2008 VIC DUCK SEASON CANCELLATION
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED
The events surrounding the decision to cancel the 2008 Vic duck season have been far from satisfactory and if you have been given the impression that the board and management were in any way supportive of the process by which the decision to cancel the 2008 duck season, or the way in which that decision was communicated, I regret it.
The reality is quite different! Our position during our presentation to the Hunting Advisory Committee (HAC) was clear cut and is well summed up in a presentation Rod Drew prepared and delivered; available below. We took the position that conditions were essentially the same as those operating in 2005 and should justify a season of at least the same duration and bag limit as that of 2006. We stressed the hypocrisy of Dr Richard Kingsford's recent comments given the following statement:
"All scientific studies available to the review indicate that hunting has no effect on waterfowl populations" Scientific Panel Review of Open Seasons for Waterfowl in New South Wales - November 2000'. chaired by Dr Richard Kingsford.
We challenged Kingsford's recent survey, pointing out that his data was inconsistent with the on ground counts and that subsequent floods and breeding events largely invalidated them.
The result of our presentation and the input from SSAA was the recommendation from the HAC that a limited season be declared. Their decision was subsequently forwarded to the minister but only as part of the DSE advice that there be no season. Clearly this is a situation that negates the effectiveness of the HAC's role and must be changed if the HAC is to have any relevance at all.
We were informed by the Minister's staff that a decision would be reached and announced prior to Christmas, the probable date being either the 20 or 21 of December. *I should point out that, as a new minister, Minister Jennings would be more reliant on the department's advice at this time than his predecessor, John Thwaites.*
As late as the afternoon of the 18th, I was in contact with the Minister's office and was advised that the Department's advice had been received and was being reviewed. Within 30 minutes I was again contacted and told that a decision not to declare a season had been reached and that a media release, which had already been drafted, would be issued the following morning, December 19th and that we would be sent a copy. I would point out that in previous years, we had been consulted about the content of the release and given an opportunity to comment.
By early morning of the 19th, Rod was fielding interviews and we had still not received a copy of the media release. This was finally emailed to us at 10:00 am only after I had made four phone calls to the Minister's office.
The media release proved to be little more than a cut and paste of Kingsford's report and press statements and left me wondering why the Minister employs a press secretary at all.
The communication of the decision had been handled as badly as the process leading to the decision. On the afternoon of the 19th, I telephoned the Minster's chief of staff and expressed our anger and frustration at both the way in which the decision had been reached, the poor science on which it was based and the atrocious way in which it had been communicated. This was supported by an email to that effect. I suggested that the poor handling of the decision and the announcement had set relations with the Department back years.
So where to from here?
Clearly this year's experience has caused us to review our approach to the Department and to the Government.
There are those who would argue that our attempts to create dialog with politicians is wasted, that events like the politician's shoot are a waste of time and money. I don't support that view. Today we enjoy unprecedented access to politicians of all parties at both state and federal level. While this doesn't always result in the outcomes that we want it is hard to change ideas and perceptions unless you have that access. I would remind members that the Firearm Consultative Committee, the State Shooting Complex feasibility study, the Firearms Safety Council and the pro-hunting policies of the three major parties are all testament to this.
I have been assured that the Minister's office is also unhappy about the process by which the season decision was reached and the way in which the announcement was made and that there will be a review of both in the early New Year. We are also assured that, after 5 years of waiting the Department is committed to the Adaptive Management process and that a commencement should be made in 2008.
These events have left both me and the board angry and skeptical. We will however take every opportunity to ensure that these undertakings come about and that 2007 will be the last year that a decision on a Victorian duck season is made by a NSW academic flying over 10% of the east coast of Australia. If we don't see significant progress then we will have to rethink our political approach.
I would urge all those members who are as angry and frustrated as we are to take the time, by telephone or letter, to make their feelings known to their local member - especially if in Labor electorates. I would however caution that whatever your form of communication you chose avoid abuse and personal attacks as these are not likely to do any good for our cause.
Russ Bate
Chairman
To view the presentation made to the Hunting Advisory Committee, Click here...
(Please note: this file may take some time to download) | 
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