Queensland

On 10 August 2005 Queensland became the third state in Australia to ban the recreational shooting of native waterbirds.

 

Premier Peter Beattie told state parliament that there will be no more duck and quail hunting in Queensland.

 

"It's time to ban the recreational shooting of duck and quail," he said.

 

"This is not an appropriate activity in contemporary life in the smart state.

 

"The issue was referred to the Animal Welfare Advisory Committee which reports to the primary Industries Minister.

 

"That Committee concluded that the likely rate of wounding, instead of direct kills, was unacceptable leading to unreasonable pain and suffering," Premier Beattie concluded.

Western Australia

The Western Australian Government banned recreational duck shooting in 1990. The then Premier, Dr Carmen Lawrence, in a Media release stated:

 

"Our community has reached a stage of enlightenment where it can no longer accept the institutionalised killing of native birds for recreation."

 

New South Wales

 

In November 1995, the NSW Government banned recreational duck shooting. Legislation successfully passed through both houses of the NSW parliament.

 

The NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service cracks down on shooters on rice fields in that state. Scientists have commenced a scientific study on rice fields. It is now known that instead of waterbirds damaging crops, they help rice farmers by keeping the real pests down, such as blood worms, snails and other invertebrates.

South Australia

 

South Australia banned lead shot in 1994. Shooter numbers in that state have decreased to about 2,000.

 

Victoria

 

In Victoria, duck shooter numbers have drastically decreased from 95,000 in 1986 to about 19,400 on the Department of Natural Resources database. However, over the last few years, the numbers of duck shooters on the state's wetlands dropped to less than 5,000.

 

The huge decrease is largely due to changing public opinion. The public today sees the shooting of native waterbirds as an outdated, anti-social activity that is no longer acceptable in our society.

 

The Victorian Labor Party develops policy to ban recreational duck shooting. (June 1991)

 

In a media-based campaign, public opinion has been the main catalyst in reducing the numbers of duck shooters. The decrease in numbers has also been due to the introduction of a Waterfowl Identification Test for shooters in 1990. Changes to Australia's Gun laws have further reduced the numbers of duck shooters. In 1997, following the tragedy at Port Arthur in Tasmania (where 35 people were shot and killed by a lone gunman), Prime Minister John Howard and state premiers banned semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns: This and the 2002 ban on lead shot have greatly impacted on the remaining few duck shooters.

How can you help our wildlife?