I live in Kerang and was attracted to living here permanently several years ago, due to having been up this way rescuing wounded and dead ducks each time a duck shooting season was declared in the past 24 years.
I am utterly disgusted that these Ramsar-listed wetlands are supposedly “protected” nine months of the year and then an open war zone to city-based duck shooters.
They create intimidation, fear, and very open cruelty to waterbirds, leaving their shotgun shells in the water, treading on waterbird nests and deliberately smashing eggs, walking over sacred First Nations peoples’ ground such as Aboriginal middens and graves and cutting up canoe trees for firewood.
I have seen all of this in the past 28 years and it continues to create a great impact and stress on waterbirds, fauna and the unique habitats they reside on.
Yet the Andrews Government continues to support the irreversible desecration of these Ramsar wetlands and surrounds.
Surely Premier Daniel Andrews can see the damage duck shooters cause? Surely he is well aware of the enormous impact this is having on regional towns not to mention those that live by waterways in particular?
Duck shooters do not bring any welcome money into struggling regional towns such as Kerang and Boort.
They are entirely self-sufficient, having bought their gear and petrol in Melbourne as it’s much cheaper down there.
Furthermore, duck shooters camp legally and illegally on the so-called designated state game reserves.
How does duck shooting help the regional economy?
In the article, Victorian Upper House MP Jeff Bourman stated: “Duck hunting injected hundreds of millions of dollars annually into regional communities.”
So where is this so-called amount? Where does it go to? Is this annually every season or just a statement of convenience?
There are many empty shops in Kerang and surrounds, not to mention business closing due to the rising costs of living.
What Mr Bourman has stated is speculative and unfounded rubbish.
Millions and millions of dollars can be put into nature-based tourism rather than the 1500 registered duck shooters in Victoria who mainly come to Kerang and surrounds for the opening season, wound and kill as many birds as possible without taking them with them, then the shooters go straight home again.
Ban and can duck shooting forever, Mr Andrews.
No more innocent birds should have their lives sacrificed to appease the 0.5 per cent of Victoria’s population of duck shooters.
Members of Mr Andrews’ own cabinet also want this cowardly obscenity banned for good as well.
It is very gratifying to see more farmers who wish to see duck shooting banned for good in this state.
Kate Bossence
Kerang
