Duck hunting banned in Queensland

BRISBANE - Duck and quail hunting has been banned in Queensland in a move welcomed by animal welfare groups.

Environment Minister Desley Boyle announced a permanent ban, saying she was contacted 700 times in the past year regarding duck hunting and only 15 of those were in favour of the practice.

"I am delighted to announce the end to what many, myself included, consider a barbaric practice," Ms Boyle told parliament.

A recent waterbird population survey had revealed numbers at their lowest level since surveying began in 1984 - down from one million in Queensland to just 200,000.

Concern about cruelty also affected the government's decision, Ms Boyle said.

"The Animal Welfare Advisory Committee concluded that the likely rate of wounding was unacceptable, leading to unreasonable pain and suffering for these birds," she said.

"Shooting a duck or a quail in the wing with shotgun pellets often results in the bird being wounded and left to die a slow, painful death."

The RSPCA said it was delighted with the ban, which brings Queensland into line with New South Wales, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.

"It's a victory for animal welfare and conservation," said RSPCA Queensland chief executive Mark Townend.

He said Birds Queensland, the Queensland Conservation Council, Animal Liberation Queensland, the Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland and the RSPCA joined forces more than a year ago to protest against the duck and quail hunting season.

"It was an expression of outrage from people who don't like to see any animal being hurt unnecessarily and believe in the conservation of our native wild life," he said.

Queensland's duck and quail hunting season was cancelled this year because of declining bird numbers due to the extended drought in the state.

- AAP