Should one new government body both enforce the rules on hunting and fishing and promote responsible hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation?
One body to regulate and promote hunting and fishing
Both houses · 4 votes
Background
The Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026 abolished the Game Management Authority and the Victorian Fisheries Authority and gave their licensing and enforcement roles for hunting, fishing, aquaculture and boating to one new body. The body was also given the job of promoting outdoor recreation and access to public land, with a minister-appointed panel to advise on land access. The Council renamed it "Fishing, Hunting and Outdoor Victoria".
What each side said
Summarised from the debate in Parliament, with sources below.
For “agree”
Supporters said one body would keep full regulatory powers while "making it easier for every Victorian to enjoy the outdoors" (Steve Dimopoulos, ALP, second reading, 2 Apr 2026). The Coalition said "the Liberals and Nationals do not oppose this bill" because they support hunting, fishing and access to public land (Melina Bath, Nationals, 17 Jun 2026); the Shooters, Libertarians and One Nation also supported it. Moira Deeming (now Family First) also voted on this side.
For “disagree”
Opponents said one body should not both enforce the rules and promote the activity — "A regulator should regulate; a promoter should promote" (Gabrielle de Vietri, Greens, 2 Jun 2026) — citing a 2017 review of the Game Management Authority. Legalise Cannabis also objected that the land-access panel is chosen by the minister with no duty to consider nature (Rachel Payne, 18 Jun 2026). Animal Justice's reasoned amendment asked that the bill be withdrawn until a full investigation of the Game Management Authority's regulatory failings (Georgie Purcell).
How the parties voted
Across the linked votes below. Second and third readings count five times as much as other votes. Parties are in alphabetical order. How this is worked out
| Party | Record | Votes with a party position |
|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Greens | Consistently against | 4 of 4 |
| Labor | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| Legalise Cannabis | Consistently against | 3 of 3 |
| Liberal | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| Libertarian | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Nationals | Consistently for | 4 of 4 |
| One Nation | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | Consistently for | 3 of 3 |
The votes behind this question
Each vote (division) recorded in Parliament that this question is based on, in date order.
4 June 2026 · Legislative Assembly
Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026
- Question put
- Question — That this Bill be now read a second time and a third time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 77, Noes 3.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second and third reading (Assembly). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greens | 0 | 2 | No |
| Labor | 50 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 19 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 8 | 0 | Aye |
Independents, each counted on their own: Will Fowles (No)
Every name (Ayes 77, Noes 3) in the vote of 4 June 2026
Ayes (77)
Jacinta Allan, Brad Battin, Jade Benham, Roma Britnell, Colin Brooks, Josh Bull, Martin Cameron, Anthony Carbines, Ben Carroll, Anthony Cianflone, Annabelle Cleeland, Sarah Connolly, Chris Couzens, Chris Crewther, Jordan Crugnale, Lily D'Ambrosio, Daniela De Martino, Steve Dimopoulos, Paul Edbrooke, Wayne Farnham, Eden Foster, Matt Fregon, Ella George, Luba Grigorovitch, Matthew Guy, Bronwyn Halfpenny, Katie Hall, Paul Hamer, Martha Haylett, Mathew Hilakari, David Hodgett, Melissa Horne, Natalie Hutchins, Lauren Kathage, Emma Kealy, Sonya Kilkenny, Nathan Lambert, John Lister, Gary Maas, Alison Marchant, Anthony Marsh, Kathleen Matthews-Ward, Tim McCurdy, Steve McGhie, Cindy McLeish, Paul Mercurio, John Mullahy, James Newbury, Danny O'Brien, Michael O'Brien, Kim O'Keeffe, John Pesutto, Pauline Richards, Tim Richardson, Richard Riordan, Brad Rowswell, Michaela Settle, David Southwick, Nick Staikos, Natalie Suleyman, Meng Heang Tak, Jackson Taylor, Nina Taylor, Kat Theophanous, Mary-Anne Thomas, Bridget Vallence, Emma Vulin, Peter Walsh, Iwan Walters, Vicki Ward, Kim Wells, Nicole Werner, Rachel Westaway, Dylan Wight, Gabrielle Williams, Belinda Wilson, Jess Wilson
Noes (3)
Will Fowles, Tim Read, Gabrielle de Vietri
Official record: Votes and Proceedings Nos 180 to 183 (LA-60-183-01)
18 June 2026 · Legislative Council
Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026
- Question put
- Question — That the reasoned amendment moved by Georgie Purcell be agreed to — put.
