| News (archived from 2005)
Antique amnesty - set to be the last The Department of Justice is now advertising the 'final' amnesty to bring owners of antique firearms into compliance with the law with respect to registration of (non pre-1900 pre-percussion) handguns and the storage requirement s of a monitored alarm under the Firearms Act.
The storage requirement will be an 'effective' (rather than monitored) alarm at the end of the amnesty.
The amnesty runs out on 30 June 2006. The DOJ has advised there will be no further extension of this.
If you do not comply with the new requirements and get caught, you could become a 'prohibited person' which can have all sorts of implications depending on your situation.
If you would like more information on the amnesty, please visit www.justice.vic.gov.au and look under "Firearms Act 1996 - Amnesties" in the list on the right hand side.
The Age sets record straight on Labor MPs positions on duck shooting In December, both the Herald Sun and The Age ran stories about the position of a group called ALP Members Opposed to Duck Shooting.
The story headings in both papers suggested that Labor MPs supported the groups views.
However as far as we can tell, the group comprises only of ordinary party members - not their Parliamentary colleages. From what we can tell, the group has a very, very small membership - no doubt much smaller than they would care to admit.
We could be wrong - however our current survey of Labor MPs suggests we are 'on the money'. The results of the survey conducted so far has shown a 100% denial of having anything to do with the group. In fact one Labor MP went to great lengths to distance his party and Government from the group.
The survey concludes on 6 Jan.
In the past few days - at the request of the CFCV - The Age ran the following:
The CFCV is impressed that The Age moved so quickly and decisively to clarify the heading of the story. Suffice to say we prefer to deal with media outlets that are happy to set the record straight.
We have contacted the Herald Sun seeking a similar retraction. We will continue pushing for this to happen.
Does CADS have nothing to say? We couldn't help notice that according to the website of the Coalition Against Duck Shooting (at www.duck.org.au), that they haven't put out a press release for over 2 years! Their 'latest news' was published last year. We've heard them whinge and carry on about the recently announced duck season - but are they really all that committed to their campaign? ALP MPs asked to declare their support The CFCV is currently surveying ALP MP's (State and Federal) to see if any of them are members of "ALP Members Opposed to Duck Shooting". It be interesting to see what the responses are. CFCV starts planning for election The CFCV has started working up its election strategy for next year's Victorian State Election. Announcements are likely to be made during the course of next year. Davey goes wild over duck shooting protesters Shooters are strongly encouraged to listen to a 2 hour program on Wednesday mornings called "The Outdoor Life Show" on 94.1FM (city area) from 8am to 10am. This show covers shooting and fishing and is hosted by a chap called Bill Davey. The show has great content and is well presented. On today's show, Davey had another crack at the misleading story in The Age ("No need to duck for cover: Labor MPs") which creates the impression that ALP Members Opposed to Duck Shooting includes sitting members. As Davey notes, it does not. His program can be downloaded from http://www.outdoorlife.id.au/. Just go to 'archived programs' and select from the programs. It is recommended listening for anybody with an interest in the shooting sports! Depending on what software you have, you may be able to listen to today's show by clicking here. It could take a minute or two for the file to download and start playing.
Victoria gets 2006 duck season The CFCV understands the Victorian State Government has just announced that there will be a duck shooting season for 2006. The season will run for the full duration and bag limits will be 7, including one bluewing shoveller. The antis (city based, surprise surprise) will no doubt recycle their protestations but the evidence of duck populations and tripartisan political support means duck shooting is here to stay - but only if shooters remain anchored to their determination to protect what they do. The Bracks Government is to be congratulated for arriving at a sensible position on advice from the state's leading shooting / conservation organisations. We look forward to the return of full bag limits (preferably next duck season which will be the last one prior to the 2006 state election), as drought conditions improve.
Herald Sun gets it wrong on Labor members The Herald Sun ran a story on the ALP Members Opposed to Duck Shooting and the subby (sub-editor) mistakenly added the heading of "MPs swing behind duck shooting ban" - implying that the group had the backing of Parliamentary members. However it is a couple of non-Parliamentary members of the Party who created the group, and does not include their Parliamentary colleagues. At the ALP state conference a couple of years ago, the MPs who were there backed duck shooting. If there are any MPs who do not support duck shooting, then we are yet to hear about them. We have not yet decided whether to raise this matter with the Herald Sun.
