Electrical Trades Union vows more mass walk offs on infrastructure jobs if duck hunting banned

The boss of Victoria’s powerful electrical trades union has vowed to bring work on Big Build projects to an immediate halt if the Andrews government bans duck hunting.

The boss of Victoria’s powerful sparkies’ union has warned work on Victoria’s major infrastructure projects will come to an abrupt halt if the Andrews government bans duck hunting.

Electrical Trades Union state secretary Troy Gray fronted a parliamentary committee into the future of native bird shooting on Thursday where he threatened to run a multimillion-dollar campaign, citing his membership’s “unprecedented” support for the controversial practice.

Earlier this year, the same union staged a mass walk-off from the Metro Tunnel project, with 800 workers storming off the job to protest potential restrictions on duck hunting, and other outdoor activities.

The move was driven by the union’s Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group and relates to its concerns over government regulation of a number of activities, enjoyed by its members, including rock climbing, deer hunting and fishing.

Sparkies walked off the Metro Tunnel job in March over duck hunting restrictions.

Mr Gray on Thursday warned union members would immediately walk from all government projects if the practice was banned.

“I can tell you for a fact, union led or not, if there is a decision to ban duck hunting, the day that that decision is made or the day after, the major infrastructure projects in this state will shut down,” he told the committee.

“They (workers) will walk off and whether the unions lead them or they don’t they will shut for the day.

“That is the temperature in the room out there.

“Get it tattooed on your arm – it’s going to happen.

“It is not a message, it is not a threat. It’s going to happen.”

Mr Gray said the union would also discuss and advocate on key issues such as cost-of-living and the Voice to Parliament.

But he said the threat of a duck hunting ban had led to an “unprecedented” level of interest from his members.

“There will be a call from those workers that are 100 per cent union members to lead a campaign to get it back,” Mr Gray said.

“There will also be a call from those workers to match and resource that campaign to the equivalent of our political donations in the last 10 years, which I can tell you run into the millions.”

Electrical Trades Union members fear duck hunting restrictions will lead to other outdoor bans.

The union has argued that a ban on shooting ducks could also lead to restrictions on other outdoor activities such as camping, boating, hunting and fishing.

This is despite the government recently issuing funding to fishing initiatives in primary schools.

Mr Gray said six other unions, including the CFMEU and Transport Workers Union, supported the move.

He said members from other unions had also reached out expressing support.

Mr Gray argued a ban on duck hunting was against Labor values and would have a “detrimental” impact on the mental health of his members.

“We can be progressive on inclusivity, equal pay, equal rights … but we can’t leave behind the working class values and recreation that we’ve had that goes back generations and generations,” he said.

“The recreation of hunting, in particular duck hunting, is critical to our members and we think it fits right in Labor heartland of working class value.”

ETU secretary and National President Troy Gray Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

In a submission to the inquiry the Mining and Energy union, formerly part of the CFMEU, raised its concerns about limits on recreational activities.

“Although Victorians have been able to enjoy the great opportunities that access to public land provides to people from all walks of life in pursuit of their varying interests and hobbies including camping, fishing, four-wheel driving, motorbike riding and hunting,” they wrote.

“We have seen a change in the way the access and maintenance of public land has been managed by a number of Government departments in recent years that is greatly diminishing these opportunities.

“Also, our members are concerned that the Victorian government has been introducing unnecessary restrictions on the hunting of game birds that are not based on science or expert advice from stakeholders.”

Key complaints were a shortened 2023 season, a later start and reduced bag limits.

Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell, who sits on the parliamentary committee, said it was “unbelievable that a union would prioritise the continuation of a recreational blood sport”.

“I not only hope that the government has the sense to not fall for this scare tactic, but that these unions will consider using industrial action for real issues affecting Victorians at work – there is certainly no shortage of them,” she said.

“I would be deeply disappointed if this is how my union chose to use member resources, and I know many others who feel the same way.”

A government spokeswoman said: “We’ll wait for the Committee to do their work – which is due back to government by the end of August.”

“Work is continuing on our program of Big Build works,” she added.