Field & Game Australia welcomes new Game Management Authority

 Tuesday, May 7th, 2013
Media release: Field & Game Australia
  
Field and Game Australia (FGA) welcomes the Coalition Government’s decision to bring world-class game management practise to Victoria through the establishment of a statutory game management authority.

In the 2013-14 budget announced today, the Victorian Government has alloc...ated $8.2 million over four years (commencing July 1, 2014) to establish and operate a new independent authority to improve the effectiveness of game management and promote responsible game hunting.

“Due to the increasing popularity of hunting, a stand-alone authority is now necessary to properly focus on scientific research, management of game habitats and hunter education and opportunity,” FGA Chief Executive Rod Drew said.

“This approach to game management is consistent with established best-practise models implemented in New Zealand and New South Wales that have demonstrated positive public benefit outcomes.”

This decision by the Coalition Government recognises the positive role Victorian hunters have played in the management of game and pest species, on both public and private land, as well as their “hands-on” conservation projects over many decades.

“FGA is particularly proud of its 50-plus years of wetland conservation works, and looks forward to working with the new authority to further enhance the environmental values of game habitats, particularly on State Game Reserves,” Mr Drew said.

Victorian Agriculture and Food Security Minister Peter Walsh today said the establishment of the game management authority will better co-ordinate game management efforts and improve opportunities for game hunting across Victoria, with the funding allocation in this year’s Budget meaning a total of $17.6 million will be spent on game management in Victoria over the next four years.

Mr Drew concluded by saying that the sustainable use of game in Victoria by hunters is totally consistent with directions from the international conservation community: UN World Commission on Environment and Development, the IUCN, CITES, the “Wise-Use” principles of the Ramsar Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
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