Statistics chief verdict: Tighter gun laws don't reduce crime A report out of NSW shows that there is no definitive evidence that a decade of restrictive firearms laws has done anything to reduce weapon-related crime. Head of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Don Weatherburn, said falls in armed robberies and abductions in NSW in the past few years had more to do with the heroin drought and good policing than firearms legislation. He said falls in the homicide rate, which have been steady, began long before the gun law debate provoked by the Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Head of the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics, according to NSW's top criminal statistician. The latest figures show a renaissance in firearm ownership in the state - a 25 per cent increase in three years. Nationwide, the proportion of robberies involving weapons is the same as it was in 1996, while the proportion of abductions involving weapons is higher, the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics fiures reveal. They show a mixed result in firearms-related offences since the mid-1990s. There has been a fall in firearms murders (from 32 to 13 per cent) but a rise (19 to 23 per cent) in attempted murders involving guns.
"I would need to see more convincing evidence than there is to be able to say that gun laws have had any effect," Dr Weatherburn said. "The best that could be said for the tougher laws is there has been no other mass killing using firearms [since Port Arthur].
"There has been a drop in firearm-related crime, particularly in homicide, but it began long before the new laws and has continued on afterwards. I don't think anyone really understands why. A lot of people assume that the tougher laws did it, but I would need more specific, convincing evidence."
"There has been a more specific … problem with handguns, which rose up quite rapidly and then declined. The decline appears to have more to do with the arrest of those responsible than the new laws. As soon as the heroin shortage hit, the armed robbery rate came down. I don't think it was anything to do with the tougher firearm laws." A letter to the Sydney Morning Herald by gun control advocate Simon Chapman, objected to the 'positive' message coming out of Dr Weatherburn's analysis and cited the absence of major mass killings since Port Arthur. In response, Dr Weatherburn advised Mr Chapman said the data showed no acceleration of the downward trend in homicide and noted for Mr Chapman's sake, that it is "always unpleasant to acknowledge facts that are inconsistent with your own point of view" and that it "was what distinguished science from popular prejudice".
Macedon Ranges Shire Council election - a win for shooters Good news from the municipal election at Macedon Ranges. Shooters campaigned and got two of their preferred councillors up. The Greens apparently did not succeed with any of their three candidates. This is a story about local hunters and sports people fighting for what they believe in. Hall queries Government on Games preparation Earlier this week, in the last week of the current session of Parliament, Gippsland MP, Peter Hall, queried the Minister for Commonwealth Games, Justin Madden, on the final preparations of the Melbourne Gun Club for the shotgun events at the Commonwealth Games. Mr Hall noted the condition of the club and need for minor works and upgrades, mainly to painting the club and attending to tiled areas. These are similar issues to those raised in relation to the Melbourne International Shooting Club in Port Melbourne by Damian Drum some time ago, in preparation for the rifle and pistol events. In response, Mr Madden said he would have his officers look into the issues, however given the sad history of the Government's handling of the shooting events to date, it remains to be seen what if anything the Government will do.
Amendments to Firearms Act pass Upper House - soon to be law The changes to the Firearms Act have now passed the Upper House of Parliament and will be law in the next few weeks. Some highlights of the 2nd reading debate include:
In addition, Mr Bishop later raised an issue relating to a security industry firearms instructor frustrated by inconsistent laws across the Murray at Merbein for the Minister for Police, Tim Holding, to resolve. Essentially, the instructor is required to register and store his pistols in NSW, but he cannot also register them in Victoria. He cannot store and register pistols in NSW as he cannot bring them back into Victoria for the purpose of training people in their use. Confused ? Well, let's just hope that Mr Bishop's representations result in a simple solution. Well done, Mr Bishop.
Changes to Firearms Act passed - Savage fights for hunting organisations
The amendments to the Firearms Act were passed in the lower house yesterday (Wednesday) and are expected to have a smooth passage in the upper house. The thing that stands out to me is that there is a lot of good news in them, which will no doubt be the subject of many claims - and counter claims - of credit from shooting organisations.
