Conservation & Issue 3

Radicalism Takes its Toll on the rspca Taking Initiative at Clydebank Another Successful Pollie Shoot

Simulated Field and Real Conservation in our Schools Hundreds of young trees planted, guarded and watered in

Field and Game Australia Inc. A: 65 Anzac Avenue (PO Box 464) Seymour VIC 3661 W: www.fga.net.au P: 03 5799 0960 E: [email protected]

Australian Deer Association A: PO Box 454, Croydon VIC 3136 W: www.austdeer.asn.au P: 03 9870 1175 E: [email protected]

Cover Photo: Hog Deer (axis porcinus) stag. A wild hog deer stag in coastal – Photo by Daniel Burke Native to the Indian sub-continent, hog deer have been established in South Eastern Australia since the 1860’s. The Victorian herd of hog deer is now the most secure and intensively managed population of hog deer in the world. With a strong population and no notable negative environmental impacts, Australia’s hog deer are an excellent example of how game animals can be managed to satisfy a wide range of priorities.

This page: The established trees have restored biodiversity, provided habitat for wildlife and enabled native grasses to re-establish Landmark Study of Victorian Hunting

A study of the economic impact of hunting in Victoria, commissioned by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, has revealed that hunting generated $439 million for the Victorian economy last year. The study was described by Agriculture Minister Peter Walsh as ‘the most comprehensive survey ever of Victorian hunting’. When releasing the report Mr. Walsh said that ‘the Victorian Coalition Government values the significant social and cultural benefits game hunting provides to our state, and we also see opportunities for the sector to develop high value, niche tourism experiences that could attract interstate and international visitors and, in turn, further boost regional economies’. Victoria’s 46,000 game licence holders support the equivalent of 3,500 full time jobs. 60 per cent of the money spent by hunters is spent in regional Victoria and makes a significant contribution to regional economies.

Total Region Deer Duck Quail Pest animals Expenditure ($m) Central Highlands 3 2.2 0.6 7.6 13.4 Central Hume 12.8 2.3 0.7 10.5 26.3 G21 2 9.8 2.5 2.8 17.2 27.9 16.4 3.7 28 76 3 5.6 1.8 7.7 18.1 Great South 2.1 1.2 0.5 2.1 5.8 Coast Loddon Mallee 1.5 7.5 1.1 16 26.2 North Loddon Mallee 1.6 11.7 1.8 12.8 27.9 South Lower Hume 12 0.9 0.2 9.6 22.6 Melbourne 65.7 38.5 30.3 32.1 166.6 Upper Hume 5.9 1.3 0.2 4.3 11.6 Wimmera 0.8 2.1 0.6 1.7 5.2 Southern Mallee Total: 138.3 99.4 44.1 135.1 416.9

The economic importance of hunting was highlighted by a Channel 7 comparison of the value of hunting compared with other sporting events. Hunting came second behind the Spring Racing Carnival.

# Event $million 1 Spring Racing Carnival $620 2 Hunting $439 3 Australian Open $238 4 British & Irish Lions Tour $80 5 F1 Grand Prix $40 6 Liverpool v Melbourne Victory $35

Conservation & Hunting 3 Volunteers of all ages getting their hands dirty at Clydebank in winter this year

Taking Initiative at Clydebank

A desire to see a neglected tract of public land reach its full In the midst of the drought in May 2005, volunteers from potential has been the impetus for a decade-old, hunter-led the ADA commenced the task of restoring the reserve by conservation project in Eastern Victoria. planting 5,000 seedlings over about 6 hectares adjacent to the Avon River. The Clydebank Morass State Game reserve is an 1800-hectare parcel of former farmland bordered by the Avon River and Lake In the decade since the project commenced, over 40,000 Wellington. The reserve was progressively purchased by the trees have been planted over hundreds of hectares, effectively Victorian Government in the mid to later part of the twentieth restoring the biodiversity of the area whilst simultaneously century. Virtually all native vegetation was cleared from the transforming the reserve into a high value habitat for a wide area during the farming era and dense introduced grasses range of mammals and birds. had all but precluded the re-establishment of indigenous flora species of any sort. Consequently, the reserve’s capacity to provide habitat for wildlife was significantly diminished. 40,000 trees have been Hog deer had been present in the area since the late 1860’s planted“ over hundreds of but their population was largely restricted to private land. In addition, the hunting opportunities for ‘ordinary’ hunters hectares, effectively restoring during the tightly-regulated April open season were severely the biodiversity of the limited due to the death of wildlife on suitable public land. The Australian Deer Association (ADA) realised that if things area whilst simultaneously were going to change, hunters would need to take the transforming the reserve initiative. In 2004 the ADA allocated a budget to commence work on the reserve and secured complimentary funding into a high value habitat for from a range of sources including the Blond Bay Hog Deer Advisory Group, Greening Australia and Parks Victoria. a wide range of mammals and birds. ” 4 Conservation & Hunting Radicalism Takes its Toll on the rspca

