Add Category
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has been banned from all Victorian duck hunting wetlands until the end of the season after illegally entering waters to rescue birds.
Police and Game Management Authority officers served ban notices to Victorian MP and Coalition Against Duck Shooting campaign director Laurie Levy just before 10am on Saturday.
The notices came after the pair entered Johnson Swamp in Kerang in northern Victoria a few hours earlier.
"We were out on the wetlands for about an hour in a motorboat following shooters and documenting their activity," Ms Purcell said.
It is illegal for unauthorised people to enter a specified hunting area during the season between two hours before sunset and 10am the next day.
Ms Purcell said she "doesn't regret a thing".
"I made it clear I wouldn't back down, and I meant it," the upper house MP said.
"That's why I illegally entered the water to rescue maimed birds today, because if myself and other rescuers didn't, nobody would.
"I will do absolutely everything I can to end recreational duck shooting in Victoria and I won't be backing down."
While Ms Purcell said she had previously been arrested and fined for entering a duck hunting wetland, this was the first time she had been banned.
Zac Powell, director of compliance and intelligence at the Game Management Authority, which regulates duck hunting in Victoria, said the laws were there to keep people safe.
"The GMA and Victoria Police have issued a number of banning notices and infringements to people breaking public safety and hunting laws since the start of the 2024 duck hunting season," he said.
"Public safety laws are in place to provide a safe environment for all land users."
He urged the public to report illegal hunting and protest activity to the authority.
This weekend is the first for this year's season — one many thought would not go ahead after a parliamentary inquiry recommended outlawing the sport last year.
That inquiry found there were significant animal welfare concerns around "the unacceptable wounding and death rate of threatened bird species, whether accidental or intentional".
But the Allan government rejected the push to ban the sport, instead tightening the rules.
"We will be making changes to make it safer, more sustainable and more responsible," Victorian Minister for Environment Steve Dimopoulos said in January.
The decision was welcomed by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Jeff Bourman and leading shooting body, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (Victoria). However it angered some Labor MPs and Ms Purcell.
Ms Purcell said she had not ruled out contesting the ban in court.
The season ends on June 5.