Native Bird Hunting

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (15:30): I rise to address South Australian hunters' growing concerns over the government's restrictive regulations imposed without due process. Recently, I have been made aware of the increasing costs and compliance being placed on duck hunting as the latest example.

An inquiry into the hunting of native birds was addressed by a select committee of this council on 9 March 2023. It confirmed that hunting in South Australia was well regulated. It also noted that there were community views both for and against hunting of native birds, and took those community views into account. The committee made 11 recommendations to improve animal welfare outcomes, regulation and the oversight of bird hunting. This select committee did not make any recommendation that the hunting of native birds should be banned altogether, nor did it recommend that relevant fees be substantially increased so significantly that it becomes unaffordable.

Hunting organisations have expressed concern that in contravention of the findings and intent of the select committee changes being imposed on bird hunters are excessively onerous and may exclude some people from participating. This includes reduced permitted species for hunting and huge increases in fees for permits. So while the government and Minister Close may not have taken the measure of banning hunting outright they have imposed restrictive measures and costs around duck hunting, some may say in an attempt to ban hunting by stealth.

Hardhead and pink-eared duck hunting has been banned, and the hunting of mountain duck has been restricted without releasing any scientific justification for the need to do so. Permit fees are projected to increase from approximately $50 per adult in 2024 to $250 in 2029. This represents a 400 per cent increase without an explanation or reason why such a steep increase might be justified. These changes have been made without any consultation with interested parties, and this will make South Australia the most expensive state to carry out duck hunting in.

This is a repeat of the complete disregard that the Labor government showed for due process with its banning of bow hunting. In that case a parliamentary select committee conducted in 2021 made several recommendations for improvement, none of which were that bow hunting should be banned outright. The government ignored the recommendations of the select committee and banned bow hunting by proclamation. This was done without consulting key stakeholder groups, including the Conservation and Hunting Alliance of South Australia.

Hunting activities have benefits both for participants and for the regional economies where hunting takes place. The select committee reported that benefits include the value of game as a food resource, the intergenerational sharing of the skill and cultural value of hunting, and the physical and mental health benefits for people participating in outdoor activities. Hunters often take part in conservation programs, and the funding raised through the sale of permits supports environmental programs.

Hunting organisations have concerns that the increases in fees—the huge increases in fees—and the restrictions will reduce revenue from hunting permits, therefore reducing investment in environmental programs. There are also fears that some may simply ignore new restrictions and participate regardless. That is not an outcome that anyone wants.

If Labor is to make standard practice of ignoring parliamentary select committee reports it is not only a waste of time and money but an abrogation of the democratic process of government and this parliament. Rather than serving the people through proper processes, this government appears more focused on imposing its ideology on the electorate, disregarding due procedure and failing to consult key stakeholders. This actively undermines trust and faith in government and the democratic process.

The covert implementation of these measures is a deceptive attempt to ban hunting by stealth. This disingenuous approach imposes severe restrictions, significantly limiting hunting enthusiasts' ability to participate in their pastime.

To be clear, the issue at hand is not just whether hunting has been dealt an unfair blow. It is that a government should not impose its own dogma in contravention of the due processes of democratic government. Whether you like duck hunting or not, that is something we should all be concerned about.