The RSPCA, both in Australia and in the United Kingdom, is Their brand is reinforced paying a price for its transformation from an animal welfare to an animal rights organisation. by“ the fact they’ve got this At this year’s annual conference, the NSW Farmers Association special constable status. called for the RSPCA to be stripped of its policing powers. The Chair of the Sheep Advisory Committee, James Jackson ‘There is effectively no reason why that whole operation said that the RSPCA was using its brand to drive an agenda. could not have been put on hold for at least a day” so that Holdsworth (and Ellison) could have been consulted in ‘We see the RSPCA driving for a cease to the live export relation to what could be done with the cattle.’ business... this is an organisation that’s moving seriously towards the dark side… The RSPCA’s actions brought back memories of its raid on the Waterways Wildlife Park in New South Wales in February ‘The time has come for the Department of Primary Industries 2010, where they removed several koalas. and the State Government to take up the role because it’s a divisive issue and the RSPCA has lost credibility.’ The raid was accompanied by a Channel 7 television crew, but the RSPCA did not tell the local vet about the raid and the Mr Jackson said the privileged position of the RSPCA was owner of the park was absent when it took place. a factor driving the commercial value of its brand (e.g. its relationship with Coles). The RSPCA did not show anyone the koalas they removed for weeks and the raid led to a call for the NSW Government to ‘Their brand is reinforced by the fact they’ve got this special remove the RSPCA’s powers. constable status.’ In Tasmania, a Parliamentary committee has found that RSPCA The RSPCA’s NSW CEO Steve Coleman offered the usual Tasmania, which has received $2 million from the Tasmanian responses to criticism of the RSPCA’s morphing into a radical State Government since 2011, used its funds for legal action organisation. against the State Government, its own employees, individual He blamed other animal rights organisations, such as PETA, members and RSPCA Australia. for tarnishing the RSPCA’s reputation and argued that the The Committee said that ‘in doing so, the board has spent a RSPCA was the least worst option among animal liberation significant amount of its budget on legal expenses rather than organisations. on its core business of animal welfare’. What these defences do not address is the extent to which The Committee recommended that no further funding be the RSPCA has responded to competition from organisations provided until the organisation was restructured. such as PETA, Animal Liberation Victoria, Voiceless and Animals Australia by becoming more radical, using its special Meanwhile in the United Kingdom, the CEO of the RSPCA powers to do so. resigned earlier this year because of ill health following the furore after the organisation spent £326,000 prosecuting the For example, Victorian farmers James Holdsworth and Prime Minister’s hunt. Heather Ellison have sued the RSPCA for damages after an RSPCA inspector entered their property, unannounced, and Within two months, its Director of Marketing and Campaigns slaughtered and removed hundreds of perfectly healthy and Deputy Chief Executive also had gone. Murray-Grey stud cattle – including four bulls and their best Now the RSPCA is having to retrench staff in a bid to make breeding cows. savings of £4.5m a year. Ruling in favour of the farmers, Judge Bowman said that the Last year it had a net cash outflow of £6 million and it appears ‘the whole operation... seems to have been conducted with that it has not had a net cash positive position since 2007. what could be described as indecent haste… A person within the RSPCA has described the situation as ‘a wholesale crisis’.