I should qualify that by saying that many organisations were involved in the consultations and all of their efforts deserve recognition. However the CFCV takes a great deal of comfort in its own involvement 'behind the scenes'. Two specific examples are the push to allow membership of organisations for hunting to be recognised as a genuine reason to hold a licence for that purpose, and the relaxation to 'effective' alarm for gun collectors.
I will also point out that the CFCV is a political organisation and as such, has no aspirations to be recognised in Parliament or included on the Firearms Consultative Commitee - even though its very existence came about by the CFCV's background work in this area.
The amendments to the Firearms Act were that it:
The amendments provide a safety valve for restrictions that were imposed in 96/97 and in 2003 but the main aspect of this is that the FCC has proven to be as useful for Government in better understanding what it is regulating, as it has been for the shooting community. A highlight of the 2nd reading debate was an amendment moved by Russell Savage to allow membership of a hunting club to be a 'genuine reason' for holding a Cat A or B licence (currently you need an EOI or similar).
This amendment was drafted on advice provided by the CFCV and I am pleased to say that the amendment came out the other end of the Parliamentary process word for word. Let us run you through some of what was discussed in Parliament:
Kim Wells, LP: Bill Sykes, NP: Tony Lupton, ALP: Russell Savage, Indep: Christine Campbell, ALP: Joe Helper, ALP: Ann Barker, ALP: Craig Ingram, Indep: Ben Hardman, ALP: Tim Holding, ALP: Bill Sykes, NP, then moved a motion relating to the inclusion of 'hunting organisations' as a reason to obtain a cat A or B licence then withdrew it. Russell Savage then moved a motion drafted with the CFCV's assistance to recognise shooting clubs and shooting organisations (similar to that applying to target shooting) which was supported by both sides of Parliament.
Holding announces changes to Firearms Act The Minister for Police and Emergency Services, The Hon Tim Holding, yesterday announced changes that will be made to the Firearms Act in the current session of Parliament. You will recall that the FCC came about through lobbying by the CFCV although it should also be recognised that the original push for the FCC to be re-established dates back to a promise made by the current Premier to shooters in 99 (pre CFCV). Neville Sayers will still have the original letter! The changes are: One issue not addressed in the Ministers speech is the relaxation of the restrictions of people 'trying out' pistol shooting under supervision. These people will now be able to try shooting out ten times and the form will be replaced by one prescribed presumably by regulation rather than the Chief Commissioner. Clubs will need to report those attendances which is not a perfect result, but better than what pistol clubs had. In the second reading speech, the Minister acknowledged the role of the FCC which again, I would say would not have come about had it not been for the involvement of people like Russell Pearson, Rod Drew and Neville Sayers. The opposition is now seeking comments on the bill from interested shooting organisations. The above is not (future) legal advice but intended to be a summary of Minister Holding's second reading speech Liberal MP's earmark shooters Two Victorian Liberal MP's, Jason Wood and Greg Hunt, will earn their stripes on our Pollies page after pushing for holders of gun licences to have 'extra information' recorded on the Commonwealth's crime database, Crimtrac. You can read the full story, including the argument for this, at this page on the Herald Sun's website. Have they realised that this will:
On the other hand, it could be argued that owning a firearm is simply an innocent activity alongside owing a pilots licence. ... but have they thought about the fact that shooters can only be licensed if the Victoria Police approve them in the first place ...... ? The report says that the plan has support from senior ministers which will be pushed at the PM's terrorism summit.
These two politicians will star on our Pollies page when I update it probably this week. So, if you live in the Federal Electorates of Flinders (eg Hastings) or La Trobe (eg Boronia), why not give them a tingle to let them know who you feel about this ? Be polite.
Coalition's renewed interest in shooters Click here to read this weeks installments on matters relating to shooters from 2 National Party MP's and 1 Liberal MP. This follows two questions in Parliament from National Party MP's in recent weeks about duck shooting (which is around the same time that Country Alliance achieved party registration). Eames on duck shooting Feathers and Fur editor, Graham Eames, was interviewed by a website committed to animal rights - and as my spy said, he was 'at his best'! Click here to read about the "half a dozen orange-haired loonies buying their pumpkin seeds to eat on the side of the swamp, or while holding up a placard demonstrating" and a dozen other home remedies the avid duck shooter can use when confronted on the issue....
