MP calls for longer duck season
Rob McLennan / 16 April 2021
Bay 93.9 Geelong
Geelong-based MP Beverley McArthur is calling on the Victorian government to extend the shortened duck season, branding environmentalists "ideologues" and claiming duck hunters are "conservationists".
The right-wing Liberal politician welcomed the government's decision to lift this year's cap from two ducks to five, calling it 'a duck feather in the government's cap'.
Ms McArthur, the Member for Western Victoria and whose offices are located in Belmont, offered rare - albeit limited - praise for the decision.
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"This Labor Government is usually beholden to left-wing extremists on the crossbench, the Greens and Animal Justice Party, whose votes they require to pass their controversial and liberty-inhibiting legislation, but this time it seems like some common sense has won out,” she said.
"Not only should bag limits be increased, but the season should be extended, so duck hunters are able to partake in their pastime with less interference from ideologues."
Ms McArthur, the wife of former Liberal Member for Corangamite Stewart McArthur, claimed duck hunters carry out "commendable" conservation work in wetland areas.
"They ensure numerous water species flourish not just the small percentage that are hunted over a very limited period of time," she claimed
“It’s good to see the Victorian Government somewhat coming to their senses by relaxing their heavy-handed approach to duck hunting.”
"The duck population isi n no way being decimated, far from it."
This year's duck season will commence at 8am on Wednesday May 26 and will run until Monday June 14.