| 2011 archived news GCA's VCAT appeal
John Crook from Gun Control Australia has applied to VCAT to obtain the details of those who assisted with the multi-shooting range study. That's obviously a process that must follow its proper path but you have to wonder what value that would provide him. More significantly, we are interested in whether someone else might be prompting him to do this, given his age, and intense interest the Greens have shown in shooters ever since we came onto the political scene and the fact a Greens MP made specific mention of GCA in parliament some time ago. We are not for one moment suggesting there is an inappropriate connection between GCA or the Greens. In fact there may be no connection at all - however the sudden increase in the sophistication in the way it is operating (including use of FOI and recent focus on the FSFV) does intrigue us and cause us to ponder that question. Perhaps some new vitamins were released on the market in recent times? Duck protester found guilty
After years of having to put up with inaction, a female anti hunting protestor was found guilty in the Magistrates Court at Morwell earlier this month, on the following charges; (1) Entering into the water of a specified hunting area before 10.00am. The offences occurred on the opening day of the 2010 season at Dowds Morass State Game Reserve near Sale. The protestor was found guilty on all 3 charges and fined $750 and ordered to pay court costs of over $120, she now has a criminal record. This is the first time that a person has been found guilty of hindering a hunter under 58 E of the Wildlife Act 1975 and sends a strong message to those who choose to break the human safety legislation. Our President responds to duck opening As many of you will know, duck season is underway and a duck protester decided to break the law and ended up getting accidently shot. Our President, Bill Paterson, appeared on the 7PM Project about the opening and the accident, wearing his Field and Game Australia hat. Have a look a the great job he did.
We have a duck season! The Baillieu Government is off to a great start with the announcement of a standard duck season this year. Environment Minister, Ryan Smith, has announced that the season will run from 19 March 2011 to 13 June 2011 inclusive - 12 weeks in all. Normal bag limits will apply. Critics are having their usual whinge but it is a great announcement that I'm sure will please every shooter - whether or not a duck hunter. We've already congratulated the government on this announcement - a great start indeed! What will the new government bring? It remains to be seen what the current coalition government will bring to the shooters in Victoria. Last time they were in power, we lost the statutory status of the Firearms Consultative Committee, and supported the buybacks pushed by the then Howard Government. The previous Labor Government did more for shooters than their opponents, but most of what they did came in the middle of their term. Fortunately during this time, the opposition started to come up with pro-shooting policies, recapturing our confidence. It is clearly a case of times and people on both sides of politics changing - so we can only hope this government is good for shooters. They promised us a Game Management Authority which is fine, but we'd like to see the details first. I suspect that they will continue with duck shooting (great!), further the work on a state shooting centre and support the good work being undertaken by the major shooting organisations, but it would be nice if they can throw up some new projects to promote the sport. Let's hope they do. | ||