Please note there are a couple of typos in the article. It is supposed to say crop protection not "crocodile protection" and not the "Marines Anthem", but the Marine Corps Hymn (sometimes known as the Marine Corps Battle Hymn). Definately worth taking a couple of minutes to read. 'Onya Graham .... Weekly Times on shooters in national parks The Weekly Times has reported that Parks Victoria is happy with a memorandum of cooperation which has seen members of the SSAA remove 25 per cent of the feral goat population in the southern part of the Murray Sunset National Park.
Parks Victoria says it plans to extend the use of shooters in the Mallee, Barmah State Park, Mitchell River National Park in Gippsland and the Mount Mitta Mitta Regional Park in northeast Victoria. The Weekly Times article says Parks Victoria western regional manager Brett Cheatley said the shooters were an invaluable resource. "When you get a quarter of the population of a feal species taken out of a section of a park, that's a tremendous result for the environment," he said, according to the article.
Ryan on duck shooting ban Following Peter Hall's query in Parliament about duck shooting, National Party leader, Peter Ryan, asked a similar question in the lower house of state parliament to the Premier but on a broader scale in light of the ban in Queensland.
In response, Premier Steve Bracks said "We have no plans to change our rules on duck shooting.
We think they are appropriate, balanced and sensible."
Hall on duck shooting again - as Queensland bans it Last night, Peter hall asked a question in Parliament for the Minster for Environment about whether the duck shooting will be banned ahead of next year's Commonwealth Games. Mr Hall noted that he had not received an answer to his earlier question in Parliament on the matter in June, and sought an assurance from the Minister that the holding of the 2006 Commonwealth Games will not impact on the decision to go ahead with a duck season for 2006. Peter has undertaken to forward the response to us, and we are truly grateful for his interest in this matter on behalf of shooters. We are not sure if the 'rumour' is confined to 2006, but you will see from today's Herald Sun that banning duck shooting is not limited to Victoria. A small article buried on page thirty something, reports that duck and quail hunting has been banned in Queensland permanently. Environment Minister, Desley Boyle said she was contacted 700 times about the issue and only 15 were in favour of the practice. It's nice to see a Minister basing her decisions purely on contacts with their office rather than pressures from within the party, so we suggest you email her at Cairns@parliament.qld.gov.au to possibly help balance the ledger.
While you are at it, why not ask her how many of the 685 "pro ban" contacts were repeated demands from the same activists. Firearm laws face test The Herald Sun today reported the following story on its website. It raises the interesting question of how well our firearms are being enforced on those who deserve it - rather than those who are doing nothing wrong yet being subjected to the current firearm audit:
Police said the officer called for backup as he watched the man on Balaclava and Hawthorn Roads in Caulfield shortly after 1.30pm (AEST). An unmarked police unit arrived to find the man talking to school children.
They arrested and searched him and allegedly found a "very realistic" fake gun.
