Duck hunt ban will trigger mass walk out, union warns: 'It will happen'
The Victorian ETC union secretary said it is not a threat and will happen, but will other unions follow and walk off the job?
Victorian union bosses believe major infrastructure projects across the state will be “shut down” if the Andrews Labor government bans duck hunting.
The clearest warning was made by the Electrical Trades Union’s (ETU) state secretary Troy Gray. He told an inquiry examining the annual season’s future that whether it’s union-led or not, workers will immediately walk off all government projects. “Get it tattooed on your arm, it’s going to happen. It is not a message, it is not a threat. It’s going to happen,” he said on Thursday.
While the ETU declined to comment further on Friday, the reaction from other unions that have historically opposed the ban was mixed. At least two appeared blindsided by their inclusion in his statement, while others predicted their members could insist on taking industrial action.
Why do unions care so much about duck hunting?
In Victoria there is growing pressure from within the Labor Party, the Greens, and the Animal Justice Party to end the controversial season due to animal cruelty and environmental impact. Welfare groups like RSPCA and Wildlife Victoria have also called for it to be banned and they have particular concerns about high wounding rates.
In response, the Victorian government shortened its 2023 season and dropped its bag limit to four birds a day. "A precautionary approach has been taken to the 2023 duck season due to concerns regarding the rates of wounding of ducks, poor behaviour by some hunters, and the fact that waterbird abundance, breeding and habitat availability, all show long-term declines,” a spokesperson said ahead of the season in April.
Support for the season has been declining and in 2022, only 11,549 shooters took part. While many shooters see it as a way to harvest meat from the wild and bypass intensively farmed animals, 66 per cent of the public oppose the annual duck hunt.
Many union members see duck shooting as an important recreational activity, along with fishing, hunting and camping. In its submission to the inquiry, the ETU said there has been “a growing trend towards regulations that are restricting access to public land”.
In April the ETU placed a full-page ad in newspapers, highlighting its position.
In March ETU members walked off the state's largest construction project, the Metro Tunnel.
Yahoo reached out to the leaders of other Victorian union branches to determine if they are also ready to strike should duck hunting be banned.
Which other unions could support industrial action?
Victoria’s Mining and Energy Union is in the process of splitting with the CFMEU. Its district secretary Mark Richards told Yahoo News Australia his members are “riled up” about the ban as they see it as just the latest strike against his members’ access to outdoor activities.
Its members have already reached out with a petition, something he’s never seen in his 35 years with the union, as they would normally run it through their delegates. While he personally doesn’t shoot, he fully supports his worker’s rights to do so. When it comes to industrial action, the union would back its members’ wishes.
“Overseas duck hunting is a rich man’s sport. Unless you’re a lord you have access to the land you can’t do it. Here it’s about getting meat. This is a freedom we have in Australia and it’s unacceptable to take away a freedom just because hunters are a minority group,” Mr Richards said.
How many other unions would walk off job if duck hunting is banned?
In a statement the CFMEU National Secretary Zach Smith said his union has a “proud history” of supporting other building union campaigns but the decision on whether to take industrial action is always led by its members.
That was the sentiment of the plumbing union’s branch secretary Earl Setches who made it clear member sentiment would be respected. “We’d have some discussions with the government if that happened. We support our members’ outdoor activities,” he told Yahoo.
Ancient forest set to be destroyed by developers at Lee Point
First pictures: Aussie animal believed ‘extinct’ rediscovered
The Transport Workers Union issued a submission to the inquiry in favour of continuing duck hunting, but it and the Australian Workers Union declined to make further comment today. Sources indicate neither union is likely to specifically call on its members to take industrial action if a duck season ban is announced.
Minister for Industrial Relations Tim Pallas was contacted for comment on Friday morning, but his office is yet to respond. The Australian Manufacturing Union endorsed a resolution to support duck hunting in February and has been approached for further information.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.