Conservation & Hunting 5 Another Successful Pollie Shoot

The 12th Annual Victorian Politicians’ Clay Target Shoot The Nationals were successful in their determination to win sponsored by Field and Game Australia (FGA) once again the trophy, following wins by a Liberal team last year and a lived up to expectations. Labor team in 2012. From small beginnings the shoot has become a popular social State members including Minister for Small Business and event for both politicians and members of their staff. Minister for Energy and Resources Russell Northe, Assistant Treasurer Gordon Rich Phillips and Shadow Treasurer This year more than 100 people from beginners to Tim Pallas were joined by federal colleagues Senator Nigel experienced hands gathered on a sunny, Melbourne August Scullion, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs; Senator Michael day to shoot clay targets and to feast on a game menu Ronaldson, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and the Special comprised of duck, venison, wild boar and quail dishes. FGA Minister of State; Senator Bridget McKenzie and John Cobb, would like to express their gratitude to Chef Shane McRae Federal Member for Calare. and his staff who did an outstanding job on the day’s catering. As usual Labor, Liberal and Nationals teams competed for the annual trophy.

6L to ConservationR: John Cobb MP, & Senator Hunting Nigel Scullion, Senator Michael Ronaldson and Senator Bridget McKenzie. This year’s winning Nationals team: Scott Mitchell, John Cobb, Russell Northe, Bridget McKenzie, Bill Sykes and Nigel Scullion, with FGA Chairman Bill Paterson and the coveted trophy.

From small beginnings the shoot has become“ a popular social event for both politicians and members of their staff. ” Simulated Field and Real Conservation in our Schools

The tradition of competitive simulated in Victorian Following on from this, in 1965 a Field and Game club was schools is a long-standing one. Started back in the 1950s by also started at the Mansfield school and, between the adult Charles Whitla from Wangaratta, it began simply from the and junior members, over 200 nesting boxes were distributed need to educate students attending the Wangaratta Technical in the Mansfield district. The study of duck nesting habits, School about firearm safety and the correct technique for water birds and habitat were educational by-products of firing a shotgun. the club. This link between conservation and hunting has long been established: for the pastime to be sustainable and However, after Mr Whitla moved to Benalla and commenced lifelong, hard work is done to ensure that the game animal instructing the students at the Technical School there, populations flourish and have suitable habitats, and that there a challenge was issued from Whitla’s former students at is public land available for the pursuit of this passion. Wangaratta for a contest. In 1961 the first Victorian inter-school clay target competition took place, between Wangaratta and There have been over 7,000 students competing in the clay Benalla. Wangaratta won, prompting Benalla to practise for a target competitions in the last 29 years, with over 70 schools return bout. in regional Victoria attending the school shoots. With these numbers of students attending it would appear that there is still Within a short time, the concept of competitive simulated a strong interest in simulated field sports among the younger field sports for schools had spread across north-eastern generation of Australians, also illustrated by young shooting Victoria. One of these schools, in Mansfield, included habitat athletes such as Shepparton Field & Game member Emma Cox and wildlife conservation in their program. An Outdoor and representing Australia at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Fishing Club with student office-bearers was formed to help earlier this year. The recent announcement by the Victorian organise the student program. This club, together with the Government of the Shooting Sports Facilities Program, with Victorian Fisheries and Wildlife Department, developed funding grants for the upgrade of shooting club facilities, a common project in building an artificial duck-breeding means that the tradition started by Chas Whitla over 60 years swamp on the banks of the Delatite River. The project involved ago can continue. This is vital for the education of our youth construction of a levee and the planting of over 500 redgum in the enjoyment of safe firearm sports and ethical hunting eucalypts. Students then obtained nesting boxes with help and, more importantly, the conservation work done on public from the Field and Game Association and installed them in land to help develop healthier habitats for game animals and the swamp. Within a year or so, this swamp was a wonderful other wildlife. breeding ground and was open for shooting in season. Sadly, changes in climate and environmental water usage mean that adjoining waterways no longer rise to their full level, so this swamp has not been an ideal habitat for many years.

Chas Whitla giving a demonstration to students at Benalla Gun Club Mt Beauty Secondary College students at the 2011 Benalla School Shoot. in the late 1960s. WA Firearms Licensing System Review: Just a Con?

