"The Bracks Government will give new rights to shooters that are unprecedented", said Marcus Ward, the Greens Animals Policy spokesperson. "This is a real concern, because it looks like the Government has done a sneaky deal to appease the firearms lobby ."

“This new Labor Party policy was released to a hand full of selected media outlets," said Marcus Ward. "This suggests to me that the Government is less than proud about what it has done. And rightly so, because this deal threatens public safety - but has been signed off without any community consultation."

“There's a commitment to allow deer hunting on public land in Victoria,” said Marcus Ward. "This isn't smart, because giving hunters access to leased grazing land will just give graziers, who already struggle with problem shooters, even more headaches."

"It seems that leaseholders won’t be able to order hunters off the leased parts of their properties when the Bracks Government implements this deal," said Marcus Ward. "This is down-right irresponsible, and, once again, there has been no consultation whatsoever.”

"The Government's new hunting policy does not even mention duck hunting, despite the ALP's 15 year old promise to end it," says Marcus Ward. “I think the community deserves to know if the Labor Government will continue to ignore party policy, or move to protect our native water birds.”

For more information and comment please contact:
Marcus Ward on (mob) 0427 235 254
or
Dave Lane on (mob) 0419 156 213

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