ETU Victoria - Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group - December 2023
One of the main focuses of any progressive Union is to ensure its membership enjoy decent living standards. There are many things that go into the formula that makes up a decent living standard: wages, working conditions, health and safety, regulated working hours, education, health and much more! With ETU Victoria now at a record membership of 19,500 with an average age of 34, is it any wonder that for many of our members a decent living standard includes a strong and unbreakable connection with outdoor recreation.
Just look on any RDO weekend, and you’ll see ETU members in their 4WDs heading down the coast or heading up the bush - all of them involved in some form of boating, camping, fishing, hunting, gold prospecting, rock-climbing, etc...
OUTDOOR RECREATION IS ETU BUSINESS!
OUTDOOR RECREATION IS OUR MEMBERSHIP!
In March of this year, the Branch launched its Outdoor Recreation Advocacy Group campaign, and the buy-in has been unprecedented. If you want hard proof, just have a flick through this ETU lifestyle magazine and you will appreciate what outdoor recreation means to many of our members. We will continue to campaign relentlessly to ensure that our members will always have the right to access all their traditional outdoor recreation activities, including hunting, for many years to come.
Building Industry Group of Unions Resolution
Outdoor Recrea�on
February 2023
The Building Industry Group of Unions (BIG), representing over 70,000 blue-collar workers in Victoria, firmly supports public access to various outdoor recreational activities, including duck shooting. Working Victorians and their families have access to some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world to fish, surf, camp, ride a motorbike and enjoy time in the great outdoors.
In Victoria, outdoor recreation such as diving, hunting, fishing, and four-wheel driving are highly regulated, safe and sustainable.
Every year, the debate about land management, hunting, fisheries management, and the use of State forests for recreation arises in Victoria.
The BIG supports the continuation of outdoor recreational activities such as diving, duck shooting, recreational and sports fishing and the use of our State forests for responsible and sustainable outdoor activities.
We note that duck shooting can be divisive; however, the BIG Unions believe that duck shooting can be undertaken sustainably and humanely. Shooting in Victoria is heavily regulated; during the 2022 duck season, the Game Management Authority reported no incidents of hunters being over their bag limit. In addition, hunting other pest species is an essential part of land management.
We dispute the suggestion that shooters want to wound animals, motorbike riders wish to wreck the environment, and anglers want to overfish. Those who enjoy outdoor pursuits treat it with the utmost respect.
The BIG Unions reaffirm our support for our members and Victorian workers to undertake various outdoor recreational activities during 2023. We look forward to working with the Victorian Government, clubs and community groups to ensure our members stay safe during their hardearned spare time.
Troy Gray
Secretary
ETU Victoria
Earl Setches Tony Mavromatis John Setka Secretary Secretary Secretary
PTEU Victoria AMWU CFMEU C&G
On Thursday 31 March, 800 ETU members walked off Victoria’s largest construction project the Metro Tunnel.
They came together to defend their right to enjoy their outdoor lifestyle and activities such as camping, boating, hunting, fishing and more.
Recent government decisions affecting these – activities – not based on scientific facts or statistics have angered many! Countless ETU members, not to mention members from other unions and members of community and sporting groups, have contacted the ETU seeking support and leadership to defend our right to sustainable outdoor recreation.
Congratulations to ETU Member Daniel Stoios; “Netting Crabs & Hunting Scabs” is the winner of the outdoor recreation sticker slogan competition. Well done Daniel! We look forward to seeing your slogan around on hard hats.
Thanks to all who entered.
RECREATION
RECREATION
FISHING
FISHING OUR HISTORY & HERITAGE
RECREATION
RECREATION SCENERY
MAN’S BEST BEST
BEST FRIEND FRIEND
The Victorian Hound Hunters (VHH) is a not-for-profit sporting and recreational organisation. We are family-orientated, encouraging social and recreational activities across all ages and genders.
We are proud of our heritage, with over 100 years of hunting the mighty sambar deer with the use of scent trail hounds.
We encourage all houndsmen/women to join our organisation and help preserve, and protect the future of the sport.
Want to know more about hound hunting, hound breeds, or just interested in knowing more about the sport?
Come along to one of our event days, or become a member.
PMAV
WHO WE ARE
The PMAV is an apolitical organisation. We are, in short, a political lobby group but without a political ideology of our own. It may sound like this is all Labor bashing, but it’s not, its just the last few years of facts. If your political party supports the right to access public land in Victoria, then they will have the support of the PMAV and its members.
There are now over 70,000 Victorian Miners Right holders, but less than 10% are in the PMAV and we have only this year employed an Executive Administrator to now deal with the sheer volume of bureaucracy. We need members or donations. Keep an eye on our Facebook page (PMAVinc) for our MEGA fundraising raffle - Gold nuggets and detectors and more! Total value over $15,000 with 50+ prizes.
We have social branches in eight locations around Victoria and welcome new members if you want to try prospecting and supporting. Check out www.pmav.org.au.
These branches organise prospecting field trip days on private and crown land, social events, and guest speakers. They are a great way to hone your prospecting skills with many members happy to share their knowledge of the area, equipment and technique.
LIKE THE DIGGERS AT EUREKA, AND BALLARAT IN 1854, WE PROUDLY SEEK TO UPHOLD THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES WON THROUGH THEIR COURAGE IN THE FACE OF OVER GOVERNANCE AND PERSECUTION.
