Over 250 dead waterbirds including threatened species to be displayed outside Victorian Premier’s office at 11am, Monday 31 March 2025
“Over 250 dead native waterbirds, including illegally shot threatened species, will be displayed outside the Victorian Premier’s office at 1 Treasury Place at 11am, Monday 31 March 2025.
“These birds represent just a tiny fraction of all birds that are illegally shot and left wounded across Victoria,” Coalition Against Duck Shooting Campaign Director, Laurie Levy, said today.
“We intended to display the dead birds outside Premier Jacinta Allan’s office last week, but our on-site veterinarians suggested a number of the Cormorants rescued from Lake Marmal in northwest Victoria, should go back to Melbourne to be tested for avian flu. It was therefore important to not risk the safety of others until we had a result. Thankfully, the tests came back negative.
“Threatened birds include rare Freckled Ducks and Blue-winged Shovelers were recovered by rescuers in just the first few days of the 2025 duck shooting season, at only two wetlands near Boort in north west Victoria. Sixty wounded birds were treated on-site in a mobile veterinary clinic,” Levy said.
“Premier Jacinta Allan must take responsibility for the unnecessary violence and cruelty inflicted on Australia’s native waterbirds, including threatened and protected species,” Levy said.
Recreational duck shooting has been banned on wetlands in the Euroa district due to a recent outbreak of the H7N8 bird flu infecting four poultry farms. The decision to call an unnecessary duck shooting season ignores the government’s own expert advice on the serious risk of spreading bird flu and is totally irresponsible.”
The experts have warned that people should avoid handling or disturbing any wild birds which could be infected with bird flu, Levy said. In addition, the ‘risk assessment’ states that migratory birds and native waterbirds have the ‘highest risk’ of being infected. Therefore, native waterbirds and wetlands represent a danger for rescuers from avian influenza, including the deadliest strain of H5N1 which hasn’t yet been detected in Australia.
“With Victoria’s massive debt, instead of misspending public funds of around $11 million this year to support duck shooters who make up less than 0.2 per cent of the state’s population, it is time to follow the three more progressive Labor states where duck shooting is banned. Victoria could then develop a thriving international First Nations nature-based, cultural tourism industry that would bring millions of dollars into regional Victoria,” Levy concluded.
For further information, contact: Laurie Levy, Campaign Director – Mobile 0418 392 826