Last November the Western Australian Government responded to an attempt by the Shooters and Fishers Party Upper House member Rick Mazza to disallow substantial increases in firearms licence fees by announcing a review of the firearms licensing system. The Nationals took credit for the decision to have a review and used it to justify not supporting the disallowance motion. At the time concern was expressed about the fact that the review would be undertaken by the Law Reform Commission given that Law Reform Commissions do not have a history of being sympathetic to shooters. Attention was drawn to the fact that the Attorney-General Michael Mischin, to whom the Law Reform Commission reports, did not appear to be supportive either. The review was supposed to commence on the 1st of March. However, the Law Reform Commission did not hold its first, and possibly only ‘scoping study meeting’ with shooting organisations until the 8th of September — more than six months after the commencement date. The Law Reform Commission does not propose to report until September next year despite the fact that the Minister for Police Lisa Harvey stated that the review would be dealt with this year. Nothing has been heard from the Nationals about what appears to be a classic case of obfuscation. Meanwhile the Attorney-General is a fountain of ignorance. When questioned, he said that he did not know why the Law Reform Commission did not have to report until September next year or who chose the date. He did not know why it was taking the Commission so long to get started and appeared to think that this sort of delay was not unusual. He seemed to suggest that one of the reasons for the length of time being taken was that the Commission tended to The time being taken to engage somebody ‘specifically experienced’ to draft the draft organise this review suggests discussion papers. “ However when asked if a person had been found and that the threat to review appointed he did not answer the question. firearm licensing has achieved He also did not know when a discussion paper would be released and public comment sought. its purpose — seen off the The time being taken to organise this review suggests that the criticism of the significant threat to review firearm licensing has achieved its purpose — seen off the criticism of the significant firearms licence fee firearms licence fee increases increases in 2013. in 2013 Whether it has solved the Nationals’ problem of explaining away its support for those increases is another issue. ”

Conservation & Hunting 9 Creating Kerang State Game Reserve Recognising the area’s value for hunting The Victorian Coalition Government has introduced a bill into the parliament to establish a new State Game Reserve at Kerang. Minister Ryan Smith introduced the ‘Parks and Crown Land Legislation Amendment 2014’ bill, which also creates the new Kerang State Game Reserve, on 3 September, 2014. This reserve, which includes Fosters Swamp and land along Pyramid Creek, will formally recognise the area’s value for hunting, and is consistent with the final report by the River Red Gum Community Engagement Panel during the Victorian Environmental Assessment Council’s River Red Gum Forests Investigation. See map below of the proposed Kerang State Game Reserve.

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10 C of A LOWER LODDON ROAD 2174 10 G of A Lot 2 TP84467 See KERANG WILDLIFE RESERVE 2022 Lot 1 Enlargement Lot 1 TP345406 TP834724 2022 2018 2002 2019 (KERANG STATE GAME RESERVE) C B 24 of B Lot 1 10 of A ROAD TP816686 2012 2027 2020 2045 Lot 2 PARISH OF KERANG 2003 13 TP539460 Lot 1 2008 D 2046 10 of A 14 TP539460 Lot 1 TP236321 2168 COUNTY OF GUNBOWER 2009 2021 2011 9 A of A See 2174 Enlargement

2013 Lot 2 2041 Lot 1 4 E of B TP147543 38 of B TP539460

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SLEEPY

A Senate Inquiry

A Senate Committee inquiry into gun-related violence is a If governments were to decide that the most guns used in reminder of why hunters cannot take the ability to pursue gun-related crimes were stolen from licenced shooters, they their passion for granted. could argue that there is a need to increase substantially the obligations of firearm owners in storing their firearms. The Committee’s terms of reference include: At the extreme this could include reducing substantially the • the estimated number, distribution and lethality of illegal number of firearms a shooter could own without having to guns, including both outlawed and stolen guns, and have an alarm system linked to an independent base. • the extent to which there exist anomalies in federal, state This conclusion also could lead governments to decide to and territory laws regarding the ownership, sale, storage and increase the obligations on dealers in transporting and storing transit across state boundaries of legal firearms. powder and components. Shooters have a great interest in how governments answer This possibility is not theoretical. Three years ago there was these questions.

