Victorian 2022 State Election

Victoria’s major hunting and shooting organisations joint approach to the 2022 State Election

Initially published on the 14th of November

Updated on the 25th of November

Experience shows us that we get better outcomes by taking a unified election approach. The joint approach to the 2018 election delivered significant gains for deer hunters, with over three hundred thousand hectares of public land being opened for deer hunters, a new Sustainable Hunting Action Plan and the inclusion of an expert panel to drive the development of the Adaptive Harvest Model for ducks. Shooters also received additional funding from the shooting sports facilities grant.

The Party stances so far:

Table of commitments

First principles

In developing and prosecuting a platform for the election, the major organisations agreed to some fundamental principles and used them as a basis for going forward.

1. Politics is the art of the possible. An election is no time for sectional interests like ours to start campaigns on complex issues. To get the best outcomes, we need to give the parties proposals they can sign up for.
2. We are in this for the long haul. We need to have a trusted relationship with whoever is in power. By being upfront, telling everyone the same thing, and not picking winners, we consolidate a position of trust.
3. Keep the list short – a longer wish list allows people to pick and choose; a more concise list, focussing on top-order priorities, makes that more difficult.

We also agreed that, along with protecting what we have, we should prosecute initiatives that would drive hunting and shooting forward.

What have we asked for?

Improved management of Victoria’s State Game Reserves
• Transfer management functions for Victoria’s State Game Reserves to the Game Management Authority
• Provide an additional $10 million over four years to the Game Management Authority for minor capital works and other staff to fulfil its expanded role as a land manager
• Conduct an audit of Victoria’s State Game Reserves every five years to assess the status, condition, and availability of land for game hunting

A new Action Plan for Sustainable Hunting and Game Management
• Develop a Game Management and Hunting Action Plan to commence in 2025
• Provide $7 million to fund its implementation
• Maintain the game status of all current game species to recognise the value of the resource and avoid a proliferation of unregulated hunting

Better Shooting Sports Facilities
• Continue the Shooting Sports Facilities Program with an additional $12 million over four years
• Upgrade the unsealed Gifkins Road, Little River, to a sealed road
• Develop a business case for the Eastern Shooting Complex
• Develop a business case for the Willowmavin Complex

An Adaptive Harvest Model for Waterfowl
• Continue implementation of an Adaptive Harvest Management (AHM) approach for waterfowl
• Provide an additional $2 million over four years to the Game Management Authority to ensure the aerial monitoring surveys that inform the AHM are carried out by experienced wildlife biologists
• Delegate decisions to alter prescribed seasonal arrangements and emergency closures under s86 and s86A of the Wildlife Act 1975 to the Game Management Authority

Better firearm regulation and legislation
• Enshrine the Victorian Firearms Consultative Committee (VFCC) in legislation to be chaired by a Member of Parliament nominated by the responsible Minister
• Consult on the appointment of the Chair of the VFCC
• Require the VFCC to meet at least four times each year

A showcase for Victoria’s shooting athletes to the world
• Support the inclusion of shooting events in the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games

What have the parties committed to?

Liberals and Nationals

The Liberals and Nationals have committed to all of our joint requests, with some minor differences in the details. As it stands, the commitments from the Liberals and Nationals are the most positive and substantial set of commitments for shooting and hunting that we have seen from a major political party in Victoria for over a decade. We thank the Liberals and Nationals for engaging with us openly and frankly.

Labor

Labor states that it is "ensuring game hunting remains safe, responsibile, and sustainable" and that the party "recognises the benefits of pest animal hunting in protecting Victoria's natural environment and agricultural sector". Any new Sustainable Hunting Action Plan would be "considered through the budget process", noting the $10.6 million invested through the current plan and its predecessor through to 2024. 

Other sectional interests as diverse as the RSPCA, the VFF and the VNPA have experienced similar frustration at the need for clarity and policy commitment.

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party has committed to our joint requests. Party leader Jeff Bourman MP stated, “I am pleased to confirm that the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party of Victoria will support and advocate for every currently sought commitment. I see these commitments as reasonable and easily accommodated by either side of politics, and the SFFP Vic will assist in any way we can.”

Liberal Democrats

The Liberal Democrats have pledged their support for shooting and hunting, with David Limbrick MP stating, “Rest assured that any Liberal Democrats in the Victorian Parliament will do what we can to resist further government restrictions on deer and duck hunting, and firearms more broadly.”

Authorised by Sean Kilkenny, Australian Deer Association, 17/31 Queen St, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000