Regulations and Acts

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The objectives of these Regulations are—

(a) to provide for the management and conservation of wildlife and wildlife habitat; and

(b) to provide for humane use of and access to wildlife; and

(c) to make further provision in relation to the licensing system established by section 22 of the Wildlife Act 1975; and

(d) to prescribe fees, offences, royalties and various other matters for the purposes of the Wildlife Act 1975; and

(e) to provide for exemptions from certain provisions of the Wildlife Act 1975.

For the most current laws always check the Victorian Law Today Library.

The hunting of game is administered by the Wildlife (Game) Regulations 2012.

The objectives of these regulations are-

(a) to provide for effective management of game species and game hunting in Victoria;

(b) to make further provisions for the procedure for granting and administering game licences;

(c) to make further provisions for open and close seasons and bag limits;

(d) to regulate methods of hunting;

(e) to provide for the identification, posession and use of game;

(f) to make further provisions for specified hunting areas.

For the most current laws always check the Victorian Law Today Library.

The sustainable use of wildlife is provided for under the Wildlife Act 1975.

The purposes of this act are:

(a) to establish procedures in order to promote-

  • the protection and conservation of wildlife; and
  • the prevention of taxa of wildlife from becoming extinct; and
  • the sustainable use and access to wildlife; and

(b) to prohibit and regulate the conduct of persons engaged in activities concerning or relating to wildlife.

For the most current laws always check the Victorian Law Today Library.

The Game Management Authority Act 2014 establishes the Game Management Authority (GMA) and makes amendments to the Wildlife Act 1975 to enable the GMA to perform its regulatory functions.

The main purposes of this Act are:

(a) to establish the Game Management Authority; and

(b) to make amendments to the Wildlife Act 1975 to enable the Game Management Authority to perform or exercise regulatory functions or powers under that Act; and

(c) to make consequential and miscellaneous amendments to the Conservation, Forests and Lands Act 1987, the Wildlife Act 1975 and other Acts.

Objectives of the Authority

The objectives of the Authority are:

(a) to promote sustainability and responsibility in game hunting in Victoria; and

(b) to perform its functions as set out in section 6 and exercise its powers in such a manner as it considers best achieves those functions.

Functions of the GMA

The functions of the Authority are:

(a) to perform the regulatory, investigative and disciplinary functions conferred on the Authority by or under this Act or any relevant law; and

(b) to administer the scheme for issuing game licences under the Wildlife Act 1975 in relation to hunting, taking or destroying game; and

(c) to promote and monitor compliance with this Act or any relevant law in relation to game hunting; and

(d) to investigate compliance with this Act and any relevant law in relation to game hunting; and

(e) to develop operational plans and procedures addressing—

(i) the sustainable hunting of game animals; and

(ii) the humane treatment of animals that are hunted or used in hunting; and

(iii) strategies to minimise any negative impact on non-game wildlife, including protected and threatened wildlife; and

(iv) the conservation of wildlife habitats; and

(f) to work with public land managers to improve the management of public land and facilities on public land where hunting is permitted; and

(g) to promote sustainability and responsibility in game hunting; and

(h) to monitor, conduct research and analyse the environmental, social and economic impacts of game hunting and game management; and

(i) to make recommendations to relevant Ministers in relation to—

(i) game hunting and game management; and

(ii) the control of pest animals; and

(iii) declaring public land open or closed to game hunting, open and closed seasons and bag limits; and

(iv) the management of public and private land as it relates to game and their habitat.

For the most current laws always check the Victorian Law Today Library.

The purpose of this Act is to—

(a) prevent cruelty to animals; and

(b) to encourage the considerate treatment of animals; and

(c) to improve the level of community awareness about the prevention of cruelty to animals.

There are also two codes of practice under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 that apply to game hunting and game bird farms. They are:

For the most current laws always check the Victorian Law Today Library.

Page last updated: 02 Jun 2021