The Hon Peter Walsh MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security
8 Nicholson Street
EAST MELBOURNE VIC 3002
Dear Minister,
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE GAME MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
Thank you for your letter of 9 October 2014, containing your Statement of Expectations for the Game
Management Authority (GMA).
This letter confirms the GMA’s commitment to regulate game hunting and game management
efficiently and effectively.
We recognise the importance of the GMA working closely with the agencies such as Department of
Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) and Parks Victoria (PV), and assure you of our
commitment and best endeavours to maintain a close and effective working relationship across all
departments and agencies that share the responsibility for achieving the Government’s objectives in
relation to game hunting.
Our commitment to regulate efficiently and effectively
The GMA is a statutory authority responsible for the regulation of game hunting in Victoria. It
delivers programs to improve and promote responsible and sustainable hunting in Victoria.
Our vision: Responsible and sustainable game hunting that contributes to a healthy environment
and a prosperous Victoria.
Our mission: Working with the community as an effective, independent regulator and an influential
authority for game management and quality game hunting opportunities.
We are responsible for:
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issuing Game Licences;
managing open and closed seasons for game species;
enforcing game hunting laws and taking action against those who do not hunt game legally;
educating and informing hunters on how to hunt game legally in Victoria.
In addition to the core regulatory role, the GMA performs a range of other functions, including:
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working with public land managers to improve the management of State Game Reserves and
other public land where hunting is permitted;
research, monitoring and analysis of the environmental, social and economic impacts of
game hunting and management;
1 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | DX 210404 | Phone 136 186 | Fax 9658 4002 | www.gma.vic.gov.au
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working closely with partner agencies, such as the Department of Environment and Primary
Industries, Victoria Police and Parks Victoria;
making recommendations to government about game hunting and game management, the
control of pest animals, declaring public land open and closed to game hunting, open and
closed seasons and bag limits.
Our plan to meet the SOE improvement priorities
The GMA will meet your priorities for improvement as outlined in the following plan.
Role clarity
The GMA will develop an operational plan that clearly articulates a system of regulatory
management that includes performance monitoring and reporting.
Improvement Strategy
Target
The GMA will prepare and implement an operational plan to
enhance role clarity that includes performance monitoring and
reporting
Finalise plan by 30 June 2015
Stakeholder consultation and engagement
Engaging and partnering with the hunting community through a responsible game hunting strategy
will reinforce a self-regulation approach and promote a ‘zero tolerance’ culture to irresponsible
behaviour.
A communication strategy including, but not restricted to, the website and the responsible game
hunting initiative, will be developed within the first 12 months of operation.
Improvement Strategy
Target
Drive initiatives around responsible hunting, such as the ‘Respect’
Ongoing
campaign
Develop a communication strategy
31 December 2014
Clear and consistent regulatory activities
The GMA has recently endorsed its compliance and enforcement policy to provide guidance in the
performance of its key role as a regulator and to inform game hunters and the community of its
principles and approach to enhancing compliance. It will be timely to review the policy in 2015-16
following the development of a compliance strategy.
In developing this strategy the GMA will determine appropriate resourcing requirements and
promote consistency of approaches to enforcement activities between partner agencies such as
DEPI, Victoria Police and PV. The GMA will enter into agreements, where necessary, with Parks
Victoria and DEPI for reciprocal compliance, and with Victoria Police for protestor compliance.
1 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | DX 210404 | Phone 136 186 | Fax 9658 4002 | www.gma.vic.gov.au
Improvement Strategy
Target
Review the compliance and enforcement policy
30 June 2015
Develop a compliance plan
30 June 2016
Compliance related assistance and advice
The GMA will work closely with partner agencies to deliver efficient, consistent and well aligned
regulatory services.
In order to promote safe and responsible hunting practices, the GMA will actively monitor
compliance outcomes and evaluate our success in driving voluntary compliance. Dependent on the
outcomes of our compliance monitoring, the GMA may consider other options such as extending
mandatory education to other game licence categories.
Improvement Strategy
Target
Establish a network of authorised officers with the potential to be
deployed to game operations (especially duck season opening
weekend)
31 December 2014
Explore options to promote safe and responsible hunting through
voluntary compliance (and as necessary, consider other options
such as mandatory education for all game licence categories)
31 December 2015
I confirm that the GMA will incorporate these performance measures and targets into the Annual
Business Plan and report on their achievement in the 2014-15 and 2015-16 Annual Reports.
Thank you again for your direction on the future governance and regulatory performance of
Victoria’s hunting and game management sector.
Yours sincerely,
The Hon Roger Hallam
Chairperson
Game Management Authority
20 October 2014
1 Spring Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 | DX 210404 | Phone 136 186 | Fax 9658 4002 | www.gma.vic.gov.au