NTSOG wrote:When I asked the firearms officer about hunting in the state forest he responded to the effect he had been dreading the moment someone put him on the spot, believing as he [and some other officers] did that the new wording created a legal minefield and that [currently] he had no safe answer other than to advise me not to hunt in the forest until he received formal advice from the appropriate authority. In advising me not to hunt in the forest he was being completely professional and meeting his duty-of-care to me.
This feedback received by Jim indicates that some within Victoria Police agree with my interpretation of the new provision and are aware that the new provision might make using firearms in state forests illegal. This would make me slightly more concerned about the possibility of being prosecuted.
If I hunted on public land in Victoria, I would be in contact with the Licencing and Regulation Division asking how I apply for the written permission specified in section 130. As far as I can tell, there is no fee specified for this so it should not cost you anything.