Media Releases

Western Victorian hunters are reaping the benefits of the Victorian Coalition Government’s fox and wild dog bounty, which has easily outdone the former Labor government’s Fox Stop program.
The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said 5292 fox scalps had been collected  throughout the Western Victorian Region since the bounty began in October last year.

“Foxes and wild dogs can devastate wild life populations, flocks and in some cases wild dogs attach young cattle,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The response to the Coalition’s decision to reinstate a true and proper fox and wild dog bounty has been overwhelming.”

“Total collections across Victoria are nearing 30,000, which speaks volumes about how badly this bounty was needed.”

Mr Delahunty said the previous government had all but ignored the pleas of farmers and landholders who were fighting a losing battle against rising fox and wild dog numbers.
“The bounty is not a total solution, but it’s playing an important part in our efforts to reduce the impact of foxes and wild dogs on food and fibre producers throughout the Western Victorian region, Mr Delahunty said.

“Not surprisingly I have received extremely positive feedback from local hunters who had been calling for an end to the previous ad hoc and inconsistent fox control programs.”

The Coalitions’ $4 million bounty has already seen 27,824 fox scalps and wild dog skins handed in across Victoria, compared to just 20,034 foxes killed over the life to Fox Stop.

“We are delivering on our key election commitment to reinstate a true fox and wild dog bounty by offering Victorian farmers and hunters $10 for each fox and $50 for each wild dog,” Mr Delahunty said.

For opening times and full details of the terms and conditions for the fox and wild dog bounty, go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au/bounty or contact the DPUI Customer Service Centre on 136 186.

Panyyabyr Landcare Group has received an extra Landcare Facilitator as part of the Victorian Government’s Victorian Local Landcare Facilitator Program.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said the new facilitator reflected the government’s commitment to preserving the environment of Panyyabyr area.

“Landcare facilitators are an integral part of the on-ground support for Landcare groups and networks throughout Victoria.  The facilitators assist these groups with their all-important work for the environment and community,” Mr Delahunty said.

Minister for Environment and Climate Change Ryan Smith announces the Panyyabyr area was one of eight areas to receive an additional facilitator.

“Given that we are at the halfway mark, with 30 of the 60 positions already filled, it’s great to be able to announce an extra eight facilitator positions have been funded by the Government.”

“These eight positions are on top of the new Landcare Facilitator positions that have been filled, a Victorian government funding commitment I announced in September last year.”

“I’m also pleased to announce that each of the Landcare groups and networks that received funding for one of the 68 facilitators will also receive $2,000 each to fund a project for on-ground works as part of the initiative.”

“This money will help the facilitators and the groups to immediately begin works where needed in their local community.”

“Landcare facilitators are an integral part of the on-ground support Landcare groups and networks throughout Victoria need to do their all-important work for the environment and community.”

Mr Delahunty said, he welcomed Mr Smith’s announcement to the Panyyabyr Landcare Group during his 2 day visit to the Wimmera Region.  The best results for our community and environment are achieved through a partnership approach – where we work together to develop soils and implement the most effective way to manage and protect Victoria’s plants, animals, waterways.  We all share the responsibility of looking after our environment and assets.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has encouraged Victorian duck hunters and those who oppose game shooting to do the right thing and respect each other at this year’s duck season opening.

The duck season will open this Saturday 17th March at 7.10am local time and Mr Delahunty has encouraged duck shooters to respect private landholder’s rights.

“The main point for both duck shooters and those who oppose the sport is to respect each other’s point of view and abide by the rules, regulations and laws set out by Parks Victoria and Victoria Police,” Mr Delahunty said.

Both Parks Victoria and members of Victoria Police will be on hand at many locations throughout the State on Saturday.

I am advised that duck numbers and the condition of wetlands across Victoria have been monitored in the lead-up to the duck season and locations accessible to duck hunters and those to be excluded have been monitored and assessed prior to the season’s opening.

The duck hunting season will generate economic activity for local businesses and regional communities, particularly for those communities affected by last year’s floods.
“The duck hunting season will generate a great deal of economic activity, particularly for our communities affected by last year’s floods,” he said.

“In relation to the effect of the floods on bird numbers, the game bird population has increased this year to levels not seen since 1984 with waterways and wetlands providing ideal habitats with an abundance of food following the breaking of the drought, Mr Delahunty said.

“Bird populations are breeding in great numbers following the drought and our wetlands have made a rapid recovery,” Mr Delahunty said.

All duck shooters and those who oppose the sport have access to up-to-date information concerning the rights of both parties in a document called Duck shooting and human safety via the Department of Primary Industries website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au or can phone the Customer Service Centre on 136 186 for more information.

The duck season will end on Monday 11th June.

The Nationals Member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty said today that the 2012 Victorian Hunting guide is now available online and thousands of copies are being mailed to Victoria’s 40,000 licensed hunters over the coming week, just in time for the start of the upcoming duck season.
“Victoria offers a diverse range of hunting opportunities from deer hunting to duck hunting on selected wetlands.”

“The Victorian Government is committed to providing opportunities for licensed hunters to enjoy their recreation and to promote the growth of hunting businesses in regional areas across the state.”

“The Coalition is encouraging more people to interact with the natural environment and to take advantage of the outstanding opportunities for hunting, fishing and other outdoor activities that we have to offer.”

