Protect Lawful Hunting

Hunters acting safely and within the law can be deliberately obstructed by people who step into the line of fire to stop a shot. That creates an obvious danger, but there is no specific infringement offence for it.

Aircraft can also be used to harass game-bird shooters by deliberately scattering or flushing birds. This disturbs the birds and sabotages a lawful activity, with little legal remedy available.

People remain free to oppose hunting. They should not be free to interfere in ways that put others at risk.

ACT will:

• Create an infringement offence for deliberately standing in the line of fire of a lawful hunter.

• Create an infringement offence for using drones or helicopters to harass game-bird shooters.

In our team's words:

ACT Deputy Leader Nicole McKee says:

“A hunter acting safely and lawfully should not have someone step into the line of fire to stop a shot. That is not ordinary protest. It creates an immediate risk for everyone there, yet the law has no specific answer.

“Hunters and game-bird shooters are expected to follow strict safety rules, as they should. Those rules cannot work if someone deliberately enters the line of fire. The law needs a clear consequence for that behaviour.”

ACT Conservation spokesperson Cameron Luxton says:

“The same principle applies when activists use drones or helicopters to scatter game birds. It disturbs the birds, disrupts a lawful shoot and can create another hazard in the air and on the ground.

“We would create a specific infringement offence for harassing game-bird shooters with an aircraft. If someone wants to campaign against hunting, they remain free to do so. They should not be free to sabotage a lawful activity in a way that puts people at risk.”