FGA COMMUNIQUE - No. 16, 7th DECEMBER 2003
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"Duck ban" motion defeated at Victorian ALP State Conference
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Good News! Yesterday, at the Victorian
ALP State Conference, the motion to permanently "Ban Waterfowl Hunting in
Victoria" was soundly defeated, when the 600 conference delegates voted
overwhelmingly against the motion. The defeat of this motion is significant
in that anti hunting groups have been calling on the government to ban duck
hunting since 1991, when a similar motion was passed at an ALP country conference
in Mildura. This issue has been divisive for the Victorian Labor Party branches,
particularly as the parliamentary party and Country Caucus MP's have been
united in their support of duck hunting. Now that the "monkey" is off the
parties back and there is a now a clear party position, FGA will now continue
to lobby hard for a 'worlds best practise" Game Management Strategy for Victoria
through the establishment of a statutory Game Council.
Yesterdays, great win did not come
easily. The association has worked hard, particularly over the last three
years, by lobbying and building relationships with politicians, state and
federal, union officials and other key personnel in the Labor and opposition
parties. Special thanks should go to Joe Helper, Ian Maxfield, Ben Hardman
& John McQuiltern and the other Country Caucus members who worked hard
on our behalf to overturn the motion.
All hunters should note that in the
defeat of this motion, and similarly, when a "ban duck hunting" private members
bill was overturned in South Australia in 1998, the unrivalled commitment
to wetland conservation by hunters played an important part in ensuring the
future of hunting. Governments will only continue to support hunting whilst
it can be demonstrated that there is a net community benefit.
And finally, our sincere appreciation
to you and all the other members who responded to earlier communiques and
contacted, faxed, emailed politicians with your views on the proposed ban,
it certainly helped in no small way, and proved that we can bring about change
by becoming proactive and united.