The Liberals and Nationals have supported the passage of the Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill, delivering reforms that will bring together fishing, hunting and outdoor recreation functions under a single body titled Fishing, Hunting and Outdoor Victoria.
Shadow Minister for Outdoor Recreation Melina Bath said the passage of the legislation followed sustained advocacy from the Liberals and Nationals to strengthen the bill and ensure the interests of hunters, fishers and regional communities were properly recognised.
“The Liberals and Nationals supported practical changes to make this legislation stronger, fairer and more accountable for the people who rely on access to Victoria’s public land and waterways,” Ms Bath said.
“Our amendments ensured greater recognition for hunting and fishing, strengthened stakeholder representation, improved transparency and protected access.”
Ms Bath said the new structure would play a vital role in better supporting recreational fishing, hunting, outdoor recreation and regional communities, while protecting sustainable industries and longstanding traditions.
“We want more Victorians enjoying recreational fishing and the proud tradition of hunting, not more land locked up and access restricted.”
“The commercial sector has been overlooked and placed in the too-hard basket by the Labor Government, and that has to change. These important stakeholders are primary producers delivering fresh, local, sustainable food. They deserve certainty, recognition and a real voice.”
Ms Bath said Victorians would now expect the Carroll Labor Government to move quickly to implement the reforms it had argued were urgent when the legislation was before Parliament.
“The government accepted important Liberal and Nationals amendments and argued these reforms were urgent while on the other hand delaying them as long as they could,”
“This should have been passed in the last sitting week but Labor kicked the can down the road, causing concern they would abandon duck hunting altogether. Now that the bill has passed, Victorians should expect to see the changes implemented without delay,” Ms Bath said.
“The Liberals and Nationals are committed to supporting sustainable hunting in all its forms and ensuring future generations can continue hunting through responsible access to well-managed public land with conservation and hunting going hand in hand.”
