E15 - SSAA Victoria News - Winter 2026 - Firearms Bill, Outdoor Recreation Authority, State Election, Bird Flu

There’s plenty happening for Victorian shooters and hunters.

In Episode 15, Barry Howlett, David Laird and Daryl Snowdon unpack the passage of the Firearms Amendment Bill and explain why the new citizenship and AusCheck provisions are not commencing immediately...and why SSAA Victoria’s advocacy on both issues is far from over.

We also discuss the passage of the Outdoor Recreation Victoria legislation and what it could mean for sustainable hunting and public-land access; take you behind the scenes of our Parliamentarians and Staffers Range Day at Eagle Park and Hunters for the Hungry; and look ahead to the 28 November Victorian election and SSAA Victoria’s priorities for the next Parliament.

We also examine the changes to Victoria’s Upper House electoral system and what they mean for the representation of shooters and hunters, before looking at H5N1 bird flu and the importance of keeping future hunting and game-management decisions evidence-based and proportionate.

Links discussed in the episode - 

Hunt the Night Podcast with Jeff Bourman MP https://youtu.be/2WypHDE2TGE?si=3Iz4Mwi4KT6CUgB4

Bird Flu (H5N1) information from the Victorian Government Avian influenza information for hunters - Game Management Authority

SSAA Victoria article on Firearms Amendment Bill Firearms Amendment Bill: They can’t claim that they didn’t know | SSAA Victoria