Time has run out for violent shooting sport

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Time has run out for duck hunting

I have some sympathy for Barry Jane who has been hunting and eating wild ducks his whole life and fears it will be his last duck hunting season (“Shooters fear a last supper of duck”, 27/4). But just because you have always done something doesn’t mean it’s OK to keep doing it.

It used to be OK to club seals to death, use animals in circuses and bet on dog fights. Changing community attitudes to hunting native birds combined with climate change and loss of habitat mean duck hunting has now lost its social licence. It’s well past time it was confined to the dust bin of history along with those other outdated practices.
Matilda Bowra, Fitzroy North

A bad sport
Duck shooters may claim that they shoot to get food but the very name Sporting Shooters Association suggests it’s about killing for fun.

Although the shooting season has just commenced, dead ducks, some of them threatened species have been abandoned at the shooting sites. This and the fact that in previous years shooters exceeded bag limits are good reasons for abolishing duck shooting.
Leigh Ackland, Deepdene

Hunters had a good run
Enjoy your duck meal, Mr Jane. Instead of lamenting a likely change of menu, be grateful for the unwarranted indulgence of governments that acquiesced to a minority of duck shooters for so long.
Native waterbirds are a natural asset. They belong to us all and should not be abused and sacrificed at bargain-basement rates. While a full duck licence costs around $60, many get half-price discounts. Taxpayers pick up the tab to cover the burgeoning costs of the Game Management Authority and million-dollar programs to promote hunting and shooting.
Malcolm Cameron, Camberwell

Kicking the can down the road
Why does Daniel Andrews waste time appointing a select committee into recreational native bird hunting arrangements? Since 1986 activist Laurie Levy has presented piles of dead protected and endangered birds – including swans – for all to see.

After 33 years, you’d think successive governments would get the message – people in the cities and the regions do not want native wildlife disturbed, shot at and killed for three months every year in the name of “recreational” bird hunting.
Charles Davis, Hawthorn

Progressive state is lagging behind
Victoria prides itself on being more progressive than other states, yet Daniel Andrews allows wildlife to be endangered and killed during the duck shooting season. Enlightened states like NSW, WA and Queensland banned it many years ago.
Jan Kendall, Mt Martha

Duck numbers are under threat
The annual Victorian duck massacre began this week. Last year, some quarter of a million ducks were slaughtered, with a further 105,000 injured birds suffering lingering and agonising deaths.
Our state leaders have ignored three factors. First an imminent El Nino, with likely drought conditions drying out duck breeding wetlands. Second, research suggesting the close presence of hunters in areas not normally visited by people reduces feeding and resting opportunities for other endangered and migratory birds due to disturbance by noise and movement. Third, if, or when, the current bird flu pandemic reaches Australia, this will also have a devastating effect on duck numbers. Official assurances that duck numbers are secure are reckless indeed.
Michael Hamel-Green, Coburg

Public opinion is clear
The attempt by rifle-toting people who enjoy killing ducks to say that their activity is only opposed by fringe groups is wrong. Every well-conducted survey shows that the majority of Victorians find the “sport” cruel and unnecessary.
Peter Barry, Marysville

THE FORUM

Bold leadership
After years of our health system being run for the interests of the AMA and Pharmacy Guild, it is refreshing that Health Minister Mark Butler is placing the needs of consumers first. Both empathetic, astute, consultative and evidence-driven, Butler may well prove to be our best health minister since fellow South Australian Neal Blewett, who oversaw the implementation of Medicare and the Hawke government’s response to the AIDS crisis.
John Carmichael, Hawthorn

Retail politics
I see no reasonable objection to the doubling of medications per prescription and the reduction of costs to patients as proposed by the Albanese government.

The Pharmacists Guild must surely be primarily concerned at the resulting halving of foot traffic in their stores, past the cosmetics and alternative medicine displays, to the pharmacy at the rear of their shops. I just ran out of sympathy.
Graeme Rose, Wangaratta

Was it worth it?
The article by Paul Sakkal and Christopher Harris (“It’s a debt trap: Student loans are hitting hard”, 26/4) highlights the debt trap involved in student loans and the HECS/HELP system.

