Country boy Bracks bows to hunters. In the last two decades three people have died at the hands of Victorian deer shooters; but place stricter training and testing on deerstalkers – not Mr Bracks.
You would think that a serious article on the three deaths would appear in the government’s yearly ‘Hunters Guide’, but no: the Bracks government would not allow that – it might offend the hunting clubs to be told they do not regulate the hunting fraternity very well.

And yes, the Bracks government will allow yet another year of duck shooting. This ugly pastime ensures that thousands of ducks die an agonising death with shotgun pellet injuries. It also ensures that tens of thousands of shotguns are in Victorian homes.

In several past years the Bracks government could use the excuse that they were in ‘coalition’ with the three country independents and had to allow duck killing for fun. This is not the case now. It’s time that Environment Minister Thwaites acted like a minister for the Environment. It’s time for duck killing to stop.