In response to the Select Committee’s recommendations regarding mandatory training for gamebird hunting licences, the Victorian government has confirmed that mandatory online training will be phased in from 2025.
The Minister for Outdoor Recreation provided these details in late December 2024 while responding to a question without notice from Jeff Bourman of the Shooters, Fishers, and Farmers Party, who inquired in November how the government would roll out training before the 2025 season.
The Minister’s written response stated that “all prospective gamebird hunting licensees are now required to complete mandatory online education and pass an online test covering hunting laws, good hunting practices, and cultural awareness.”
From 2025 onwards, existing Gamebird licence holders will need to complete the training when renewing their licence or reapplying for an expired one.
Additional online tests, including the Waterfowl Identification and Hound Hunting tests, will be available through the MyGL platform by early 2025, offering greater convenience for hunters.
This shift to online delivery aligns with modern practices, offering hunters unprecedented access to licensing, and streamlining the entire process. The online move is hoped to address longstanding criticism of testing being insufficiently available to hunters wanting to obtain their duck or hound entitlements.
