of the Game Management Authority. When asked what it does, many reply with ‘they regulate hunting’. This is true, but often the detail in how the department does so is unknown.
The Australian Deer Association has decided to pull the curtains back on the inner workings of the GMA to learn more about the intelligence capabilities of the department. After sending a list of questions about the details behind the department’s intelligence capacity, the GMA responded with the following:
The GMA is recruiting more authorised officers and investing in new technology.
Our authorised officers are now equipped with body-worn cameras and hi-tech thermal imaging equipment. The BWCs are used to gather evidence when dealing with alleged offenders who may be illegally spotlighting deer, exceeding bag limits and shooting protected species.
The BWCs enable officers to capture real-time audio and video footage of possible illegal hunting and public safety offences. The recorded footage is stored on our new digital evidence management system and can be used as evidence in court.
New thermal imaging and night vision equipment is used during night operations, usually targeting illegal spotlighting. These hi-tech thermal imaging scopes are used to detect heat and the night vision equipment gives our authorised officers greater visibility in the dark. Our officers are now better equipped to see offenders hiding in the bush or ditching illegal spotlighting equipment or firearms used to commit offences.
We rely on the community to report illegal hunting in their area. Reports, videos and photos provided by members of the community are stored on our evidence management system.
We are increasing our intelligence gathering by sharing information and working closely with partner agencies such as Victoria Police, the Victorian Fisheries Authority, Parks Victoria and Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning.
The GMA’s investment in technology and equipment is funded by the State Government’s $6 million boost over four years to increase GMA staff, provide new equipment, increase research capacity, conduct education campaigns and develop a new online game licensing system.
The Game Management Authority is continuing to build on its capacity to regulate game hunting in Victoria.
Our aim is to ensure we are an effective regulator with a modern approach based on science, risk, intelligence and evidence.
Our risk-based approach means we focus on people and locations where there is the highest risk of illegal hunting. The higher the risk of illegal hunting, the more serious, resource-intensive and timely our response needs to be.
We mainly focus on risks to public safety (for hunters and non-hunters), animal welfare, sustainable game harvest and risks to protected wildlife.
Ultimately, we want hunters to do the right thing; for hunters to be informed, act responsibly and abide by the law. To help hunters follow the law, the GMA provides education materials about hunter rights and responsibilities. Hunters who are well-informed and empowered are more likely to do the right thing and set the example for others to follow.
Game hunting information is available on our website, Facebook page and YouTube channel. The GMA website has recently been improved, to make it easier to report illegal hunting. We also have education teams that travel around the state providing hunters with game hunting information.
Most hunters do the right thing and our officers have many positive interactions with hunters in the field. However, there are some people who choose to behave illegally, and that is where our enforcement actions come into effect.
The GMA receives reports of illegal hunting from members of the community. Each report is assessed based on the sensitivity of the information and the threat to public safety or wildlife. Privacy and confidentiality are maintained at all times.
All reports are treated as important and are considered in terms of the level of risk.
Reports are assessed against the existing information we have on file and we then begin a process to verify the information. When the information is verified, we may either conduct an in-depth assessment or begin an investigation.
We encourage members of the community to report illegal hunting and we will send a team out to any area where we know of illegal behaviour. It also comes back to using our risk-based approach; we will concentrate our compliance activities in areas where there is the potential for serious harm to a community or animal welfare.
The time of the year and game hunting season will also contribute to where we focus our activities. Our research team and our research partners provide data on the migration of deer populations in Victoria that allow us to identify areas to focus on.
The GMA has a whole-of-organisation approach to gathering and analysing intelligence and distributing information to our teams in the field.
Our Stakeholder and Hunting Programs team contributes by assisting in compliance and enforcement operations, as well as information reporting. The Stakeholder and Hunting Programs team also produces education material to assist hunters to stay informed.
We work as one team, with everyone contributing to gathering information through licensing, education programs, social media monitoring or in-field operations. Our Compliance and Intelligence team uses all this information to establish the best course of action.
We share information and intelligence with Victoria Police and our other partner agencies. We often conduct joint operations with Victoria Police, Parks Victoria, Victorian Fisheries Authority and DELWP, particularly during the opening and closing of game seasons.
We all work together across different land tenures to ensure public safety, lawful recreation and land use.
All allegations of illegal hunting provided to the GMA are referred to the GMA’s Intake and Assessment Panel. The IAP considers all of the intelligence gathered, any emerging patterns and trends, and any new information that comes to light.
An independent expert in animal welfare will be involved in the assessment if required.
The IAP assesses and determines any action required, including if a formal investigation is warranted.
During 2019–20, the GMA assessed 580 alleged illegal hunting reports and identified four dominant themes. The dominant themes in 2019–20 were illegal spotlighting, hunters shooting in populated areas such as roadsides and private land, hound hunters operating illegally in areas including private land, state forests, reserves and Crown land and illegally hunting in state forests, reserves and Crown land without hounds.
Illegal spotlighting, poaching and other illegal hunting activity is dangerous and can put people and wildlife at risk.
By reporting illegal hunting, you are making an important contribution towards keeping communities safe, protecting our environment and supporting legal hunting activities.
People are urged to report illegal hunting, such as poaching and breaches of public safety laws, to the GMA through its website at gma.vic.gov.au or the Customer Contact Centre on 136 186 or by contacting Victoria Police.
We use a range of enforcement options to achieve compliance. These options range from warning letters, infringement notices, seizure of firearms, vehicles and or vessels through to court action for more serious matters. These options can also be used in combination.
An inspection aims to detect whether there are breaches of legislation and/or regulations. Inspections are used to determine whether enforcement action is required.
Written warnings may be issued by GMA authorised officers where breaches of the legislation / regulations, licences, notices, permits, and regulations are of a minor nature, with no material impact.
Infringement notices are issued where there is a breach of the law. An infringement notice imposes a financial penalty. This allows straightforward breaches of the law to be dealt with by payment of a fine, rather than commencing court proceedings.
The GMA will consider prosecuting an individual where other enforcement measures are deemed inadequate or inappropriate.
The GMA can seize any item believed to be used in a game hunting offence, including hunting equipment and vehicles, including boats.
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