Liberal Member for Northern Metropolitan Region Evan Mulholland hosted a forum for more than 400 attendees trying to keep ducks on the table in the face of a potential duck hunting ban.
Nationals Victorian deputy leader Emma Kealy, Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland, Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell and representatives from Field and Game Australia also attended the event.
“These great Victorians told me about how duck hunting is a significant family activity, passed on from generation to generation, and it would be heartbreaking if it were lost,” Mr Mulholland said.
“The adaptive harvest model, as recommended by the Liberals and Nationals in our dissenting report, provides for a sustainable duck hunting season that is backed by ecologists and the science.”
Ms Cleeland said the forum was a great opportunity to express the feelings that many in her community had shared, with the overwhelming majority reaching out against the proposed ban.
“I received hundreds of emails during the inquiry into duck hunting and it was clear the commitment that these hunters have to upholding sustainable and ethical principles,” she said.
“Many of my constituents also take exception at the lack of understanding and falsehoods that the Labor government continues to pedal.
“Recreational hunting is a legitimate and disciplined pastime enjoyed by many country people – participants can be young, old, tradies, professionals, men and women and their negative portrayal for the sake of politics is unjust.
“Duck hunting remains a well-regulated past time and with the science and waterfowl surveys continuing to show evidence of healthy populations, it remains sustainable.
“In my experience, recreational duck hunters explicitly care for our natural environment and participate in volunteer habitat restoration works including tree planting and weeds and pest control.
“Respecting wildlife and participating in duck hunting do not need to be mutual exclusive ideals.”
Mr Mulholland said the seat of Yan Yean had 2252 licensed hunters while Macedon and Kalkallo had 2348 and 1035 licensed hunters respectively.
“Our message to the Labor party is clear – we will fight every day to stop a ducking hunting ban and make sure there are political consequences at the 2026 election for Labor MPs who back in this decision,” he said.
“It’s time for local Labor MPs Lauren Kathage, Ros Spence and Mary-Anne Thomas to declare where they stand on duck hunting.”
Member for Kalkallo Ros Spence said a select committee had been established to examine recreational native bird hunting.
“All Victorians had the opportunity to make their views known as part of this inquiry, and I encouraged local residents to participate in this process. The committee received more than 10,000 submissions,” she said.
“The final report of the committee was released on August 31 making a number of recommendations.
‘The Victorian Government will respond to the report once it has been considered in detail.”
Member for Macedon Mary-Anne Thomas said she thanked the committee for its work on the inquiry and the government was ‘thoroughly considering the report, its recommendations and will respond in due course’.
