As the cost of living dramatically rises, the tradition of sharing game meat could now cost individuals over $18,000 after the Victorian Labor Government’s Agriculture Legislation Amendment Bill 2022 passed both houses of parliament. A second offence could see a $90,870 fine and/or 24 months in prison.

The tradition of hunters sharing kills with friends and neighbours is as old as humanity itself, now the ever encroaching government bureaucracy will see the practice outlawed.

Over the last two years, we saw major parties in lockstep on political decisions which some considered an erosion of basic human rights, again the only real objectors have been minor parties.

Liberal Democrats Upper House MP Tim Quilty has been quoted saying that while the government may not enforce the new rules immediately, “These city centric people haven’t thought this through.”

Section 34 of the Bill states a person must not sell or dispose of meat for human consumption unless the meat is from a consumable animal slaughtered at a meat processing facility licensed for that purpose.

Hunters will still be able to process deer and other game themselves or send it to ‘a meat processing facility that solely processes game not intended for sale’, but only for personal use.

Across the river, NSW bureaucracy is ensuring they won’t be outdone by Victoria with a controversial government clamp down on the popular ‘Pick Your Own’ fruit industry, where consumers can learn about where their food comes from as they pick fresh produce.

The reforms would mean that farms would be limited to 50 people per fruit picking session and for functions and tours for more than 30 guests, farms would be limited to only 10 events per year. Currently, some farms see up to 500 people per day with picking season of up to six months.

This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 16 June 2022.