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 communiqués 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.