10 Conservation & Hunting an attempt in Victoria to persuade the government to do precisely that. there is a greater danger to the community in being The effect would have been to reduce dramatically the “ number of dealers who could afford to sell powder and threatened by people with components. These sorts of decisions would suit police unions. knives than people with They treat firearm ownership as a health and safety issue and firearms are determined to reduce the number of firearms, regardless of whether they are registered or not and regardless of whether they are owned by licensed shooters or not. Yet the police argue” that ‘guns are being stolen to order’ by drug addicts. Registered firearms and licensed shooters are an easy target. What criminal gang would rely upon drug addicts to steal The Queensland Police Union, for example, has made its guns to order, and, if they are being stolen to order, why the views well known. They think that only farmers and people number of .22s and air rifles being stolen? employed in the security industry should be allowed to own firearms. The Police say that farms are being targeted, especially when ‘it is obvious the property owner has left to, say, go to the This mentality exists among public servants responsible footy in Melbourne.’ for policies concerning firearms and the management and administration of firearms’ registries. Yet, as any footy follower in Victoria will tell you, these days getting to a game at the MCG on a Saturday afternoon is like Talking up the idea that the majority of firearms used to winning Tattslotto. commit crimes are stolen from licensed shooters helps their cause. So are the Police saying that the thieves know the clubs that farmers support, are they saying that the thieves keep farms Victoria provides a good example of a campaign to talk up under surveillance without being detected or… what are the thefts of registered guns from licensed shooters. they saying? In June the Ballarat Courier published a story headed ‘Stolen Perhaps there is a clue in Superintendent Gillard’s saying that guns end up with drug dealers in Ballarat’. the situation is ‘dangerous to police and the community at The story began: large’ (note the order), but then says that there has not been an increase in the number of armed robberies. ‘Criminals are stealing guns from farms in the Ballarat region to feed a growing methamphetamine trade. In other words, there is a greater danger to the community in being threatened by people with knives than people with In recent months, farms……have been targeted and had firearms. firearms stolen. For the Police, it is a different story. ‘Victoria Police livestock and farm crime Superintendent Craig Gillard said criminals were hitting rural properties for The Police cannot say categorically that organised crime is guns which then found their way into the hands of drug responsible for gun thefts. dealers.’ What can be said categorically is that with increased drug It then continued: use, the number of burglaries increase as drug users steal anything, including firearms, to sell to feed their habit. ‘We know most farms have guns. When it is obvious the property owner has left to, say, go to the footy in Melbourne, The problem is not licensed shooters but the drug trade and they are an easy target… the solution is to allocate the resources necessary to identify the drug networks and stop the distribution of drugs — not ‘Whatever is in the gun cabinet they take. We are seeing a lot put the blame on licensed shooters. of .22 rifles and even air rifles go. The good news is that the bulk of the more than 300 ‘It’s hard to say categorically if it is organised crime, but we submissions made to the Senate Committee point out that know they are being stolen to order.’ the problem is unlicensed shooters and unregistered firearms What is known is that: and not licensed shooters. • the level of the use of ‘ice’ in regional Victoria is reaching Nevertheless, hunters, recreational shooters and the plague proportions and that the majority of domestic organisations representing them must be ever-vigilant. burglaries are driven by drug addicts looking for cash or There are those with anti-gun agenda who are well organised anything that be converted to cash to feed their habit; and and who take full advantage of inquiries such as this to pursue • the preferred weapon of choice for criminals is the pistol their objectives. and that most gun-related violence involves drugs and drug dealers protecting their turf against each other.

Conservation & Hunting 11 Field and Game Australia Preserving Cultural Traditions

Join thousands of other like-minded Australians as a member of the nation’s most progressive firearm, hunting and conservation organisation. FGA Today... • Ethical • Sustainable • Influential The respected voice • Respected of FGA and its members is heard • Confident throughout the country. Strength is found in • Liability Insurance numbers – do you belong to Australia’s strongest and most successful shooting association? • Member Services Who’s protecting the future Our Mission: for your Firearms Licence? “To be the most effective organisation in the Firearm sports in Australia must have: promotion of hunting, recreational shooting and • Respected representation habitat conservation.” • A knowledgeable and unified voice • All party support and acceptance • Consistency in media messages • New opportunities to shoot www.fga.net.au • A code of ethics and high standards www.facebook.com/fieldandgame 65 Anzac Avenue (PO Box 464), Seymour VIC 3660 of conduct P: 03 5799 0960 F: 03 5799 0961 E: [email protected] The Deer People

Photo by: Jamie Stevens

• Extensive branch network established in every State and Territory • Promoting hunter education and sustainable and safe hunting • Active in wild deer management and habitat conservation • Advocating for fair and equitable access to public land for recreational hunting

“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land” www.austdeer.com.au Aldo Leopold