Greens

Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson Sue Pennicuik MP, moved a debate on a motion to ban duck shooting in the first such motion in the state parliament.

"Duck shooting was banned in Western Australia in 1990 - 21 years ago, in NSW in 1995 - 16 years ago, and in Queensland in 2005 - six years ago," said Ms Pennicuik. "Those governments banned duck shooting on the grounds that duck shooting is not an acceptable activity."

"The wounding rate and cruelty caused by duck shooting is horrific," she said. "Duck rescuers and carers see legs shot off, shattered bills, splintered wings, pellets through eyes and shot lodged in organs, muscles and tendons."

"At the opening of the season this year, which was the first real breeding season in more than a decade of drought, I saw ducklings shot and others left to die of shock or starvation after losing their parents," she said.

"How can this be allowed by the government under the auspices of the DSE, which is supposed to protect our native animals including water birds."

"The eight species that become 'game species' for the twelve weeks of duck shooting season are protected species for the rest of the year," she said.

"Of the recovered or discarded dead birds recovered by rescuers this year, 7% were non ‘game' protected species - many not duck. This cannot be allowed to continue to be sanctioned by government as an acceptable ‘minor' loss as a result of duck shooting."

"My motion called on Victoria to join WA, NSW and Queensland and put an end to the cruel and barbaric practice of shooting native water birds for so-called recreation."

"A Morgan poll in late 2007 found that 87 per cent of all Victorians favour a ban on duck shooting," she said.

"The figure is highest in Melbourne at 91%, but even in regional Victoria, an overwhelming majority (77%) think it should be banned."

"Less than a year ago a joint RSPCA - Coalition Against Duck Shooting sponsored petition, signed by 30,000 Victorians was tabled in state parliament calling for an end to recreational duck shooting," Ms Pennicuik said.

"The state government should listen to the majority of Victorians who want duck shooting stopped and not to the minority of shooters who make up less than half a percent of the population," she said.

"While this motion was defeated along party lines, I know that there are many individual MPs from all the other parties who personally oppose duck shooting," she said. "I urge them to keep advocating within their parties for a permanent ban - before 2012."