The Victorian government’s planned formation of Outdoor Recreation Victoria is being welcomed by hunters as both acknowledgement of the sport’s legitimacy and “a practical, unified approach to managing the land we all share,” in the words of Field & Game Australia.
The Allen Government’s Minister for Outdoor Recreation, Steve Dimopoulos, yesterday announced the formation of Outdoor Recreation Victoria (ORV), which will “initially focus on getting more Victorians out fishing, game hunting, boating, four-wheel driving and off grid camping, before expanding to support other activities”.
ORV is a combination of the Victorian Fishing Authority and the Game Management Authority.
“Outdoor Recreation Victoria will unlock opportunities for more Victorians to access the great outdoors – while ensuring all jobs are retained,” Mr Dimopoulos said.
The underlying reasons for creating the ORV stem from a review of the Victorian public service that recommended greater efficiency and other improvements, but it is also part of the government’s urgent need to stimulate the state’s economy, which has been in a bad way since Covid.
Mr Dimopoulos pointed out that more than a million Victorians hunt, fish and go boating, an indicated four-wheel driving and camping were also on the ORV’s agenda in an effort to “support tens of thousands of jobs and generate hundreds of millions in economic spending across the state”.
In a Facebook post, the Australian Deer Association said the formation of the ORV marked “a truly significant moment for recreational hunting, opening the door to the strong, active promotion our community has long advocated for.”
“A dedicated public land access panel will explore further opportunities for recreational hunting and fishing, as well as four-wheel driving and dispersed camping, helping more Victorians enjoy the state’s great outdoors.
“Recreational hunting will have a strong and secure place within the new structure. A hunting advisory committee composed of industry representatives will ensure that hunters’ voices remain central to decisions shaping the future of the activity.”
Field & Game Australia responded with a statement welcoming the recognition the minister has given to “the broader value of activities such as hunting, camping, four-wheel-driving and responsible public-land access”.
“This shift reflects a growing understanding — long argued by hunters, land managers and regional communities — that outdoor recreation is not an afterthought but a core element of how Victorians interact with, value, and care for the landscape,” the statement said.
“The acknowledgement that responsible, sustainable hunting plays a constructive role in wildlife and land management is a meaningful step toward a more coherent and practical framework for managing public land and its users.”
The Victorian government’s positive approach to hunting and other outdoors activities is a contrast to attitudes in the recent past and is seen by many as a response to grass-roots pressure and advocacy applied by Victorian outdoors enthuasists who felt disenfranchised.
In 2023, with increasing threats to the future of duck hunting and other activities, the Electrical Trades Union stepped in and threatened industrial action to protect the recreational activities of its members.
The union convened the Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group (ORAG) which includes groups such as Field & Game, SSAA and the Australian Deer Association as well as climbing and prospecting associations and the Trade Workers Union — all of whom represent hundreds of thousands of people.
For hunters, recent concessions have included the allowance of seasonal deer hunting in Errinundra and Snowy River National Parks and a more generous duck season in 2025.
Legislation to establish the ORV will be tabled in July 2026.
0 Comments