- Result
- Question negatived. Ayes 7, Noes 30.
- Matches “agree”
- A No vote
- Weight
- Normal
- Why it's linked
- Council reasoned amendment moved by Georgie Purcell to stop the bill proceeding. Aye = support the amendment (oppose the bill now); agree = No.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Greens | 4 | 0 | Aye |
| Labor | 0 | 14 | No |
| Legalise Cannabis | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| Liberal | 0 | 11 | No |
| Libertarian | 0 | 1 | No |
| Nationals | 0 | 2 | No |
| One Nation | 0 | 1 | No |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 0 | 1 | No |
Every name (Ayes 7, Noes 30) in the vote of 18 June 2026
Ayes (7)
Katherine Copsey, David Ettershank, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Sarah Mansfield, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell
Noes (30)
Ryan Batchelor, Melina Bath, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, Renee Heath, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Tom McIntosh, Evan Mulholland, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Sheena Watt, Richard Welch
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 170, 171 and 172 (LC-60-172-01)
18 June 2026 · Legislative Council
Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026
- Question put
- Question — That the Bill be now read a second time — put.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 30, Noes 7.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Second reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 14 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 11 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 30, Noes 7) in the vote of 18 June 2026
Ayes (30)
Ryan Batchelor, Melina Bath, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Moira Deeming, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, Renee Heath, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Tom McIntosh, Evan Mulholland, Harriet Shing, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Sheena Watt, Richard Welch
Noes (7)
Katherine Copsey, David Ettershank, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Sarah Mansfield, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 170, 171 and 172 (LC-60-172-02)
18 June 2026 · Legislative Council
Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill 2026
- Question put
- Enver Erdogan moved, That the Bill be now read a third time and do pass.
- Result
- Question agreed to. Ayes 29, Noes 7.
- Matches “agree”
- An Aye vote
- Weight
- Strong: a second or third reading, counted five times
- Why it's linked
- Third reading (Council). Aye = support the bill; agree = Aye.
| Party | Aye | No | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Justice | 0 | 1 | No |
| Greens | 0 | 4 | No |
| Labor | 14 | 0 | Aye |
| Legalise Cannabis | 0 | 2 | No |
| Liberal | 10 | 0 | Aye |
| Libertarian | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Nationals | 2 | 0 | Aye |
| One Nation | 1 | 0 | Aye |
| Shooters, Fishers and Farmers | 1 | 0 | Aye |
Every name (Ayes 29, Noes 7) in the vote of 18 June 2026
Ayes (29)
Ryan Batchelor, Melina Bath, John Berger, Lizzie Blandthorn, Jeff Bourman, Gaelle Broad, Georgie Crozier, David Davis, Enver Erdogan, Jacinta Ermacora, Michael Galea, Renee Heath, Shaun Leane, David Limbrick, Wendy Lovell, Trung Luu, Bev McArthur, Joe McCracken, Nick McGowan, Tom McIntosh, Evan Mulholland, Ingrid Stitt, Jaclyn Symes, Lee Tarlamis, Sonja Terpstra, Gayle Tierney, Rikkie-Lee Tyrrell, Sheena Watt, Richard Welch
Noes (7)
Katherine Copsey, David Ettershank, Anasina Gray-Barberio, Sarah Mansfield, Rachel Payne, Aiv Puglielli, Georgie Purcell
Official record: Minutes of the Proceedings Nos. 170, 171 and 172 (LC-60-172-04)
Sources
- EM
- Second reading (Steve Dimopoulos (Minister for Outdoor Recreation), 2026-04-02)
- Opposition (Danny O'Brien, 2026-06-02)
- Crossbench (Gabrielle de Vietri, GRN)
- Crossbench (Katherine Copsey, GRN)
- News: Latrobe Valley Express (2026-01-06); Sentinel-Times (South Gippsland) (2026-06-16)
- Full list: Sources tab (24 items).
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