The Victorian government is set to reject a recommendation to ban duck hunting

Duck hunting is set to continue in Victoria despite the recommendations of a Labor-led committee. (ABC News: Jane Cowan)

Duck hunting will remain legal in Victoria with the Allan government set to reject a parliamentary push to ban the sport.

Last year, a Labor-led parliamentary inquiry recommended the divisive pursuit be banned.

But the ABC understands the government will reject that recommendation and duck hunting will remain legal.

The committee, which handed down its recommendation in August 2023, included Greens and Animal Justice Party MPs and was chaired by Labor’s Ryan Batchelor.

It found there were significant animal welfare concerns around “the unacceptable wounding and death rate of threatened bird species, whether accidental or intentional”.

It also found a major problem with current compliance of duck shooting rules.

The inquiry had more than 10,500 submissions, a record for a Victorian parliamentary inquiry.

Decision angers ministers and MPs

Duck hunting has long split Labor’s caucus and cabinet, which is due to meet at midday on Monday.

It is understood cabinet will back Premier Jacinta Allan’s support for allowing duck hunting to continue.

Powerful construction unions had threatened to walk off the job if hunting was banned.

The ABC understands some ministers are furious with the decision.

It has also angered key upper house MP Georgie Purcell, from the Animal Justice Party, who is reconsidering her productive relationship with the Labor government.

MPs from the Coalition and the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party on the committee all opposed the ban.

Upper House Labor MP Sheena Watt also wrote a minority report which urged the government to continue to allow duck hunting, saying the sport was shown to improve mental health outcomes for participants.

She made several recommendations of her own, including that the government toughen regulation and better involve First Peoples in the management of game reserves.