The man, 35, from Mulgrave, was held in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' court tomorrow. He is charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a pistol A MAN will face court tomorrow after an off-duty police officer saw him allegedly waving a silver pistol in suburban Melbourne. Police said the officer called for backup as he watched the man on Balaclava and Hawthorn Roads in Caulfield shortly after 1.30pm (AEST). An unmarked police unit arrived to find the man talking to school children. They arrested and searched him and allegedly found a "very realistic" fake gun. The man, 35, from Mulgrave, was held in custody to appear in Melbourne Magistrates' court tomorrow. He is charged with being a prohibited person in possession of a pistol Police Minister bypasses own consultative forum - after just 11 days It took just eleven days for Victoria's new Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Tim Holding, to bypass a consultative process he set up to deal with firearms legislation. On 29 June, Minister Holding opened the first meeting of the Firearms
Consultative Committee at his own offices. This committee includes representatives from almost all major shooting organisations, the Melbourne University Criminology Dept, Law Institute of Victoria, College of Surgeons and Police Association and operates under agreed terms of reference. (The CFCV asked not to be represented so it could retain it's ability to 'kick heads' if need be - which is now clearly justified.) The establishment of the FCC was a celebrated milestone as it had been promised five years earlier by the
then opposition leader, Steve Bracks. Nothing happened while Andre
Haermeyer was Police Minister (who blamed the lack of progress on the rest of Cabinet for some unknown reason) and it was not until the appointment of Tim Holding to the post that the FCC became a reality. The meeting - on 29 June - was "really positive" with the Government appointed chair happy to have issues of concern put on the agenda. In fact the Minister even 'did the rounds' prior to the meeting to welcome everybody there. Last Sunday - eleven days after the FCC's first (and to date, only) meeting, Minister Holding issued a press release announcing 'newlaws' to effectively ban pump-action and lever action centre fire rifles capable of being fitted with five or more shot detachable magazines, and pump-action, lever-action and bolt-action rimfire rifles capable of being fitted with a 15 or more shot detachable magazine. The release resulted in an article in today's Herald Sun and on Ch 7 last evening (and possibly other media outlets). Lesser restrictions had been floated only as a possibility in a review paper circulated at the meeting. The Minister's press release therefore not only pre-empted the outcome of the consultation process, but actually went further than what is contained in the 'review paper' (as it contemplated banning magazines greater than 15 shots - not magazines with 15 or more). Minister Holding's announcement also cuts across an explicit commitment in the 'review paper' (prepared by his Department) that his Department would refer any changes
to the Firearms Act to the FCC before recommendations were made to Government. This is not about gun laws, but trust and goodwill. Unfortunately this proposal looks like it was tabled in front of everybody as a fait accompli. Regardless of whether or not there may be an issue worthy of legislative change, the CFCV is curious to understand who may have advised the Minister and what they might have told him, as it is hard to understand why he would launch the FCC then torpedo the agreed process. This will be the subject of ongoing probing by the CFCV. The CFCV also notes that any legislative change will need to undergo a Business Impact Statement where the Victorian Competition and Efficiency Commission will assess the 'economic impact' of any legislative proposal. While the outcome of this assessment is not normally public, the CFCV would welcome any demonstration by the Minister as to whether, according to the VCEC, the benefits of his new laws do in fact outweigh their costs. The Minister's press release makes no reference to any buybacks or compensation. The CFCV will have more to say on this matter as discussion among its
executive and member groups continue. New regional party nears registration As reported earlier, Country Alliance is nearing registration as a political party in Victoria. CFCV is apolitical, however the aims and objectives of this new party will please the hearts of anybody who wants to protect the traditional uses of the bush - including four wheel drivers, the timber industry and shooters. The party is being formed in response to the 'greening' of Victorian politics and the possibility of the Greens holding the balance of power in the Victorian State Parliament (upper house) after the next state election. The Country Alliance is looking to increase its membership to ensure registration succeeds - so check it out if this sounds like a worthwhile cause. More information can be found at their website: www.countryalliance.org PNG corruption fuels blackmarket in Aussie firearms This article reports that thousands of assault rifles provided to Papua New Guinea's police and armed forces by Australia and the United States have been sold to criminals and tribal fighters. It reports that only a quarter of the number of firearms supplied can be officially accounted for, with the remainder likely to be supplied by a black market fueled by corruption. RSPCA opens doors to activists ABC's Kathy Bedford interviewed the RSPCA's Dr. Hugh Wirth on 16th. May 2005. Here is an excerpt of interest to anybody with an interest in RSPCA policies: WIRTH: Well the committee structure will go, and be replaced, not by a committee but by a number of activist cells within the area so that everybody who wants to be involved may be involved. One of the biggest problems we have is the committees of twelve tend to isolate people willing to work." Qld police storage standards under question Read the following article from the Herald Sun's website, then ask yourself whether you believe the officer would have stored his firearm legally ... and why in Victoria, the police see a need to audit OUR storage ....
The stolen items, including the gun, were recovered by Northern Investigative Group CIB detectives early today.