“However it is important that we work closely with the hunting community to achieve these outcomes, based on the sustainable management of our game species,” Mr Delahunt y said.
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, Peter Walsh said, “The Victorian Coalition Government produces the Hunting Guide each year to provide the hunting community with important information on game hunting laws, including open season dates and bag limits, hunter ethics and firearm safety.

“The free guide is an important link between the industry, hunting organisations, and the government.  It also provides information about the newly created Game Victorian, which is the body responsible for managing game hunting the state.”

“I urge all new and experienced hunters to familiarise themselves with the rules and regulation for the coming hunting seasons,” Mr Walsh said.

Mr Delahunty concluded that it is important to ensure the sustainability and safety of game hunting in Victoria, but there are heavy financial penalties for those who do the wrong thing, as well as the possibility of losing game and firearms licenses and firearms.

The Hunting Guide will be sent free of charge to all licensed game hunters while a further 10,000 copies will be available at Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Regional Offices and an online version is available at www.dpi.vic.gov.au/game-hunting

The 2012 duck season opens on 17 March and finishes on 11 June.

For further information on game hunting in Victoria contact the DPI Customers Service Centre
on 136 186.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty is calling on inspiring rural women who want to make a lasting contribution to primary industries and rural communities to put their hand up and nominate for the 2012 Rural Women’s Award.

 “The award was designed to recognise and encourage the vital contribution women make to rural Victoria and Australia,” Mr. Delahunty said.

 “In addition to a $10,000 bursary awarded to the Victorian winner, both the winner and the runner-up will attend a course at the Australian Institute of Company Directors in Canberra.

 "The winner will also be given the opportunity to sit on the Ministerial Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel, which provides advice on emerging issues in primary industries and how they affect women," Mr. Delahunty said.

 Past Victorian award finalists put forward projects on a range of topics including young farmer networks, farm financial management, succession planning, aquaculture, dairy co-operatives, agriculture education and exports.

 “The Rural Women’s Award is wonderful opportunity to recognise and celebrate the achievements of women in the rural sector in western Victoria and I urge residents to nominate women who have made a contribution to rural life,” Mr. Delahunty said.

Entries close on 15 October and application forms can be downloaded from the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation's website at www.rirdc.gov.au, or by calling (03) 9658 4493.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty has labelled the Brumby Government’s Regional Blueprint as a cynical election strategy rather than a long term plan for regional Victoria.

“This blueprint short changes regional Victoria by cobbling together a mishmash of existing departmental programs without any long-term vision,” Mr Delahunty said.

“The Brumby Government’s commitment to infrastructure development is both confusing and inadequate.  On any view $260 million over five years is utterly inadequate.

Mr Delahunty said this announcement was a pale imitation of the Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition’s $1 billion Regional Growth Fund,

 “The blueprint does very little to address key areas of disadvantage such as a lack of regional jobs and career progression.

“The regional blueprint also does not deliver any substantial improvement to higher education opportunities for our youth, as most of the money can only be used to infrastructure needs.  Studies have shown that he overwhelming barrier for country students participating in higher education is the cost of living away from home,” he said.

“The facts are the Brumby Government’s recent TAFE reforms have priced students out of higher education, causing a 60 per cent drop in regional enrolments this year.”

Mr Delahunty said that John Brumby’s reason for developing this blueprint is to appease angry voters in Melbourne electorates by promoting it as a means of easing Melbourne’s growing pains.  The quality of life of regional Victorians has clearly been a secondary consideration.

“While I welcome the announcement of funding for vital projects such as the Wimmera Regional Intermodal Freight Hub and the Kaniva Biodiesel project , this blueprint doesn’t seem to be quite up to scratch when it comes to delivering future outcomes for regional Victoria,” he said.

 “It is embarrassing and disappointing that after almost 11 years in government, this is the best John Brumby can produce for regional Victoria,” Mr Delahunty said.

The Nationals Member for Lowan Hugh Delahunty said south-eastern Australia is likely to face vegetable shortages and higher food prices later this year as plague locusts attack Victoria’s crops.

 

“In Parliament I said the Brumby Government has again shown it is out of touch with country Victorians, especially farmers and has underestimated the locust plagues, axing funding for locust control in last year’s budget and arrogantly ignoring the Coalition’s calls for it to act early,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

“After 11 years of drought, the state’s farmers have now been left to face a locust plague that is putting the state’s food security at risk. 

 

“Last year Labor axed funds to control locusts and it is now refusing to provide forward funding to deal with the huge numbers that are expected.  Farmers were hoping at least for money to help subsidise the cost of sprays to prevent the locust plague.”

 

Mr Delahunty said growers could not stop the locusts from attacking their crops, there would likely be shortages of some vegetables and increased grocery prices later in the year.

 

“Carrot and potato growers in particular are reporting huge losses, while cereal growers are hesitant to sow crops when there’s a risk they will be decimated by locusts once they germinate,” Mr Delahunty said.

 

“Warm temperatures and northerly winds moved the locusts further south, threatening food production in western Victoria.  Consumers will face higher prices because of the Brumby Government’s failure to act on the plagues.”

 

“The problem is getting out of control and the blame must surely fall at the feet of the Brumby Government for its mismanagement of this crisis.

 

“Growers are frustrated they received little warning of the impending plague, and to date have received little or no assistance from the Brumby Government.”

 

“Not only does this budget not provide for locust control, the Brumby Government hasn’t even acknowledged it is a problem.

“Western Victorian farmers will again be paying dearly for the Brumby Government’s neglect,” Mr Delahunty said.