Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell banned after illegally trying to rescue ducks

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has been banned from attending all wetlands after she was caught illegally trying to rescue ducks during the first weekend of the shooting season.

Police and authorised officers slap Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell and anti-duck hunting campaigner Laurie Levy. with a ban notice. PICTURE Supplied

Authorities have banned Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell from attending all wetlands after she was caught illegally trying to rescue ducks during the first weekend of the shooting season.

Police and authorised officers from the Game Management Authority on Saturday nabbed Ms Purcell and veteran anti duck hunting campaigner Laurie Levy trying to rescue wounded birds from a motorboat on the Johnson Swamp wetlands in Kerang.

It is illegal for any unauthorised person to be in a designated shooting area during an active duck hunt.

Ms Purcell and Mr Levy were both escorted from the scene and slapped with ban notices which means they are unable to attend any wetland during the remainder of the duck shooting season.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell says she has no regrets after her duck rescue mission despite being banned from all wetlands as a result. Picture: Supplied

The duck shooting season began on Wednesday and will end on June 5.

The pair haven’t ruled out contesting the ban in court.

Ms Purcell told the Herald Sun that she didn’t regret breaking the law.

“I made it clear I wouldn’t back down, and I meant it. That’s why I illegally entered the water to rescue maimed birds today, because if myself and other rescuers didn’t, nobody would,” she said.

“I don’t regret a thing. The Allan Labor government might be gutless, but I’m sure as hell not.

“This is not my first duck rescue. But it is my first duck rescue since Jacinta Allan committed the greatest betrayal to our native waterbirds, ignoring her own government’s parliamentary inquiry recommending a ban on recreational duck shooting.”

Duck rescuers must stay at least 10 metres away from a shooter who is actively hunting ducks.

Ms Purcell hasn’t ruled out contesting the ban in court. Picture: Supplied

Ms Purcell claimed that rule is in place to prevent rescuers from “documenting the inevitable carnage inflicted by shooters”.

“It is a protection racket I am willing to disobey to protect native waterbirds,” she said.

Mr Levy, who has been campaigning for a ban for nearly 40 years, said duck shooting was on the decline but claimed the Game Management Authority was trying to protect the interests of shooters.

“Duck shooting is all but over in Victoria with very few shooters out on the state’s wetlands again this year,” she said.

“The GMA’s role is to look after Victoria’s duck shooters while volunteer members of the public continue to look after our native waterbirds at no cost to the Victorian government.”

The Allan government earlier this year green lit a season despite a parliamentary inquiry recommending the blood sport be banned.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell and anti-duck hunting campaigner Laurie Levy. Credit: Doug Gimsey

New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia have already outlawed the controversial activity.

The parliamentary inquiry – which was established by the government – recommended a ban on duck hunting and for state game reserves to instead be converted into parks for other recreational purposes.

Premier Jacinta Allan has been accused of making a “captain’s call” in allowing the season to proceed.

Ms Allan said she has never gone duck hunting but believes it to be a “legitimate recreational activity”.

Several Labor MPs and Ministers have publicly spoken about their disappointment that the government didn’t ban the controversial activity.

From next year, duck hunters will have to undergo mandatory training.