Police said the man, 22, was in custody for a number of offences including the break and enter on the officer's home in the northern Gold Coast suburb of Arundel.
Senior police, the ethical standards branch and the Crime and Misconduct Commission are investigating the circumstances leading up to the theft." Firearms Consultative Committee The long overdue Firearms Consultative Committee will finally meet next Wednesday 29 June. Member organisations include: Vic Pol presses on with firearm audit
The latest oil on the firearm audit is that the Victoria Police are not only pushing ahead with the audit of firearm storage, but correspondence received by the CFCV shows that they are very much committed to selling the 'benefits'. Never mind the 'costs' of it ! The CFCV recommends to every shooter who is the subject of this audit, to COMPLAIN TO THEIR LOCAL MP. Do not take it out on the police officer conducting the audit as they are only doing what they are told. Rather, we recommend that you complain to your local MP about the policy being implemented by the Victoria Police. Every phone call, email or letter will make a difference. To find out who your local member is, click here (the phone numbers, post codes or localities of their electorate offices should help you work out who your local member is likely to be). If you still can't figure out who your local MP is, just take a guess and send it to who you think it is, as your letter or email will be referred to whoever is the right member. Enough's Enough: The Cattlemen's rally on 9 June
The Bracks Government's decision to ban cattle grazing in the Alpine National Park has sparked a revolt. The Cattlemen will be marching (or hoofing ?) on Parliament 9 June and the call has gone out to various groups including shooters to support them. Supporters are invited to assemble in Parliament House Gardens at 10:30 and front up to Parliament steps at 11am for the rally. Country Alliance is also reporting details of this on their web site which can be found at www.countryalliance.org Federal bureaucrats on the warpath again
There are reliable reports surfacing about a plan by the Federal Attorney Generals Department to push for the restricting or banning of firearms with magazine capacities of greater than 2, 5 or 10, depending on the type of firearm concerned. The plan is to alter the firearm licence categories to limit: It is yet another push by someone high up in the AG's department who clearly wasn't satisfied with the outcome of the PM's changes to firearm laws in 1997. Watch this space for developments - let your local MP know what you think about the proposal today ! Minister Holding announces amnesty on registration of antique pistols The CFCV has issued a press release congratulating Police Minister Holding on his decision to extend an amnesty on antique percussion pistols to 31 December, citing the consultative approach taken on the matter. The press release can be seen on our media page. RSPCA falls well short on duck hunting ban petition
The RSPCA has admitted in it's latest newsletter that has less than one third of its target of 20,000 signatures in its petition to ban duck shooting. The relevation came in it's latest edition of RSPCA News.
Given that the Field and Game Australia has more than twice that number in members and the SSAA has even more, it would appear that the "noe's" will carry "the mood of the meeting". Mind you, we cannot drop our guard. Please let your friends know about the work that the Council is doing to protect their sport.
Duck shooting protesters dump on MP's doorstep
Yahoo News! reports that the Ballarat Organisation for Animal Rights this morning dumped a bag of rubbish on the office doorstep of Ballarat West MP Karen Overington. The report says that the organisation's president, Lyn Trakell, said the rubbish was collected from local wetlands last weekend and was another reason to banduck shooting.
"Karen Overington actually supports duck shooting," she said.
"I've been to speak with her in the past and she won't do anything to stop it - she believes it's going to phase out naturally - and it probably will, but while it's phasing out, meanwhile the shooters are putting all their rubbish around the place and they're still killing and wounding our beautiful and native waterbirds." (source: Yahoo News!)
Great letter to the editor on the audit
Ari Rios had a great letter to the editor of the Herald Sun printed today. Here it goes:
A safe is checked on application. Further checks without a valid reason amount to harassment. Shooters are also citizens with rights and mine are about to be impinged on. This sort of treatment of the public may be the norm in a facist or communist country, but the last time I checked, we were still a democracy. Ari Rios - East Oakleigh ... while Queensland cops lose a gun ...
A better place for the "national approach" for the firearms audit to start would be in Queensland. It appears that the police up there have 'mislaid' a machine gun.