I completed a Master of Nursing in 2013, specialising in the area of emergency nursing. I ended up with a debt of $18,000. I’m awarded the princely sum of $24 a shift for this qualification. Thankfully, I made the last payment in 2022 but I have to wonder if it was worth it, at least financially. The $18,000 debt plus the indexed linked interest it had accrued works out to over 800 shifts before I “earn” anything from having a Masters.
Gaynor Sheahan, Wantirna South

A new divide
Not only are students faced with higher living costs, but many undergraduates continue to be taught online. This could be a reason why students are dropping out (“University dropout numbers on the rise”, 27/4). New university students studying subjects online will often feel isolated and disengaged. This is what my current University of Melbourne students tell me, and what my Australian Catholic University students have told me in the past. They much prefer face-to-face classes because they get to meet people, learn more and don’t have the hassle of racing into university do a face-to-face class after doing an online class at home.

Interestingly, the completion statistics reported in The Age show that the University of Melbourne has the highest completion rates. Research shows that students with high ATAR scores tend to finish their degrees. However, Melbourne University has been offering more in-person classes since COVID-19 lockdowns. In contrast, ACU still has many undergraduate subjects online.

It seems that we are moving in a worrying direction: the prestigious universities will mostly offer on-campus experiences and a sense of community, while other universities have students who may be struggling academically and socially but have to do online subjects. So, the divide among universities becomes greater.
Erica Cervini, Prahran

Statement of priority
We got the message about the cost of defending Australia. Now we need to hear the message about not leaving anyone behind.

ACOSS, the University of NSW and others have painted a stark picture of families struggling to stay in rental accommodation or put food on the table. Not to mention dealing with a child crying of toothache.

No government can do everything all at once. But, budgets, particularly the first of a new government, signal intent and what really matters and who will be left behind. Here’s hoping that this budget enables everyone to see themselves being part of and contributing to Australia’s future.
Hayden Raysmith, Williamstown

Spending splurge
At a time when Commonwealth and state public debt is at an all-time high, why is the federal government looking to spend $240 million and the Tasmanian government spending $375 million towards a $715 million stadium?

After the COVID-19 spendathon, shouldn’t governments be looking to rein in public-sector debt? Will our grandchildren thank us for doing this – because they will be paying for it.
Wayne Alexander, Eltham

Too much too soon
Why is it that as soon as the Labor Party gets into government, it is expected to fix all this country’s problems (housing, Medicare, aged care, climate change, JobSeeker) when the Coalition has been governing for almost 10 years? Surely, these problems haven’t just popped up out of nowhere?
Mira Antoniou, Brighton

Biden is simply too old
Nick Bryant makes a compelling case for Joe Biden to run for a second presidential term (Comment, 27/4). In spite of Republican opposition and at times insufficient support from all Democrat members of Congress, Biden has achieved quite a lot, economically, socially and in terms of restoring America’s international reputation.

However, during his time in office, Biden has at times suffered memory lapses, become distracted, muddled his words, delivered rambling speeches and he walks with “old man’s shuffle”. Whether we like it or not, our physical and mental acuity diminish with age. What needs to be kept in mind is that Biden will be just days short of his 83rd birthday at the time of the next election.

America needs progressive, intelligent and more energetic leadership if it is to survive, let alone thrive, for the rest of the 21st century. The Democratic Party has 51 senators, 213 members of the House of Representatives and 24 state governors. It is hard to believe that a younger, quality candidate cannot be found from such a field.
James Young, Mt Eliza

Poor options
What a sad state of affairs when the world’s most influential country can only come up with a narcissistic liar and a fragile old man. (Sorry, Joe, but I am much younger than you, retired and accepting of the fact I’m past my prime.) America, for the sake of my children, can’t you find two more suitable candidates?
Ralph Frank, Malvern East

A habit of denial
Foxtel’s Outsiders program attempted to justify breaches of accuracy in its coverage of climate change by saying it was not a news program. But it is a current affairs program and, as such, the broadcasting regulator found it had an obligation “to ensure the accuracy of significant facts” (“Accuracy breaches in Outsiders programs”, 27/4). For decades the Murdoch empire promoted a climate change denial stance that many attribute to the views of the owner. In a campaign last year the denial was watered down; it presented a view that something needed to be done, but it wasn’t urgent, nor did it involve Australia doing much at all.

