Dear Members,

In preparation for the Victorian Election this weekend, Saturday 24th November, I wish to add some comments related to the Upper House (Legislative Chamber) election.

As has been stated by our Chairman Bill and many other people, this election is a critical milestone for hunters and the shooting community in general.

We are seeing unprecedented attacks against our traditions and fully legal and legislated pastimes.

The worst case scenario for us is the Greens forming a Coalition with Labor, holding the balance of power or making a supply deal. One of the Greens' core positions calls for the end of duck hunting. FGA, along with other shooting and hunting organisations, sought commitments from both the Coalition and Labor to a number of issues of concern to hunters and shooters. We're sharing the responses we received from the major parties, below.

There are a number of minor parties running in the Upper House and many have strong support for hunting and shooting. These parties (in alphabetical order) include:
-    Australian Country Party
-    Democratic Labour Party
-    Hudson for Northern Victoria Party
-    Liberal Democrats
-    Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party

There are two methods of voting in the Upper House – voting 1 above the line for an individual party – this locks your vote into the group voting ticket and the preferences negotiated by the party you vote for, which may include anti-hunting candidates.

The second method is to vote below the line by voting for at least five candidates; allocating numbers from 1 to 5.  In this case your preferences are controlled by you and you can ensure your preferences are directed to the pro shooting and hunting parties.

We recommend that you vote below the line to ensure your preferences are directed where you want them to go (to parties and individual candidates that support shooting and hunting) and are not subject to party preference deals that may see your preferences directed to anti-hunting parties such as the Greens or Animal Justice Party.

Additionally the following candidates are Field & Game Australia members:

Lower House (Legislative Assembly)
Benambra District: Bill Tilley – Liberal
Gippsland South District: Danny O’Brien – Nationals
Murray Plains District: Peter Walsh – Nationals
Ripon District: Peter Fava – Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party
Shepparton District: Peter Schwarz – Nationals

Upper House, Eastern Victoria Region:
Jeff Bourman – Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party
Robert Danieli – Australian Country Party

Upper House, Northern Victoria Region:
Marilyn Danieli – Australian Country Party
Luke O’Sullivan – Nationals
Daniel Young – Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party

Upper House, Southern Metro Region:
Nicole Bourman - Shooters Fishers & Farmers Party
                    
Upper House, South-Eastern Metro Region:
Gordon Rich Phillips – Liberal

Upper House, Western Metro Region:
Ben Caruso – Australian Country Party
Tony Leen – Australian Country Party

Upper House, Western Victoria Region:
Mark Wright – Hudson for Northern Victoria (Hudson 4 NV party)

Regards,

Richard Light
CEO, Field & Game Australia

(Authorised by R Light 65 Anzac Avenue Seymour VIC)