The Herald Sun reports that a Heckler and Koch MP5 9mm sub-machine gun, as well as a secure radio handset, went missing from the Special Emergency Response Team (SERT) storage facility in Cairns late last week. The report says that the shed had not been broken into, but that the police were "worried" about its disappearance.
"Generally all activities associated with this unit are conducted in a very professional manner and this missing firearm is of significant concern," Queensland Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson said. So, who is going to audit the storage of police firearms ?
Firearm audit proposal revealed
The Licensing Services Division of Vic Pol is reportedly looking at auditing EVERY privately held firearm in the state. Word has it that this has been requested by the Chief Commissioners office. The cost of the program is to come out of the Vic Pol budget and therefore general policing resources. The rationale for the audit is unclear given that the firearm registration database has been going through a clean up over the past few years with the full and keen cooperation of licenced shooters. Victoria has had firearm registration for around 15 years (licensing has existed for over 40 years) and is considered by most to be the most compliant state. There are about 200,000 licenced shooters in Victoria. If this results in the police spending say, 2 hours on each audit, that is 400,000 police hours (over 50,000 police days) on clerical duties that are no longer being spent on general community policing. The audits are most likely to take place after 6pm, when crimes are more likely to be committed. The experience in NSW is that their audit (yes, they tried this first) did not work. Inexperienced officers created issues where, for political reasons, the audit was scaled back to a random audit involving senior officers. The experience in NSW is that two police officers were required for each audit.
The impact of the proposed audit in Victoria using one officer would be the equivalent of diverting 3 police officers away from protecting the community on a full time basis in every municipality (50,000 / 78 municipalities = 641 police days per year per municipality). Double that if Victoria follows NSW in having two police officers involved in every audit.
Uh oh, I think the RSPCA is upset at someone ... - updated 1 March 2005.(Sorry for the late posting of this - our ISP had an FTP server problem)
In the latest edition of RSPCA News, RSCPA President, Hugh Wirth wrote:
For some years the hunting lobby have been making life difficult for Robert Begg, a regularly re-elected RSPCA State Councillor in his own right, accusing him of a conflict of interest because he works in the Department of Sustainability and the Environment and has responsibility for legislation controlling the hunting of animals. Recent legislation on the use of dogs in hunting deer and further controls on duck hunting have not pleased the hunting lobby.
The State Ombudsman recently ruled on a complaint against Dr Begg finding that while he did not have a conflict of interest as alleged, a perception of a conflict of interest remained and he advised the relevant Minister, Mr Thwaites, that Robert Begg should resign as an RSPCA Councillor. Dr Begg had no choice, as he has some years left before retirement and resigned as a Councillor last October.
I note that the hunting lobby has taken no public stance about other "perceptions of conflict of interest", of which there are several, as such action will expose their members to community scrutiny. Hyprocrisy!"
********
... and they want revenge.
RSPCA Victoria has launched a massive campaign to finally end duck hunting in this state. It is nothing more than legally sanctioned cruelty to animals and has long been rejected by the community. Why the government has not banned duck shooting years ago in the face of declining numbers of people seeking permits to engage in this so-called sport is yet to be explained by the Premier. Please take the opportunity to sign the petition cards available from the Society. We are aiming for 5000 signatures.
(....)
Thank you Victoria, your support has been great. We have over3,500 signatures for our campaign to ban duck shooting in Victoria.
Our aim is to obtain 20,000 signed petitions to forward to the State Government.
With the Victorian Duck hunting season imminent, RSPSA Victoria for an immediate and permanent end to Victoria's duck hunting season.
Duck shooting is cruel. Killing for fun, such as duck hunting will accompany unnecessary wounding, maiming, pain, suffering, terror and stress. Thousands of ducks are crippled and wounded annually in the name of 'sport'.
Duck shooting is not necessary for the conservation of the species. Wild ducks were here long before European occupation and they were kept in check by natural forces. Those forces are still in place and still efficiently effective today. There is no need for any human intervention to control duck populations.
Ducks are a rapidly moving target. The shooter is stationary … the duck is moving. You can't reliably use a shotgun to shoot each duck with an instant kill.
Duck hunting is banned in public areas in ACT, NSW and WA. The New South Wales ban from 1995 was on the grounds that "the level of pain and suffering through cruelty is unreasonably high".
