The Thot Plickens

Disagreement within the ALP in Victoria appears to be creating confusion about the party’s position on duck hunting following the spring conference.

The issue arose with a claim by the tiny Victorian group of Labor party members who call themselves “ALP Members Opposed to Duck Shooting” that the conference had passed a motion to ban recreational duck hunting.

The group’s leader, ALP member Trevor Poulton issued a media release on Monday 23 November under the somewhat mischievous heading “Labor Party Endorses Ban on Duck Shooting in Victoria”.

On the very same day ALP State Secretary Nick Reece issued his response clearly stating that “this is not correct”.

A number of questions arise.

Is Mr. Poulton attempting to dupe the media and claim a far greater win than he deserves from the weekend’s conference?

In a call to FGA this morning, Mr Poulton defended his assertion that a real endorsement for his campaign has been achieved.

Mr Poulton asserted that he is quite aware that he needs to step the campaign through ALP processes and appropriate channels.

Mr Poulton has indicated he will be discussing the matter with Nick Reece to clarify matters of process.

Field and Game Australia remains unconvinced that Mr Poulton’s media statement is anything but a mischievous contribution to a broader campaign that is peppered with false claims, dishonesty and duplicity.

Within a matter of hours of his release being distributed a communication from the Coalition Against Duck Shooting leader, Laurie Levy trumpeted – “IMPORTANT NEWS! At Saturday’s ALP State Conference a policy to ban the recreational shooting of native waterbirds was passed unopposed by delegates.”

Mr Levy signs off with “The battle Continues.”

Mr Poulton is fully aware that in politics perceptions are indeed the reality.

The current perception is being framed by Nick Reece in the attached response, “..there is no change to the current policy.”

To read Mr Reece’s response click here...