Many News Corp broadcasters continue to propagate the idea that those who press for stronger action on our transition to renewables are elitist or hysterical. Whether they believe that or not, their denialism does not appear to be having the same effect on their audience as, say, Tucker Carlson had on his. Our last federal election proved that.

The large number of organisations working on renewable technologies — researchers, builders, economists, inventors, lobbyists, grassroots activists, writers, governments — are far more likely to be influencing public opinion in Australia than a broadcaster that is way behind the times.
Fiona Colin, Malvern East

What’s the point?
Niki Savva is, of course, quite right when she says that No arguments to the Voice should be made “respectfully” and not “unsubstantiated” (Comment, 27/4). But by the same token, so should the Yes case be put.

So far, it has not been – many of us are still wondering how precisely the Voice will be representatively constituted, and what the point of it really is when it has no effective powers – and the onus of proof is upon Yes advocates to establish sound reasons for this political innovation. Peter Drum, Coburg

Fearless fight
Bravo Ombudsman Deborah Glass, recently retired Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission head Robert Redlich and Judge Stephen Charles, KC (“Premier’s IBAC reply slammed”, 27/4). Each of you has been fearless in highlighting the Victorian government’s lax attitude towards probity and so-called grey corruption. Let’s hope your efforts bring substantive change.
George Greenberg, Malvern

Wrong priorities
The Andrews government is putting much-needed public transport measures such as the Airport Rail Link and the high-speed train to Geelong on hold. Melbourne Airport opened in July 1970 and, much to the delight of the airport car park operators and Transurban, still does not have a rail link. Even the privatised airport corporation recognises this is unsustainable with travellers missing flights due to congestion.

The “Big Build” has the wrong priorities. Instead of building mega destructive freeway projects like the North-East Link, the money should be spent on public transport including rail and less “trophy” projects such as bus services in car-dependent middle and outer suburbs.
John Young, Blackburn North

Heritage wasted
With all the concern about affordable housing, why are we allowing affordable housing such as “Rotherwood” on Riversdale Road, Camberwell, to be demolished? Built by Barry Humphries’ father in the 1930s, and providing nine units, off-street parking and a large established garden, it is to be replaced by 15 high-end apartments with limited garden space. No good for heritage, nor for climate change.
Annette Cooper, Camberwell

And another thing

Credit: Illustration: Matt Golding

Politics
Labor values 2023: maximise welfare for the wealthy (tax cuts, concessions on property, share investments and superannuation, etc.), and keep the unemployed in poverty.
Angela Smith, Clifton Hill

Great line, Niki Savva (Comment, 27/4). Writing about Dutton’s potential rivals, the list includes Andrew Hastie, possibly the PM “who welcomes the first nuclear submarine”.
Jim McLeod, Sale

Memo Peter Dutton, old tribal wisdom of Dakota Indians: “When you are riding a dead horse, the best strategy is to dismount!”
Myra Fisher, Brighton East

Duck hunting
What is the difference between recreational fishing and duck hunting? There are over a million voters who fish and around 10,000 who hunt ducks.
Peter Farrell, Point Lonsdale

My response to your headline and story “Shooters fear a last supper of duck” in Thursday’s Age: “Good”.
Frances Awcock, Melbourne

State politics
Premier Andrews – a disappointing non-reaction to the IBAC judgment. Contrition does have a place in politics. It’s not too late to redeem yourself.
Sidney Bloch, Hawthorn

It is hard to believe that the premier has to be educated about corruption. Deborah Glass is justified in her criticisms.
Roger Christiansz, Wheelers Hill

Furthermore
Pharmacists should be grateful. They can now get a two-month prescription for calming medication. Annie Wilson, Inverloch

New development plan for Collingwood: Superstar Peter Daicos had two nascent superstar sons. They each have two sons, and then they all have 2 sons. In just three more generations we can have 32 Daicoses.
Andrew Robinson, Canterbury

Tony Wright, brilliant writer, researcher and national treasure. How I enjoy your columns.
Ross Hosking, Blackwood, SA

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