Nothing can justify such carnage." *****************
If you want to ensure that the RSPCA's campaign does not reach its intended target "our duck hunters" why not ask the CFCV to address your local hunting club ?
Just contact us ! Slow, but steady - updated 26 February 2005. It may seem like pocket money, but growing participation in the Ritchies IGA Community Benefits scheme is starting to pay off for the CFCV. Contributions are steadily growing every month with no limitation on how large the contributions can become - the Diabetes Association recieved $1800 in January and there is no reason why we cannot reach or exceed this level. If you live near a Ritchies IGA, why not go along and fill in a card with the beneficiary being the CFCV - id number 91698 ? It is a way to support your sport just by doing the shopping ! Ex-MP on antique gun charge - updated 20 February 2005. The Herald Sun has reported that former Labor MP Tayfun Eren was arrested after police found him brandishing an antique handgun. The report says Mr Eren had threatened police with the gun. He was subdued and later to hospital and treated for cuts to his head before being interviewed and charged with various offences. Antique handguns were the centre of debate at the handgun buyback and the latest incident is bound to re-ignite that debate.
UK Foxhunt supporters lose appeal - updated 16 February 2005. The Herald Sun has reported on its website that Foxhunt supporters have lost their court appeal to have the British Government overturn a ban on hunting with hounds due to take effect by the end of the week. The report says that three senior judges rejected an argument that the 1949 Parliament Act - which MPs last November used to force through the ban despite opposition from the upper House of Lords - was invalid. The ban is scheduled to take effect on Friday.
Newsletter now available as html - updated 12 February 2005. If you go to our 'Newsletter' page you will see you can now view our newsletter as a html version - great for those who may have had difficulties downloading the Word version Summer 2005 Newsletter now available - updated 2 February 2005. Our newsletter for this summer is now available. To download it, just go to 'Newsletters' and select 'Summer 2005'. Holding replaces Haermeyer as Police Minister - updated 24 January 2005.
Victorian Premier, Steve Bracks, has dumped Andre Haermeyer as Police Minister, appointing Tim Holding to the post. This follows years of controversy over the Minister's handling of several issues including firearms. The CFCV believes its publicity on some matters, mostly relating to the handgun bans and buyback, have contributed to this. The CFCV is confident it can work with the new Police Minister and looks forward to the opportunity. Click here to see the Premier's press release, and the new Cabinet line up.
RSPCA on duck season - updated 4 January 2005.
As reported in this article on Yahoo today, RSPCA Victorian President, Hugh Wirth, has continued the RSPCA's campaign to permanently end Victoria's duck hunting season. He wants people to send postcards against duck shooting to Environment Minister, John Thwaites. Unlike previous years however, the RSPCA does not have a key DSE employee involved in making decisions on duck season on its board.
NZ dumps firearm registration - updated 3 January 2005.
The New Zealand Government has abandoned the idea of registering firearms. Police Minister George Hawkins confirmed today that registration will not be in a bill he is preparing to tighten border control of illicit arms trading. The legislation will bring New Zealand into line with international protocols on the control of weapons, parts and ammunition. The registration of all the guns in the country was recommended seven years ago in a government-commissioned review of gun laws carried out by Sir Thomas Thorpe. Neither the previous nor the present government acted on the recommendation, and Mr Hawkins said today it was off the agenda. "Police told the Government it wouldn't make very much difference, and they recommended that we did not register every firearm," he said on National Radio. "Police advice was that most of the times guns are used illegally, they are illegal guns and they don't know about them anyway." The chairman of the Council of licensed Firearms Owners, John
Howat, agreed with the decision. "There's no evidence, anywhere in the world, that registration systems assist police in generally controlling firearms," he said. "It is incredibly costly. We don't want to go down that track, it's
a waste of money."
Nationals support 2005 duck season - updated 3 January 2005.
The National Party has thrown its support behind a duck season for 2005. Their press release which can be seen here is most welcomed. It could be improved if the Nationals quantified the economic benefit they believe will flow from this, but it is a great press release nonetheless ## end of page ## |
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